Backstage update on 30-year-old WWE Superstar after suffering brutal ending to match on Monday Night Raw

Bron Breakker defeated Ilja Dragunov to become the #1 contender for the IC title on the latest episode of Raw. 

Backstage update on 30-year-old WWE Superstar after suffering brutal ending to match on Monday Night Raw

Raw (via WWE)

Since Bron Breakker‘s main roster debut at the Royal Rumble earlier this year, he has been on a path of destruction. Breakker has dominated everyone who has crossed his path, and his longtime rival, Ilja Dragunov, was no exception. The former NXT Champion recently had a hard-hitting match with him, which Dragunov lost after he couldn’t continue to compete.

According to a report by Fightful Select, Ilja Dragunov was doing fine and recovering well after his match against Bron Breakker. On the latest episode of Raw, both stars competed in the ring to become the No. 1 contender for Sami Zayn‘s I.C. Championship. In the final moments of the classic match, The Mad Dragon was preparing to attempt the H-Bomb from the apron. However, Breakker speared him midway, causing his head to crash onto the hard edge of the apron.

YouTube video

The fall was so severe that fans began to worry for the Russian star. Although he was fine after the match, Breakker won and became the No. 1 contender for Zayn’s title. He went on to ambush the champion by delivering a devastating spear just minutes after the former Bloodline member emerged victorious against The Judgment Day in the main event.

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Meanwhile, Dragunov has been waiting for a decisive victory since his win over Ricochet in the King of the Ring tournament. Since his main roster debut, he hasn’t been wrestled on any PLE yet, and fans have already expressed their frustration. Although he doesn’t have a storyline at the moment, he is expected to play a significant role at the Bash in Berlin PLE in September.

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Sami Zayn showered praise on Ilja Dragunov and called him the future of WWE

Even though many results didn’t go the way Ilja Dragunov would have wanted, it doesn’t define his greatness. Sami Zayn wrestled him once, but the match ended in disqualification due to interference from Breakker. Zayn had only positive things to say about The Mad Dragon.

Ilja Dragunov and Sami Zayn
Ilja Dragunov and Sami Zayn (via ESPN)

In an interview with Wrestling Inc., the Canadian star expressed his admiration for Dragunov’s wrestling style. Zayn stated that he loved his in-ring work and appreciated the effort Dragunov put into conveying struggle during matches, which made it beautiful to watch. He admitted that it was a quality possessed by very few superstars.

Dragunov, I love his style. I love his in-ring work. I've been watching him for a minute. I think he's really good. He has something that not a lot of people have, which is an innate understanding of the struggle that makes wrestling a beautiful thing. I don't see it very often, and he's definitely got it.
Sami Zayn on Ilja Dragunov via Wrestling Inc.

Despite his rivalry with him, the former Bloodline member also praised Breakker. He believed that both NXT call-ups would soon become torchbearers for WWE. Although fans love Zayn as the Intercontinental Champion, many wish to see the 26-year-old star become the new champion. Only time will tell what happens at SummerSlam on August 3.

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