Ilja Dragunov looks like he got hit by a truck after AEW Full Gear — and he couldn’t be happier about it. The new National Champion was barely standing after his war with Tommaso Ciampa, but Dragunov had exactly what he came for.
AEW took to Twitter after the show and uploaded a promo from Dragunov following his title win. Instead of celebrating like a normal person, Dragunov basically explained why getting absolutely destroyed for 20 minutes was worth it to him.
“No tree can grow high in the sky unless its roots are growing so deep that they can reach hell. When I came into AEW, I promised the landscape was about to change. Why? Because I am here and willing to take all the pain in the world, because I can endure all the pain as long as it has a reason. And today, it had one.”
That pain wasn’t just Dragunov being dramatic either. Ciampa spent a huge chunk of the match going after his arm, and Dragunov admitted afterwards that it felt like the thing was nearly broken.
“There was a reason why my arm is nearly broken. There is a reason why I’m completely punished and barely able to stand here. But I do stand here, strong, as a king of my own category, with a will burning like fire.”
Then came the most Ilja Dragunov way possible to introduce himself as champion. Banged up, barely standing and holding the belt, Dragunov declared himself “unbesiegbar” — unconquerable.
“I’m standing here, unbesiegbar, your National Champion, Ilja Dragunov.”
If Dragunov looked wrecked, there was a pretty good reason for it. Ciampa spent the match attacking his arm, caught him with an avalanche Air Raid Crash and later dropped him onto the edge of the steel steps with another Air Raid Crash. Dragunov still survived and eventually put Ciampa away to capture the title.
The loss ended Ciampa’s National Championship reign after only seven days. Dragunov, meanwhile, walked out of Full Gear with his first AEW championship — along with an arm that he says is nearly broken.
That pretty much sums up Dragunov. Most wrestlers would probably be worried about barely being able to stand after winning a championship. He apparently sees it as proof that the championship was worth winning in the first place.
Who should step up and challenge Ilja Dragunov after his brutal Full Gear title win? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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