The reign of the “Mad Dragon” has begun with a stern warning to its potential challengers.
After greater than a yr on the shelf, Ilja Dragunov returned to WWE television in grand fashion by answering and conquering Sami Zayn’s open challenge for the WWE United States Championship on “WWE SmackDown.” Fresh off his win, the brand new champion then reflected on his time away from the ring; at the identical time, he looked ahead to the probabilities that his comeback may bring about.
“It has been such an extended yr,” Dragunov said in a backstage video posted to Instagram, “and no person understands how I feel sitting on the sidelines for a yr, waiting and hoping and training to come back back higher than anybody else. More ruthless, more ambitious, fearless, more courage, all this stuff and every thing that I achieved over this yr, this can be a symbol of it. Me as a United States Champion. One thing is so clear to me right away. I got a really, very clear message to everyone who’s coming for this. My dear friends and my dear enemies, in the event you step with me into the ring, pain shall entertain you.”
Initially, The Miz emerged as the newest answer to Zayn’s open challenge. Before he could enter the ring, nonetheless, Carmelo Hayes attacked him from behind, rendering him unable to compete. On cue, Dragunov seized the opening (latest neck tattoo and all) and stepped as much as Zayn in his place.
The closing of Dragunov vs. Zayn saw Zayn’s Helluva Kick countered with a Torpedo Moscow from Dragunov, who then delivered an H-Bomb for the win. With it, Dragunov began his first reign as WWE United States Champion, while Zayn’s own first got here to an end at 49 days.