Ilja Dragunov

[10.0] "Ilja Dragunov makes every match he's in intense and he's such a great wrestler. He's just fun to watch in the ring, every time he's in a match, you have to watch it cause it'll be a great match or one of the matches of the year. Love Ilja"

[10.0] "I'm pretty sure Ilja Dragunov believes professional wrestling is real and no one had the heart to tell him that it isn't. Probably the best relatively young wrestler in the company right now. I'm admittedly not super familiar with his pre-WWE work but his NXT stuff was magical and his matches with WALTER are as outstanding as they're renowned to be. I don't really watch the product at all anymore but I always keep an eye out for Dragunov because he manages to cut through the absolute bullshit that is post-TKO enshittification WWE and and and make me care. Godspeed you mad Russian bastard."

[10.0] "One of the best wrestlers in WWE currently. He is slowly climbing up the ranks in WWE. Hopefully, he wins the Undisputed WWE Number 1 Contenders match. He's been putting in so much work, and he deserves it. He and Sami have elevated the US title so much that I genuinely think they both deserve it at this point."

[10.0] "The first time I watched Ilja Dragunov was in a tag match against Aussie Open and I became a fan of him instantly. Fast forward to 2025 and while he was out for the majority of the year, only 2 months after his return and he is one of the few wrestlers in the WWE that will made your time feels worth after watching his matches. There is intensity, raw power, pure striking ability and a very ring awareness in every match possible and I have an opinion that if you put him in any slot, he will steal the show. His bumping and selling sometimes are a little exaggerated, but I think he is kinda putting all pieces together. For all the bad wrestling that the fed will provide, Ilja Dragunov is one of the guys that deserves a chance with the world championship."

[10.0] "I dont hand out 10's easily. Ilja is the best case of stiff style America gets to see on a weekly basis. He's believable, he's jacked, his offense looks like it will knock you the hell out, he.... sells (WHAT). Unrivaled in-ring stamina and awareness. Elevates anyone in the ring with him. Ilja vs Walter I and II are must watch matches. I hope they get a chance to run it back, without being stifled by being on the main roster."

[10.0] "Was first introduced to him on NXT and quickly rose to one of my favorites, this dude is just straight up awesome and i'm convinced that he can put on a banger with anyone"

[10.0] "Ilja Dragunov is one of the best wrestlers in the world, top 3 in my opinion and just screams intensity. One of the hardest hitters in the game and sells/bumps like a mad man to make his opponents look good"

[10.0] "One of the best wrestlers of the last five years. Everything he does is magic. Every single one of his matches is a banger. Absolute monster of a wrestler!"

[10.0] "He came back from an injury that benched him more than twice the length of his first run main roster, so they bring him back to a new show, and in less than a month he's the only reason to watch that show. Seriously, Ilja is a talent who defined every show he's on, and is undeniable every second he's in the ring. Absolute mad lad who ought to win to be given everything under the sun, he's so good nobody will doubt it. He redefines intensity in wrestling."

[10.0] "This guy is ridiculous. Genuinely one of the few wrestlers I've ever seen who puts on 4 or 5 star matches on a regular basis, always putting his body on the line and giving his best effort every time he's in the ring. His resilience and perseverance is scary, he's strong as hell, stiff, intense, and a very all around competent wrestler. He makes Smackdown feel like it's worth watching, and he's acceptable on the mic. He has a great physique as well. He is without question one of my favorite active male wrestlers along with Gunther, Je'Von Evans, Konosuke Takeshita and a couple others."

[10.0] "He might be my favorite wrestler in WWE, and I really hope he gets the opportunities he deserves to shine in the Main Event scene. He has passion, technique, speed maybe he's missing a little something on the mic, but being Russian it's understandable; we've seen much worse. He works as a face, he works as a heel, he just works in every possible way. He has potential dream matches with so many wrestlers it's mouth-watering. In the ring he's definitely one of the top talents in the company. Hopefully, as I keep saying, he'll be given the chance to break into the main event."

