During a recent interview with Metro, WWE NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov commented on his match with WALTER at NXT TakeOver 36, his intense wrestling style, and more. You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On defeating WALTER at NXT TakeOver 36: “I couldn’t sleep because I had so many different thoughts in my mind. The whole payoff to it, how it all came together being at TakeOver, getting this kind of attention from the people getting this reaction to what we did. Coming to this match, with the thought in my mind to bring an even more intense performance than that first match – and it all went so well. We were able to do something special again, it was just incredible. I can’t even explain the thoughts on this, because it was a complete mixture of everything.”
On his intense wrestling style and being motivated by his four-year-old son: “Of course, being a father changes you as a person completely. You always need to take care of yourself,’ he said, reflecting on the impact fatherhood has had on his intense wrestling style. On the other hand, there is a specific style how I fight, a very intense one, and this is what makes me unique. This is where I stick out, this is where no one can mess with me, my intensity…..it’s a balanced thing. You’ve gotta really think about – OK, how much am I willing to go through, and what’s the sacrifice I need to take for this,’ he pondered and smiled. And of course, I always think about my son. It’s actually a bigger motivation for me to go all in even more.”
