Ilja Dragunov has been inactive since September 2024 after suffering a torn ACL during a WWE live event. The injury was expected to sideline him for six to nine months, interrupting his main roster run.
Fightful reports Dragunov has been training at the WWE Performance Center. Sources indicate his presence at the facility was not for rehabilitation purposes, but rather for standard training sessions in preparation for his return.
WWE’s creative plans for Dragunov’s return have not been revealed.
Dragunov Discusses Impact of Wrestling Style on Family
In a interview with Metro, Dragunov spoke about his family’s reaction to his physical wrestling style.
I think my family hates my wrestling style. Literally, until this day, my son didn’t see one match of me. He’s seven, and he’s going to turn eight this year. So, because I know what I do in that ring, and I know how I do that, it would be a bit too much for a seven-year-old to understand. He’s going to need a bit more time until we get to that point.
Dragunov addressed how he maintains his in-ring style:
It sounds a bit ruthless, but I really can’t think about that too much, because I think as more you pay attention to something, the more you create a self-proclaimed prophecy. I just have the belief that my body is able to take what I expect from my body, to take in a certain performance that I do, because if I don’t do it like I do, then I have no place in this business, and I have no business doing anything, right?
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