Brock Lesnar’s Royal Rumble Spot Sparks Real Backstage Tension After Ilja Dragunov Elimination
What looked like a blink-and-you-miss-it moment in the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble has turned into one of the most controversial talking points behind the curtain.
Brock Lesnar’s brief interaction with former United States Champion Ilja Dragunov drew instant attention when Dragunov stepped up and unloaded his trademark chops. Instead of selling the offense or turning it into a competitive exchange, Lesnar reportedly stunned many by completely shrugging it off, roaring in Dragunov’s face, and dumping him over the top rope in seconds.
While parts of the live crowd reacted loudly to Lesnar’s raw dominance, the mood backstage was said to be far less enthusiastic.
According to Fightful Select, several WWE talents were unhappy with how the spot played out. The report notes that multiple wrestlers privately expressed frustration, with some even responding to celebrating fans with eye-rolls and dismissive reactions. The belief among those backstage was that the moment did more harm than good, making Dragunov look weak without truly elevating Lesnar in the process.
The situation has only become more intriguing due to the uncertainty surrounding Lesnar’s future. There is reportedly no confirmed creative direction for “The Beast” coming out of the Royal Rumble, and despite heavy speculation online, a potential clash with Oba Femi is said to be far from locked in.
With fan reactions split and backstage sentiment reportedly tense, Lesnar’s lightning-fast elimination of Dragunov has quietly become one of the most debated Royal Rumble moments of the year—and one that continues to raise questions about how WWE handles its rising stars against established monsters.
