Possibly the best wrestler to come out of Russia is NXT’s Ilja Dragunov – and his 5 star matches prove it.
No Russian wrestler has achieved more five-star matches in WWE as Ilja Dragunov, who currently has two (with more to come).
The former NXT UK champion is sure to make a splash on the main roster when he’s finally called up, with many theorizing that he could be the man to beat Gunther for his Intercontinental Championship.
This is due to his previous five-star matches against the Austrian giant, which we will go through in this list of Ilja Dragunov’s 5 star matches in the WWE.
Ilja Dragunov 5 Star Matches
Ilja Dragunov vs WALTER – NXT UK 29/10/22
Ilja Dragunov picked up the first five-star match of his career, in the NXT UK bout for United Kingdom Championship.
In front of no fans in the BT Studio, the pandemic setting sought to put a dampener on this exchange, but neither man let it.
The second-best match of WALTER in WWE is his first clash with the Russian wrestler Ilja Dragunov in NXT UK. The pair fought over WALTER’s United Kingdom Championship, with WALTER coming out on top on this occasion.
This match is arguably the best match in WWE of 2020, and one of the best in WWE history, despite only being WALTER’s second best match. This is a testament to the incredible ability of these men.
It was an old-school style match of brutal proportions. Dragunov’s chest was red raw after the match, looking more like he’d been in a car crash than a wrestling match. Whilst that is part and parcel of a WALTER match, this one took it to another level.
Dave Meltzer Star Rating – 5 Stars
Cagematch Rating – 9.65
Ilja Dragunov vs WALTER – NXT Takeover 36
Not content with their first five-star match, Ilja Dragunov came back again to beat WALTER in a match that exceeded the legendary five-star rating.
Battling in the United States for the first time, WALTER vs Ilja Dragunov II took place at NXT Takeover 36, one of the best pay per views the promotion has ever put on.
In a hard-hitting match that had become a staple of WALTER’s WWE matches, he used all his might to try to put down the plucky Russian, although nothing could keep him down for three.
Ilja Dragunov won a match that surpassed the original, and saw him win the NXT UK Championship for the first time.
- Dave Metlzer Star Rating – 5.25 Stars
- Cageamatch Rating –
- Atletifo Rating – 5 Stars
Dave Meltzer Star Rating – 5.25 Stars
Cagematch Rating – 9.63