Behind-the-Scenes Update on Dragunov’s WWE Status

Summary

– WWE NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov was unable to defend his title at New Year’s Evil due to an injury.

– Dragunov’s neck injury, sustained from an attack by Ridge Holland, has not fully healed, leading to his removal from the main event.

– The timeframe for Dragunov’s return to in-ring action remains uncertain.

Ilja Dragunov, the reigning WWE NXT Champion, was set to defend his title at the New Year’s Evil special event. However, he was pulled from the event due to an injury. According to Haus of Wrestling, Dragunov’s neck had not fully recovered from an attack he suffered at the hands of Ridge Holland on the December 13 episode of NXT.

Sources within WWE revealed that beyond his neck, Dragunov is still healing from the physical toll of 2023 and is taking longer to recover than expected. The decision to remove him from the New Year’s Evil main event was made over the past weekend.

In Dragunov’s absence, former Iron Survivor winner and WWE SmackDown star Grayson Waller stepped in. The main event saw an unexpected twist when Kevin Owens interfered, leading to Waller’s defeat. This last-minute change was one of several adjustments made to the night’s show, including a substitution for Dragon Lee due to passport issues.

Dragunov’s injury and the uncertainty surrounding his return have raised questions about the future of the NXT Championship. Fans and officials alike are eagerly awaiting updates on his condition and potential return to the ring.