Ilja Dragunov has been missing from WWE television for months, but it sounds like fans may not have to wait much longer.
After disappearing from TV following WrestleMania season, Dragunov has become one of WWE’s biggest question marks. There has been very little information about why the former NXT Champion has been absent, but a new update suggests that could be changing. According to Bryan Alvarez, Dragunov is expected back in WWE “sooner than later.”
“Ilja Dragunov expected back sooner than later.”
That is the first real sign of movement after months of silence surrounding one of WWE’s most intense performers. Before this update, Fightful Select reported that Dragunov had been training at the Hart Dungeon in Canada but was not involved in any known creative plans. Sean Ross Sapp also noted there was no indication that an injury was keeping Dragunov off television.
“He’s at least been training at the Hart Dungeon. I’ve not heard much of anything else recently, or him being involved in creative plans. He’s not been on TV since WrestleMania at all. I haven’t specifically heard of him being injured, and I don’t think he’d be publicly training at the Dungeon if not cleared, but things have been quiet about him.”
Dragunov’s last WWE match came before WrestleMania 42 when he competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on SmackDown. Before disappearing, he had been involved in the United States Championship picture and even held the title during his main roster run.
Bottom line, WWE has kept Ilja Dragunov on the sidelines for a while, but if this latest report is accurate, “The Mad Dragon” could finally be making his way back to television in the near future.
Who do you want to see Ilja Dragunov feud with when he returns to WWE? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
