Ilja Dragunov Returns to WWE SmackDown, Wins United States Championship

Sami Zayn has been doing open challenges for the WWE United States Championship since he won the title from Solo Sikoa on the August 29 episode of SmackDown. Some of his challengers have been Shinsuke Nakamura, Rey Fenix, Aleister Black, and even a soon-to-be-retired John Cena. It was this week’s episode that proved to be Zayn’s final time as the champion because of a returning Dragunov. He answered the open challenge, showing off new ink on his neck and an impressive physique.

It went in his favor. Dragonov defeated Zayn and became the new WWE United States Champion. It’s the former NXT/NXT UK star's first main roster title. Though Dragunov didn’t get too long to celebrate his win, because of an attack by MFT. Zayn also got attacked by the faction.

Why Ilja Dragunov Was Gone For More Than A Year

The last time fans saw the former NXT Champion on television was on the September 9, 2024, episode of WWE RAW, where he was in the WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contendership Tournament finals. It was a Fatal Four-Way match, and Jey Uso had defeated Dragunov, Pete Dunne, and former WWE Superstar Braun Strowman.

His last match before returning was on the October 17 episode of SmackDown, which took place at a WWE SuperShow on September 28, 2024. The match was between then-WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, who successfully defended his title against Dragunov.

So why has Dragunov been gone so long? Well, during his live event match against Gunther, he suffered a torn ACL. Dragunov had only been on the main roster since April 2024. He made his main roster debut on the April 8 episode of WWE Raw, where he defeated Nakamura.

Dragunov signed with WWE in January 2019 and made his WWE NXT UK debut on the May 15 episode. After WWE got rid of the UK developmental brand in 2022, he moved to NXT and would stay on the brand until April 2024. So now he’s back in the WWE ring, and he’s holding a WWE title. One couldn’t ask for a better return. Will he be doing open challenges like Zayn? Maybe. But for now, it’s just good to see him in the ring and doing what he does best.