Exclusive Backstage News On Ilja Dragunov Being Pulled From NXT New Year’s Evil

[Dale]

Last night’s WWE NXT New Year’s Evil special was set to feature WWE NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defending his title after Iron Survivor winner Trick Williams. The big match did not take place as planned after it was announced that Dragunov was injured. It was noted that his neck had not fully healed from the attack he suffered at the hands of Ridge Holland on the December 13 episode.

After speaking with a tenured WWE source, Haus of Wrestling has learned that beyond his neck, Dragunov is “banged up from 2023” and is taking longer to heal his body than expected. The call to have him removed from the New Year’s Evil main event was made sometime this past weekend. As it was described to us, the time frame for Dragunov’s return to in-ring action is uncertain.​

 

[Cwalker]

Heal up. Hopefully it’s not too serious and he just needs rest.

 

[Canadian Dragon]

if he was banged up most of 2023, why did they put the belt on him?

 

[Deezy]

We back to believing that Haus guy!

 

[Hidden Blaze]

We back to believing that Haus guy!

Nah. I don’t believe it. I was gonna make a joke about how he’ll be back next week. But decided against it

 

[Deadd2009]

Shoulda just had an angle where he was jumped, Trick won the belt and then Carmelo turned on Trick.