đ„ âThe Mad Dragon Is âBack!ââShocking Backstage Details On Ilja Dragunovâs Explosive WWE Return & U.S. Title Win Revealed đ±đ„
Ilja Dragunov has officially returned â and he didnât just come back, he took over.
On last Fridayâs WWE SmackDown, the former NXT and NXT UK Champion made his long-awaited comeback after more than a year on the sidelines â and instantly made history by defeating Sami Zayn in a jaw-dropping open challenge to capture the United States Championship.
According to BodySlam+, Dragunovâs WWE return was originally planned for September, but the comeback had to be pushed back a few weeks. The âMad Dragonâ had been recovering from a brutal torn ACL that kept him out of action for 382 days â making his fiery return even more emotional for fans whoâve been waiting to see him unleash his intensity once again.
Interestingly, WWE had first penciled him in for Monday Night RAW, but plans changed late in the process. Officials reportedly shifted Dragunov to SmackDown because the blue brand âneeded a bit of a shakeupâ â and he delivered exactly that.
In a surprising twist, backstage reports also reveal that Sami Zayn himself requested to drop the U.S. Title to Dragunov, believing it would be the perfect way to reintroduce him to the WWE Universe in grand fashion. Zaynâs short reign lasted around seven weeks after he dethroned Solo Sikoa back in August.
Now, Dragunovâs victory has already sent shockwaves through the locker room â and fans are buzzing about whatâs next for WWEâs newest champion.
The âMad Dragonâ has risen again⊠and SmackDown may never be the same. đ„
Would you like me to make it sound even more like a WWE.com feature (official-style) or a wrestling news site post (with more drama and fan tone)?
