WWE Star Claims His Family Hates His Wrestling Style

WWE Superstar Ilja Dragunov has claimed that his family hate his style of wrestling.

The all action Moscow-born 30 year-old signed with WWE in February 2019, making his in-ring debut ten weeks later with a victory over Jack Starz on NXT UK.

Dragunov impressed in the ensuing years, including a 346 day reign as NXT UK Champion that ended only due to injury as well as competing in a pair of critically acclaimed bouts with Walter, who was later renamed as Gunther upon his call up to the main roster.

Promotion to the NXT roster followed as did another lengthy reign, this time a 206 day stint as NXT Champion that ended at the hands of Trick Williams at Spring Breakin’ on 23rd April.

Despite now competing on the main roster following his allocation to Raw in the 2024 WWE Draft, Dragunov recently revealed to Metro that his style of wrestling means his family choose not to watch his work:

“I think my family hates my wrestling style.

Literally, until this day, my son didn’t see one match of me. He’s seven, and he’s going to turn eight this year. So, because I know what I do in that ring, and I know how I do that, it would be a bit too much for a seven-year-old to understand.

He’s going to need a bit more time until we get to that point.”

Dragunov would go on to reveal his belief that his style is the key reason for his success in the business to date and that he may not have a place in wrestling if he can no longer compete to the levels he demands of himself:

“It sounds a bit ruthless, but I really can’t think about that too much, because I think as more you pay attention to something, the more you create a self-proclaimed prophecy.

I just have the belief that my body is able to take what I expect from my body, to take in a certain performance that I do, because if I don’t do it like I do, then I have no place in this business, and I have no business doing anything, right?”

WWE Raw Debut Date On Netflix Confirmed

Ilja Dragunov and the rest of the Raw roster will soon be headed to Netflix after the company agreed a deal with the streaming giant for content worth a staggering $500 million dollars per year for a decade.

The date for the first Raw on Netflix has now been confirmed as 6th January 2025.

H/T: Fightful for the above transcription.