Original Plans for Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Return Revealed

Ilja Dragunov finally made his big WWE return on the October 17 SmackDown from the SAP Center in San Jose, stepping up to answer Sami Zayn’s United States Championship Open Challenge. Fans gave him a strong ovation after nearly a year away from the ring.

According to Bodyslam, the return wasn’t always mapped out this way. Dragunov’s tentative comeback date was originally scheduled for September, but the plan was pushed back a few weeks. On top of that, early discussions had him slotted for the RAW brand instead of SmackDown.

The move to Friday nights came after SmackDown needed what insiders described as a “shakeup,” leading WWE to shift the former NXT Champion over. That change ensured his return would feel even bigger, injecting fresh energy into SmackDown’s roster.

Dragunov’s road back to TV wasn’t easy. Before his injury, he fell short in major matches against Jey Uso in a number one contender’s fatal four-way and against Gunther in a live event World Heavyweight Championship clash. Now, with a fresh start on SmackDown, he’s positioned for another big run.