Newly crowned United States Champion, Ilja Dragunov, has announced his plans for tonightâ€s episode of WWE SmackDown.
Ilja Dragunov returned from a lengthy absence on last weekâ€s episode of SmackDown by answering Sami Zaynâ€s open challenge for the United States Championship. The Mad Dragon put on a high-octane performance against Zayn and came out victorious in the end to become the new champion.
In a video posted on WWEâ€s official X/Twitter account, Ilja Dragunov has announced that he will continue the legacy of the open challenge and has called out any member of the WWE roster to face him for the United States Championship tonight on SmackDown.
“I won this belt from a great man, a great fighter, a great champion. So it is my duty, it is my duty to keep the legacy of the open challenges alive. So tonight, dear friends and enemies, pain shall entertain you!â€
The United States Championship Is Ilja Dragunovâ€s First Title On The Main Roster
Winning the United States Championship on last weekâ€s SmackDown marked the first title win for Ilja Dragunov on the WWE main roster.
Before making his main roster debut, Ilja Dragunov had a successful run in the companyâ€s developmental territories. He is a former NXT UK and NXT Champion, and had lengthy reigns with both titles.
He is also one of the few wrestlers on the WWE roster to have a clean victory against former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.
Ilja Dragunov was called up to the main roster last year and became a part of Monday Night Raw. He also competed in the King of the Ring Tournament before sustaining an ACL injury during a match against Gunther at a live event in September 2024, which sidelined him for over a year.
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