Ilja Dragunov’s top best five WWE matches

“Unbesiegbar” is known for his hard-hitting style

Ilja Dragunov has proven himself to be one of the most hard-hitting and remarkable WWE talents seen in recent years. The journey of the Mad Dragon began in NXT UK in 2021 followed by his successful stint in NXT that lasted until this year when he was called up to the RAW roster as part of the WWE Draft 2024.

With Dragunov rising the ranks as possibly the next big megastar of the global juggernaut, here is a look back at his top 5 WWE matches:

5. Cesaro- NXT TakeOver Cardiff

An upcoming Ilja Dragunov in WWE encountered main roster star, Cesaro who traveled to Cardiff for an exhibition match against Ilja Dragunov, where the two showcased the essence of European wrestling. The bout was marked by intense physicality, featuring powerful strikes and impactful slams with both men laying it all on the line and the end seeing Dragunov losing the bout despite a valiant effort.

4. Carmelo Hayes- Great American Bash 2023

Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes displayed a remarkable level of chemistry in their very first showdown. The match for Hayes’ NXT Championship match revived the spirit of the black-and-gold era, delivering a masterful performance by both competitors. The match remained fluid and exceptionally well-executed, capturing the essence of top-tier wrestling, and ended with Hayes retaining his title over the Mad Dragon.

3. Bron Breakker- WWE NXT 2023

The two intense NXT competitors, Ilja Dragunov and Bron Breaker clashed in a battle that barely stayed within the confines of the ring. Breakker’s formidable power and strength faced off against Dragunov’s hard-hitting, stiff offense, creating a captivating blend of styles. The highly exciting and high-stakes showdown reached its conclusion with Ilja triumphing over Bron and claiming the No.1 contender spot for the NXT Title.

2. Trick Williams- WWE NXT Spring Breakin

Following their bout at Vengeance Day, Trick Williams got another chance at Ilja Dragunov’s NXT title by putting his career on the line at NXT Spring Breakin Week One. With the crowd firmly invested in the bout, both Williams and Dragunov left it all in the middle of the ring with high stakes involved and the desire to be the top guy in the Black and Gold brand. The match was one of the best NXT matches of all time and turned out to be Dragunov’s last match in NXT who dropped the title to Trick Williams and moved up to the RAW roster.

1. Gunther- NXT TakeOver 36

In a highly physical and brutal showdown, two of the most hard-hitting and dominant rivals concluded their NXT saga as Ilja Dragunov finally overcame Gunther to end his impressive 800+day reign as champion and capture the NXT UK Championship. The hard-fought showdown tore the house down at NXT TakeOver 36 between the two brawlers, received rave reviews, and proved to be a success, going down in the history books as one of the greatest in-ring bouts of all time.

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