[10.0] "The most intense wrestler I've ever seen, he would be an ace for WWE if they give the chance. Absolute Monster and Psycho on the ring."

[10.0] "A symphony of violence. That's what you sign for whenever you step into the ring with The Mad Dragon. When it comes to Ilja Dragunov, pain shall entertain you indeed. The hell this man is willing to put his body through is mind-boggling. But that's what Ilja is all about, that's how wildly passionate he is, and it truly is a sight to behold. He might get brutalized, but he'll always will his way through even the most sadistic beatings imaginable (Hi WALTER), and he'll do so with the kind of indomitable fire and breathtaking intensity only a few (if any) can match. His offense is as ferocious, hard-hitting and devastating as it gets; nothing too flashy, bombs only, and I absolutely love it! Ilja is a different kind of beast and a modern embodiment of man's man wrestling; no knee pads, no elbow pads, just delightful raw violence. But really, Ilja can do it all in that ring. His wrestling is incredibly tight and to the point, his sense of urgency is top-tier, his work on the mat excellent, his strength is impressive, he's explosive, he can even fly a bit, his attention to details is brilliant, and on top of all that, he can be a masterful storyteller with outstanding psychology. Now I know some say he tends to oversell, and while it might be true to some extent, when it's on point, it can actually transcend a match. Aside from his magnificent in-ring work, Ilja still has some work to do when it comes to his character. He might have significantly turn the silly over-the-top psychotic shticks down a notch, but his excessive facial expressions are still there, and it doesn't help that he kinda looks like a buffed Joffrey (from Game of Thrones). On a side note, his drip is immaculate. His mic skills are pretty decent but his voice tends to be a bit too theatrical. Regardless, his in-ring work is just too damn good and as daring as it might sound, if he can perform like this at least another 8 to 10 years, he might end up as my favorite in-ring performer ever. Knowing the workhorse he is and the sheer passion he brings to the table, that bad ass beast might just do that. Just give the man the main event push he deserves, because he might very well be the best male wrestler in WWE right now."

[10.0] "Here you're talking of one of the best wrestlers in WWE today and wrestling in general, Ilja has a discipline to train and get better that it's way admirable, he didn't made it to Japan, but has all the characteristics I would look for a world champion figure, even if mic isn't his strongest point, he's a wrestler that delivered Amazing bangers of match, him vs Gunther can be a new rivalry to last in the fans, his NXT days were amazing, he looked strong and makes reactions on the fans, I wish to see him as World Champion because he has the abilities to fill that role and figure of a strong man as champion. 10/10"

[7.0] "Good but not like everyone think an overrated wrestlers with good abilities and I think water made the people think that he's a great wrestler but Walter can make anyone looks good so a good wrestler but with bigger haype but he's better than a lot of wrestlers today"

[10.0] "Pure grit and talent this man. He is incredible. He's got a great future ahead of him, just needs the right booking and the spotlight to shine on him good. If the stars align, its his game."

[7.0] "The "Mad Dragon" himself! Dragunov is certainly a favorite of mine out of these young, up and coming talents in WWE. I love the intensity he brings to the ring, he's like a modern day Chris Benoit in the best way possible, you can just tell he truly cares about the industry and the quality of each match he's in. He does a great job at making his work feels so real while at the same time making sure to protect whoever he's in the ring with, he's had awesome matches in NXT and is coming off a banger for the US title with Sami Zayn. I can't help but always think of his longtime rival and foil Gunther whenever talking about Ilja as well, they both bring a similar intensity to the ring, but where as Gunther feels more brutal and ruthless, Dragunov brings more of that Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle "never say die" attitude and perservance. I will say some of the moves he does can look sloppy at times, he is a little small, and he still has a lot to prove in my eyes, but man is he talented."

[2.0] "Ilja Dragunov is not as good as people think he is. Let me explain and think about it and please just notice obvious things, first of all he's just the most unauthentic wrestler now, and he's definitely up there and might be truly the most ngl, his face expressions? You see how cringe they are? Like just everything or almost everything feels so weird and forced. It's kind uncomfortable, I just don't like his style his not my cup of tea at all and not even close to. Most of his popular matches are super overrated, it's not all time matches but at least some is really good, but him as a wrestler ? No just no."

