WWE Draft 2024 changed the entire scene in the Stamford-based promotion, as a lot of superstars changed brands, which also included NXT call-ups. Out of all the in-ring stars that have been promoted to the main roster, Ilja Dragunov is probably the biggest name, and as soon as he was drafted to RAW, theories about a potential showdown against Gunther began.
As both of them have came to the Triple H-led promotion through a similar process, their rivalry has always been a great one, and that’s why fans are heavily invested in watching them up against each other. The audience is keen to witness a match between these two, and it seems that the company knows this, as they teased a feud between them on the May 13 edition of Monday Night RAW.
It happened during a backstage segment on the weekly show, as The Mad Dragon was giving an interval. But when he was doing so, The Ring General made his presence felt. That’s how these two pro wrestling icons had a momentary face-off before the former Intercontinental Champion walked away from the spot.
I cannot get over this face off between Gunther and Ilja Dragunov.
We need this match next Monday #wweraw
— Fernansh Era (@BrunoFernanshh) May 14, 2024
In what looked like a potential teaser of things to come, it seems like the Triple H-led promotion is already thinking about pulling the trigger on this feud. But it remains to be seen when that happens, and when it does, it’ll be interesting to see if they can again recreate the in-ring magic they’ve created in the past or not.
Gunther and Ilja Dragunov share a lot of history inside the ring
The Ring General and Ilja Dragunov share a lot of history inside the ring, but not many are aware of the exact timeline of the start of their journey. So, in this regard, it must be noted that the rivalry between Gunther and The Mad Dragon started back in the United Kingdom, when they were a part of WWE NXT UK.
They had several interactions after Ilja’s debut on the roster, but their first singles match took place on the October 29, 2020, episode. In this match, Dragunov was defeated by Walter after the Russian pro wrestler passed out. Despite the loss, Ilja Dragunov received a lot of praise for his performance and for complimenting Gunther’s in-ring work.
Their match was given a 5-star rating by Dave Meltzer, and this encounter was the start of one of the biggest feuds among the current generation of pro wrestlers. But after this defeat, Ilja went on a hiatus and then returned in January 2021. After a lot of hard work for the next 5 months, it was on June 24 that Dragunov won a triple threat match to again become the number one contender for the NXT United Kingdom Championship.
The title match took place on August 22 at NXT TakeOver 36, and at the show, The Mad Dragon defeated Walter in another 5-star showing, thus ending the Austrian’s two-year-long reign with the UK Championship. After this victory, he dominated the division for a long time, until he was forced to vacate the title after having suffered a leg injury. The veteran vacated the title on July 7, 2022, as it ended his 319-day run with the title.
After this, he made a return to the yellow brand in September, and on September 30, he won the NXT Championship to become the first person to hold the title in both the US and UK divisions of WWE’s developmental territory. As Gunther had already been called up to the main roster, they weren’t able to get more opportunities to show their chemistry.
Despite this, the rivalry between these two remained a topic of discussion among the fans. During the 2024 Draft on the April 29 episode of RAW, Dragunov’s move to the red brand reignited fans’ hopes of finally getting this feud once again. In fact, The Mad Dragon was also asked about a potential rivalry with The Ring General, to which he just laughed.
Even though he didn’t answer anything clearly about the former Intercontinental Champion, it’s true that whenever they get into a storyline, it’s going to be great. Moreover, the way WWE has been teasing the audience about this rivalry, it seems that the day isn’t too far when they’ll be going one-on-one on the red brand or even at a premium live event.
Ilja Dragunov failed to book a spot for a match against Gunther
While the WWE Universe has been clamouring for a match between The Mad Dragon and The Ring General, it could have happened as soon as on the next episode of RAW. On the recent edition of the red brand, Gunther booked his spot in the semi-final of The King of the Ring tournament, and Ilja also had the opportunity to reach the mega encounter.
Dragunov would have earned a match against Walter during the main event of the May 13 episode, as he competed in the quarterfinal match of the tournament. The former NXT Champ was up against the fan-favorite Main Event Jey, and it was the perfect opportunity for him to make a huge impact on the main roster.
As Jey Uso is arguably the biggest babyface of Monday Night RAW in current times, a victory over him could have pushed the Russian pro wrestler to the top. But it was probably not meant to happen this soon, as Ilja Dragunov failed to book a spot for a match against Gunther by advancing to the semifinal.
JEY USO DEFEATS ILJA TO MOVE ON 🚨🚨🚨#WWERAW pic.twitter.com/W1aqF5QPpu
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) May 14, 2024
The match started off pretty decently for both of them, until Ilja took control and showcased to the fans why he’s one of the best in the business. But Jey was also quick to turn around the scene and give equally tough competition to his opponent. The action even went to the ringside, as Dragunov faced damage after going over the announce table.
It looked like The Mad Dragon was having some pain in his right arm, but he continued to make attempts for a comeback and even did so. As he looked set to hit his finishing move on Uso, Main Event Jey hit him with a spear and then went on the top rope for a splash. This was enough for him to take over the victory, as he booked his spot for a match against The Ring General.
Even though Ilja Dragunov lost, his performance was worth praising, and it seems like he’s destined for big things in the Stamford-based promotion. Talking about a feud with Gunther, it seems like WWE is saving the match for an upcoming PLE, but how they would reach it is the question. Thus, it’ll be interesting to see what happens in this highly anticipated storyline in the near future.