A Clash of Titans: Dragunov and Hayes Set the Stage for an Epic Showdown at WWE NXT

Ilja Dragunov, the new number one contender, made his intentions clear to the reigning NXT Champion, Carmelo Hayes. The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown at the Great American Bash.

In a passionate address, Dragunov said, “Carmelo, last week I didn’t mean to put my nose into your business… I want to face you as the champion at the Great American Bash! But you let me down at the end because — and it’s funny for me to say this. You lost control.”

Not one to back down, Hayes responded, “I lost control? No, no, no. The truth is, I had everything under control… There is nobody as ready for you as I am for this match and you are ready for this championship… And when it rains, it pours. And by the end of it, I am going to be swimming in W’s at Great American Bash you will feel me because I am Mr. P-L-E and I will hit different.”

Undeterred, Dragunov retorted, “Oh, you are going to have to hit different and harder than ever before because, if don’t, the Melo dynasty you are building will fall apart… At the Great American Bash the most intense men in NXT, this dragon, the blow fire you cannot control. On July 30th, I’m going to blow that fire out. And for one of us, it’s going to be champagne and for the other it’s going to be just pain.”