In the event you haven’t seen NXT UK, you then’re lacking the intense star of Ilja Dragunov.
Previous to the worldwide lockdown, the Russian had gained a battle royal to find out the following challenger for Walter’s NXT UK championship.
Six months later, he’s lastly getting to select up his momentum once more and he regarded nice within the first essential occasion again for NXT UK towards Noam Dar.
talkSPORT caught up with Dragunov on the week of NXT UK’s comeback and we dived into all issues wrestling.
On his respectful relationship with Walter…
Respect is certainly a phrase we will say concerning the connection me and Walter have. We’ve got lots of historical past and we met at lots of completely different levels of our careers and each stage meant one thing.
I believe at a sure level, Walter made me. A lot, so typically. And I’m grateful for that, however regardless, I’m the primary contender and after we step within the ring, one thing is going on that individuals have by no means seen earlier than. By no means.
As a result of each time we step in there collectively it’s a particular one thing and they’ll by no means, ever neglect the expertise.
On the BT Sport studios being NXT UK’s house
I obtained to say, the BT Sport studios are one of the vital stunning sights I ever noticed earlier than.
I used to be there for the launch get together in January and already impressed then, however to know now we have such a robust companion and a brand new house within the BT Sports activities studio in East London, it was a pleasure. It was pure professionalism.
On how hungry the NXT UK roster is since returning…
The entire roster is hungry. We’re all hungry and I’m tremendous hungry. After all, it undoubtedly completely different to work in entrance of almost nobody with no viewers. Like I mentioned, I’m like Walter, I simply adapt to every little thing. I see it as one thing thrilling.
It’s a brand new expertise to do my greatest at, with no crowd cheering you. That’s not one thing that stops me, although. We’re nonetheless there to do the very best we will do and that gained’t cease us.
On watching WWE throughout lockdown…
I watched lots of stuff occurring in America throughout this and I’ve lots of respect for NXT and the opposite manufacturers and the way they handled the state of affairs. As a result of we had time to arrange ourselves and have a look at how they’re doing this.
We simply noticed a loopy work ethic and this tremendous skilled approach of dealing with the state of affairs. It’s simply nice. That retains the drive going for me, too.
On who to look out for when watching NXT UK…
I obtained to say that the primary person who springs to thoughts from the NXT UK roster is certainly A-Child. We had a match collectively and it was one of many episodes throughout this pandemic already and I’ve a lot respect for A-Child as a result of his work ethic impresses me, the sort of individual he’s impresses me.
He’s a really sort, humble individual. However his work ethic speaks so loud in a really humble and respectful individual. And to see how in a position and the way robust his model is – a really European model – I believe he’s going to impress lots of people tuning in.
On having a TakeOver present on the BT Studios…
Clearly with the state of affairs proper now it makes it unattainable to do a TakeOver with a dwell crowd. After all, we’re working in the direction of having the very best tapings we will have and BT are open to having followers attend ultimately, so when it’s doable, we’re working in the direction of it.
Catch NXT UK on the WWE Community every Thursday at 8pm and on BT Sport at 10pm each Friday
