The current NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov appears to have significant support backstage in WWE.
Dragunov has undoubtedly been a standout performer for NXT since he arrived in WWE back in 2019. Among the most memorable moments in his career are his encounters with Gunther during their time in the NXT UK scene. Their TV match in 2020 and clash at NXT TakeOver in 2021 further cemented their reputation as two of the premier in-ring talents within the company.
The Ring General has since made a successful transition to the main roster, where he has become one of the top stars in the company. His Intercontinental Championship reign, which has surpassed 650 days, stands as the longest in history. It now seems that Ilja Dragunov could follow a similar path upon his eventual call-up to the main roster.
According to recent reports, while Ilja Dragunov isn't planned for an immediate call-up post WrestleMania 40, there's a growing belief backstage that it could occur after he loses his NXT Championship. The report suggests that WWE officials view him in a similar light as Gunther and thus anticipate giving him a comparable push upon his move to the main roster.
Fans have since reacted to the report with immense excitement, anticipating Ilja Dragunov's inevitable rise to stardom upon his potential arrival on the main roster. Many are eager to see WWE revisit his rivalry with The Ring General, while others speculate that Dragunov could carve his path by capturing the United States Championship, mirroring Gunther's impressive reign with the Intercontinental Championship.
Check out the best reactions below:
With WrestleMania 40 just around the corner, Gunther is poised to defend his title and further extend his historic reign. He'll put the Intercontinental Championship on the line against Sami Zayn in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Former WWE writer doesn't want Sami Zayn to end Gunther's title reign
Sami Zayn is currently a babyface on the Road to WrestleMania ahead of his match against Gunther. However, Vince Russo doesn't think Zayn should be the one to dethrone The Ring General.
Instead, Russo has proposed an alternative storyline in which Chad Gable trains Sami Zayn for the challenge against Gunther, only to betray him at 'Mania. On an episode of Sportskeeda's Writing with Russo, he said:
"It doesn't look like that's what it's gonna be, it's gonna look like Gable is gonna train you know Sami, because he knows Gunther like nobody else. I'd turn Gable on Sami. Sami Zayn cannot be the guy to beat Gunther for that title. I am sorry, all the time and effort that they put into Gunther and the streak and how good he is and, Sami Zayn cannot be the one to beat that guy."
It will be intriguing to see if Sami Zayn can pull off an upset and win the Intercontinental Championship from the Imperium leader.