Ilja Dragunov isn’t interested in picking sides when it comes to the tribalism between wrestling fans. After making the jump to AEW, Dragunov says he sees wrestling as an emotionally driven business where it doesn’t really matter which company fans choose as long as they’re getting something out of it.
Speaking to Jon Alba of The TakeDown on SI, Dragunov was asked about the divided wrestling fanbase and all the different styles currently being shown on national television. For Dragunov, the tribalism ultimately comes from the same place that makes wrestling work in the first place — emotion.
“I mean, this is a good question. I mean, there are multiple questions layered into this about tribalism. I believe this is an emotionally driven business because, at the end of the day, wherever you watch professional wrestling, people go there to feel something.”
Dragunov didn’t criticize fans for preferring one promotion over another either. As far as he’s concerned, people finding that emotional connection with wrestling is what actually matters.
“You know, this is what they want to do. If they do it on one side, that’s okay. If they do it on the other side, that’s okay.”
That attitude also ties into how Dragunov approaches his own matches. While wrestling can come in plenty of different forms, he has always viewed what he does as a combination of legitimate-looking combat and art.
“My approach to professional wrestling was always that it’s a fight. It’s an art and fight business. For me personally, the best expression of fighting and art combined. And that’s what I always believed in throughout my career.”
Dragunov then pointed to some of the wrestlers who helped shape that philosophy. His list stretched across different eras and styles, but they all shared the ability to make what happened inside the ring feel like something more than just a collection of moves.
“That’s what all my role models did, like Kobashi, Terry Funk, Roddy Piper, William Regal, Meiko Satomura.”
That’s also a big part of why Dragunov believes AEW is the right place for him now. He feels the company is looking for exactly the kind of dramatic, fight-heavy wrestling he’s spent his career trying to create.
“And I feel like these values and what I’m standing for, to really be, in my mind, about the most dramatic and beautiful fight, is what AEW is looking for.”
Dragunov isn’t trying to turn his arrival in AEW into another WWE-versus-AEW argument. For him, the bigger opportunity is getting to bring his own idea of what wrestling should feel like to a company he believes is actively looking for it.
What do you think about Ilja Dragunov’s take on wrestling tribalism and why he believes his style fits AEW? Let us know in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
