Sad news, folks, sad news. WWE broke the hearts of millions when it announced, during “WWE Raw,” that former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov tore his ACL and is expected to be out for six to nine months. Yes, folks, months. And, let me tell you, it’s a total disaster. Ilja, a guy tougher than a $2 steak, got injured in Columbus, Georgia, over the weekend while trying to wrestle the human equivalent of a refrigerator, GUNTHER, in what was supposed to be a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.
Now, instead of a glorious triumph for Ilja, what do we get? We get a hobbling hero—on his own volition—leaving the ring like a wounded gladiator. He made it up the ramp, folks, but not before realizing he could barely put weight on that right leg. A tragedy. But did WWE stop there? No! They broadcasted this heartbreak on social media and TV, making us all relive the moment while serving up another lengthy GUNTHER promo.
Dragunov’s last TV appearance was losing to Jey Uso in a fatal four-way match that also featured Braun Strowman and Pete Dunne—all incredible athletes, by the way. Incredible. And before that? He had been battling it out with GUNTHER in Germany ahead of Bash in Berlin. So the guy was on fire, only to be sidelined right when things were heating up.
Let’s not forget—Dragunov had just made the leap from NXT to the main roster after a brutal NXT Championship loss to Trick Williams. But now, instead of basking in main roster glory, we’re stuck wondering what could have been. Rest up, Ilja. We’ll see you in six to nine months—because when you return, it’s gonna be huge, and I mean huge.