Injured WWE Star Training For Surprise Return

After sitting out due to injury for four months, it seems one WWE star could be back in action much sooner than expected.

Former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov has made a name for himself in WWE since joining the main roster in the spring of 2024. Dragunov has shared the ring with the likes of Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Shinsuke Nakamura on Raw but it’s his matches with Gunther from NXT that still stand out from his WWE career.

Dragunov has faced World Heavyweight Champion Gunther in several live events and dark matches in recent months and it was no different when an increasingly rare WWE house show took place on September 28 2024 in Columbus, Georgia.

Gunther won but that was the least of Dragunov’s problems by the time the match was over. On Raw in Evansville, Indiana, Joe Tessitore revealed that Ilja Dragunov suffered a torn ACL during that match but could his return to the ring be coming much sooner than expected?

Ilja Dragunov Training For WWE Comeback

Fightful Select has now reported Ilja Dragunov’s return to WWE could be coming sooner rather than later. Dragunov has been seen at the WWE Performance Center training for an eventual in-ring comeback and it was noted that his training at the PC wasn’t just simple rehab.

Dragunov’s absence was expected to last anywhere between six and nine months immediately following his injury. There is not said to be any news of WWE’s creative plans for the star or if his return is expected in the immediate future.