[10.0] "the future greatest of all time, i miss him so much and he's probably my favourite modern wrestler, he's a diamond, he's everything you want from a wrestler"

[10.0] "Can't wait for him to return to WWE. He was one of my favourite WWE wrestlers. He isn't just a good wrestler, he embodies what it means to be a pro wrestler."

[10.0] "He will be a world champion one day. And when that day comes, he could be considered one of the greatest wrestlers alive."

[10.0] "He's still young, but already showed so much greatness. I want to see Ilja Dragunov in the main-event"

[10.0] "He's the best Underdog babyface in the businesses right now and one of the best of all time. Dragunov's selling is unmatched wether he's selling a limb or just exhaustion and pain. The Mad Dragon is a gimmick that works and Dragunov himself is very charismatic. Much like Gunther, His matches Feel real. They feel like a fight. Dragunov isn't the greatest promo which keeps him away from being perfect but he's still one of my favourites."

[8.0] "Ilja Dragunov is one of the most intense and compelling performers in modern wrestling. Known for his ferocious in-ring style, unmatched physicality, and raw emotional storytelling, Dragunov brings a level of realism and passion that few others can replicate. His matches are battles of attrition, where he absorbs brutal punishment and fights with almost reckless determination. What sets him apart is his ability to make every strike, scream, and expression feel genuine. He doesn't just wrestle; he endures, and watching him do so is magnetic. His series with WALTER in NXT UK produced some of the most violent, dramatic, and unforgettable matches in recent memory. That rivalry alone cemented his legacy as a modern warrior with a never-say-die spirit. Since moving to NXT, he's continued to prove himself as a top-tier talent, capable of anchoring the brand with show-stealing performances and a deeply unique presence. While he may not have the broad mainstream charisma of others, Dragunov more than makes up for it with authenticity and intensity. Every match feels like a chapter in a personal struggle, and every victory feels earned. He's not just a great wrestler--he's a captivating story every time he steps into the ring, tho he still has some room to grow in adapting to the "WWE style""

[10.0] "One of the realest wrestlers in the world. He makes you feel unlike many others are able to. His selling is his best trait but his offense always looks awesome too. Cool move-set as well"

[10.0] "Ilja Dragunov is the embodiment of the unbreakable spirit in professional wrestling. He isn't the most versatile wrestler on the roster, but what he does, he does with unmatched conviction. His portrayal of a warrior who thrives on pain, emotionally and physically, is one of the most compelling character interpretations in the business today. He makes you believe in the fight, every single time he steps into the ring. What sets Ilja apart is how consistently he elevates both himself and his opponents. Whether winning or losing, he makes his matches feel epic and his adversaries look like monsters. His ability to sell, not just moves, but moments and emotions, is among the very best in WWE today. It's hard to think of a genuinely bad match in his recent run; his floor is higher than most performers' ceilings. Few wrestlers on the main roster deliver emotional realism and cathartic storytelling quite like Ilja. He brings an intensity and sincerity to his performances that avoids the usual tropes or overacting. Everything feels earned, every comeback, every moment of desperation, every final blow. Technically, he's excellent on the mat as well. His in-ring psychology is top-tier, and he's able to build drama through pacing, strikes, and structure rather than relying on shortcuts. Every match feels like a battle--structured, meaningful, and impactful. I'm counting the days until his return from injury. If he can stay healthy, Ilja has all the tools to become a top-tier main roster star, not just critically acclaimed, but emotionally resonant with audiences on a large scale."

[8.0] "simply amazing, Ilja Dragunov is a unique talent since her wXw days, excellent matches and rivalries, especially against Cara Noir and WALTER, one of the best WWE signings in thesimply amazing, Ilja Dragunov is a unique talent since her wXw days, excellent matches and rivalries, especially against Cara Noir and WALTER, one of the best WWE signings in the the last few years and it will certainly generate good results for the company as it is already generating."

