50 Best Wrestlers Of The 2020s (So Far)
28. Ilja Dragunov
Ilja Dragunov was never supposed to make it this far in the biggest wrestling promotion in the world, and yet somehow the ceiling for him in WWE just gets higher and higher.
A relentless force of nature on the European independent scene before WWE came calling, Dragunov entered NXT UK with buzz, but few would’ve predicted that it would still be ringing in ears years later. Then came a match that, years removed, scarcely feels like something that actually happened. In the eerie silence of WWE’s BT Sport studio in 2020, Dragunov and WALTER didn’t just tear the house down – they tore through the limitations of pandemic wrestling altogether. A loud-quiet-loud exhibition of suffering that left fans stunned and Dragunov reborn. A rematch followed a year later in front of a crowd that for many exceeded the original. By the time Ilja finally dethroned WALTER for the NXT UK Championship, he had become more than just a top guy for the brand – he was its soul. And when that brand folded into the greater WWE machine, he didn't just survive the move but thrived for it.
The leap to NXT proper felt seamless, and the ;Mad Dragon' didn't skip a beat. He was crucial in the development of so many new faces during the 2.0 rebrand years, with contests against the likes of Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes and JD McDonagh that propelled them forward by orders of magnitude. A subsequent championship run made midcarders look main event and made fans believe in fighting champions again followed
Then came the main roster call-up, and with it came further validation. Clashes with everybody from Sheamus to Dominik Mysterio to LA Knight showed that his unique style and unsettling intensity weren’t just niche NXT quirks – they translated on far bigger stages. Dragunov is a rare thing for the market leader - the guy who was never meant to fit – but forced his way in anyway.