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Ilja Dragunov made a sensational return last Friday on SmackDown and created history on his first appearance in more than a year. Sami Zayn was issuing an Open challenge for the WWE United States Championship he was holding the title. The Miz was about to answer the challenge, but he was taken off by Carmelo Hayes, so he could not answer the challenge.
As soon as The Miz was written off the picture, Ilja Dragunov made a sensational return to answer the Open challenge. He challenged for the WWE United States Championship, and it will not be exaggerated if said the do we produced the match of the night. Dragunov was really amazing despite remaining out of action for over a year.
What were the original plans for Ilja Dragunov's return?
Ultimately, Dragunov shocked the entire world by defeating Sami Zayn and by ending up winning the WWE United States Championship. It is the first main roster Championship that Dragunov won, but definitely, this is not going to be his only main roster title win.
Ilja Dragunov returned on SmackDown last Friday
Previously, he won the NXT Championship and also the NXT UK Championship while he was a part of the developmental territory of WWE. He made his main roster debut last year, and he was having an excellent run before suffering a torn ACL injury last year in September. It kept him out of action for 13 long months.
He won the WWE United States Championship on his return
It was reported that he would be out of action for 6 to 9 months, but it actually to 13 months before he finally made his return. According to reports from Bodyslam, Dragunov was supposed to return on RAW last month, but it was postponed as the WWE officials wanted to make him look even stronger on his return.
The picture for Ilja Dragunov as the WWE United States Champion is not clear right now. But chances are very low that he will start a rivalry with Sami Zayn over the title since the Canadian professional wrestler is heading towards a feud with the MFT. Dragunov was also attacked by the MFT last Friday, so the next scenario for the title is not clear.
