Ilja Dragunov Nearing WWE Return After Remarkable Torn ACL Recovery (WWE News)

Ilja Dragunov could be set to mount a miraculous WWE recovery just four months after tearing his ACL.

Injured in September 2024, Dragunov is now training for a comeback, with Fightful Select stating that the 31-year-old has been seen working out at the WWE Performance Center. The outlet notes, too, that Ilja wasn't at the PC for rehab, but was "... taking part in traditional training ahead of his in ring return and was not wearing any support gear for his injury."

As Dragunov was originally expected to miss six to nine months, he appears well ahead of schedule. Fightful notes, however, that it hadn't heard of any immediate creative plans for the former NXT Champion. Whether or not his return is imminent remains to be seen.

Dragunov last wrestled on a 28 September 2024 house show in Columbus, Georgia, reprising his legendary rivalry with World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.

Ilja's Lazarus-like recovery is reminiscent of John Cena's ahead of Royal Rumble 2008. Suffering a torn pectoral muscle on 1 October 2007, Cena was originally expected to miss six to twelve months after undergoing surgery, forcing Vince McMahon to strip John of the WWE Championship. Cena returned after less than four months, becoming a surprise entrant in the 2008 Rumble, drawing a monster pop from an audience that didn't expect to see him until much later in the year.

While Dragunov isn't the level of star Cena was in 2008, a similar Rumble return would likely draw a great reaction.

WWE Royal Rumble 2025 takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, 1 February.