[9.0] "Dragunov is the perfect combination of pure wrestling, with the emotion of entertainment, a monster!"

[10.0] "One of the best wrestlers in WWE, who can make a good match with everyone in a roster. Charisma, Passion, Killer Instinct - he have it all. He's even good on a mic. Can't wait what he can do with guys in a main roster. DAVAIIIIIIIIIII."

[9.0] "This guy is wrestling personified. Watch him wrestle and he will instantly convey a part of his passion to you. Hits and sells like his life depends on it."

[9.0] "Ilja Dragunov is the total package. He has charisma and a good gimmick which he makes work. In the ring he has had some phenomenal matches with Walter and Carmello Hayes. Hard hitting offense and good psychology make his matches stand out. Injury issues at the wrong time has hurt his WWE run."

[10.0] "Undeniably one of the finest in-ring performers around today. He can turn even the most mundane match--like one with a mop--into an entertaining spectacle! While his promo skills could use a little polish, he truly shines in the ring and excites fans whenever he enters. Simply remarkable!"

[6.0] "There's an element of nostalgia remaining for when Ilja was the most exciting worker in Europe. Unfortunately his work has increasingly shown signs of being rather formulaic and those sparks of excitement we had are now gone. He is now a parody of his former self - as if he doesn't need to work as hard now that he's 'got the contract'. The series with Cara Noir should be discussed in The Hague, quite frankly."

[10.0] "Might be one of the most intense...people ever, fuck the "wrestling" part, he's just the physical embodiment of intensity. Nothing but greatness for someone like Ilja"

[10.0] "Dragunov is currently in my top 3 favorite wrestlers in the world right now, its a shame to see that he got hurt and will be out for a while. what got me hooked into him was his intensity, selling ability, and pure wrestling. when he's going on the offense deep in a match it can look like he's mauling his opponent and doing whatever he can to win. and when he's taking all the offense from his opponents, (WALTER, Dijak, etc) he can make them look like he's in legitimate pain and being brutalized without overselling, and he even sells his own offense which is something we rarely see in the modern times. 10 points to the future intercontinental (and hopefully world) champion!"

[5.0] "A very hit-or-miss wrestler. Liked his matches in wXw, the WALTER matches in NXT are some of the best wrestling I've seen but after that, he just became a parody of himself. Comes off as very dork-like with him acting like a shonen anime protagonist with villainous verbiage as a gimmick. His selling comes off way too cartoonish for me. He's still capable of producing good (vs. Breakker in a #1 contender's match for Zayn's IC title on RAW). I like that he has a falling forearm as one of his finishers, good ring-gear and I like his indie-like entrance. Extremely talented yet overrated wrestler."

[10.0] "One of the best active wrestlers in the world in my opinion. Everything Ilja does is the definition of intense, from his promos to how he always carries himself and looks, and to of course his in-ring. He is one of the best sellers in the business, he's able to sell everything to make it look like he is in excruciating pain but somehow isn't over the top. When it comes to match catalogue, he has his instant classics with WALTER in NXT, in my opinion, each other's greatest rivals. I haven't seen most of his indie matches but I've seen his matches with Shingo, against him and as a team, WALTER and Timothy Thatcher, and Tyler Bate, each and everyone absolutely excellent. Ilja had an amazing trilogy with Carmelo Hayes, which really brough the best out of Melo and really made him a star. On top of this Ilja in his last year in NXT was able to get not 1, not 2, but 3 incredible matches out of a very green wrestler in Trick Williams, something that hasn't really been done since then and is just absolutely incredible. There are few wrestlers in the world who despite being excellent themselves, would be able to bring out those series of matches out of someone who doesn't even have a full page of matches yet, I think you would genuinely be in Kenny Omega and Konosuke Takeshita territory in that regard. I fully believe that if Ilja had not been injured, he would have had a case for TV wrestler of the year for 2024, seeing as his matches on TV already before he was injured were some of the best for the company for the year."

