WWE Star Addresses Claims He Got Buried By Brock Lesnar: “Guys, Please”
A former WWE United States Champion finally opened up on the claims that he was buried by Brock Lesnar earlier this year. The star in discussion is Ilja Dragunov.
Ilja Dragunov has been with the WWE since 2019, and after a great run in NXT, he debuted on the main roster in 2024. After a return from injury last year, The Mad Dragon captured the United States title on SmackDown. He went on to have a great title run by putting on open challenges every week. Dragunov was also a part of the 2026 men’s Royal Rumble match.
During the men’s Rumble match earlier this year, Ilja Dragunov had a brief standoff with Brock Lesnar. Brock absolutely no-sold Ilja’s chops in the corner and eliminated him in rage as well. Many fans on the internet speculated whether Lesnar buried Dragunov by no-selling his deadly and hard-hitting chops at the Rumble. Meanwhile, The Mad Dragon finally addressed the burial claims.
Ilja Dragunov refuted the claims of being buried by Brock Lesnar
During his recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Ilja Dragunov absolutely denied that he got buried by Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, while stating how fortunate he was to be toe-to-toe with Lesnar:
Guys, please. I was toe-to-toe in front of Brock Lesnar. How many people in this lifetime can do this? Brock Lesnar has been so influential, and so significant for the entire history of this company. Having the chance to just have this moment that was perfectly expressing who I am, is just stunning. Because of course I’m the guy who steps up to the biggest beast that you can possibly imagine, and I don’t hold back.”
Dragunov further stated that he brought the best fight to The Beast Incarnate during the men’s Rumble match, but he lost the fight:
Of course you’re gonna lose fights in your life. But the person that Ilja Dragunov is, is I’m gonna step up, I’m gonna face my fear, I’m not gonna hold back. And if I need to suffer the punishment from that, I gladly will do so. And some people will not understand that, and say, oh he got just ragdolled out of it, but I take it as a medal towards myself that I brought the best fight that I could bring to the absolute beast.” [h/t Cageside Seats]
El Zar Ilja Dragunov debió considerar si era buena idea meterse con Brock LEsnar en Royal Rumble 😱 pic.twitter.com/WkAY4uHWij
— WWE Español (@wweespanol) February 5, 2026
Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar has seemingly retired after losing to Oba Femi at WrestleMania 42.
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