[9.0] "Ilija is that guy he's one of my favorite wrestlers currently. Every Match Dragunov has had is an banger and the level of intensity that he does with every move is amazing. Ilja can have a good match with anyone he's never had a bad match. His Matches that he Vs Walter In NXT UK & Takeover 36 are some of my favorite and best matches of all time. I can't wait to see what more he has in store for the future."

[10.0] "A Future legend, I love his fighting spirit sm, and he's one of the best in the whole world, every program he had (like Gunther/Walter, Dijak, Trick and Carmelo) was great, you can put him against any opponent and he will still be enjoyable to watch"

[9.0] "The brightest up-and-comer on the main roster, and it's such a shame he was injured in mid-2024. Mark my words, next year will be the year of Dragunov, his enthusiasm and passion for wrestling is infectious, and in a few years he could very much be in the position of best in-ring worker in the company, which I'd say is currently held by his rival, GUNTHER."

[7.0] "While not the most fruitful call to the main roster in WWE, Ilja shouldn't be dismissed so easily. He gives it his all in the ring, making his matches feel very intense, brutal, even. Not much to say in other areas, but he is still an overall good performer."

[10.0] "Intensity intensity intensity. Hes one of the few wrestlers that make this shit look real. A very Bright future ahead despite the latest setback. One of the best wrestlers in the world"

[7.0] "Everything Ilja did in NXT was perfect, but when it came to be part of the bigger picture, he looks weaker. I'm not quite sure whether it's a bad booking or comparison with other superstars who look bigger and brighter. The fact is Dragunov has lost himself, so he urgently needs a long-term story to show his abilities if he's ready to shine on huge TV shows or he isn't that format"

[10.0] "The best seller in the world, he's selling everything like he's being shot. Other than that he's also amazing in the ring, has presence, charisma, he's believable and he's a futur world champion."

[10.0] "Ilja is one of the few people I always stop whatever I am doing and mind meld with the computer, phone or screen he is on. Ilja has a hall-of-fame worthy set of matches at 30. He makes every move he takes or does feel like an absolute gunshot, I pray the stars align for this man to become a world-champion in the coming years."

[8.0] "I think Ilja is a very talented person athletically, but I find his theatrics to be extremely off putting and distracting, and it prevents me from enjoying things the way that I should for how much pain he's putting his body through. The issue is he's always trying to show me how much everything hurts that I can't focus on any move of offense, it feels that every single time I'm watching his matches I'm just watching him get destroyed until he overpowers the guy thats destroying him with no explanation as to why Ilja is a threat."

[3.0] "Don't understand the hype this guy gets. Seems like he could work well as an underdog but the way hes booked as a threat is just unbelievable. Constantly overpowering people twice his size with no reason behind it just takes me out of the matches completely. He has some undeniable talent but the way hes portrayed and the way he wrestles is just hard to watch for me. Feels like another wrestler that is getting over solely on booking and nothing else. Hopefully something changes and he takes inspiration from other people his size and develops a more "realistic" stlye in the ring at some point but at this point it just makes any match hes in hard to watch for me. Best of luck to him but right now I could not take him seriously as anything beyond a mid-card filler when him and the company give me no reason to do so outside of booking him to win."

[10.0] "Ilja puts in always put 150% effort in to his matches and never fails to deliver some of the best matches I've ever seen. His matches with Gunther and Carmelo Hayes are some of NXT's best put on matches and I love to re-watch them from time to time. Definitely in my top 10 in-ring competitors right now."

[10.0] "Ilja gives everything he has in the ring. He is one of the best sellers. Highly talented and brings the intensity to every match. He is athletic, technically sound, and is hard hitting. He'll bring the best out of anyone."

[9.0] "I have witnessed the majority of his career. He makes me so excited in the ring. A special wrestler who lives in the moment. Especially the times of NXT UK and wXw were tremendous. He is a big potential, I hope WWE uses it well. I hope he will compete with Gunther in Wwe as soon as possible."