The WWE universe was stunned at the return of Ilja Dragunov during the October 17, 2025, edition of Friday Night SmackDown and the manner in which he dominated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship. However, a recent video showcasing the intense training session of the Mad Dragon proves why he was bound for glory as a professional wrestler.
i’m not even shocked ilja dragunov came back insanely jacked since this is what his training videos looked likepic.twitter.com/JDUT8Fckwj
— abbi (@abbipaperbags) October 18, 2025
From Bear Crawls and high-speed treadmill running to dumbbells inside the pool, the video establishes the fact that Dragunov relentlessly works on his physical strength, and the success inside the squared circle is obvious to him.
Ilja Dragunov Defeated Sami Zayn With More Ferocity and In-Ring Prowess Than Before
×
Ilja Dragunov has impressed the WWE universe ever since he became the NXT Champion by defeating Carmelo Hayes at NXT No Mercy 2023. But upon his return to Friday Night SmackDown, it felt as if Dragunov had entered the ring with a renewed resolve to accept the open challenge of Sami Zayn with the US title on the line.
Dragunov had impressive attacking moments during the course of the match, where he displayed his technical abilities against a seasoned performer like Zayn. In addition to an impressive attacking display, Dragunov had to suffer some remarkable blows from Zayn, who took the encounter to the edge of Dragunov’s patience, further testing him as a professional wrestler.
But Dragunov kept his patience in the match, waiting for the right opportunity, which came when Solo Sikoa meddled in between, which distracted Zayn for a short period of time. Zayn had managed to repel the attack from Dragunov and launched a damaging blow to the Mad Dragon.
Add Fandomwire as a Trusted Source
But then, a Torpedo Moscow out of nowhere turned out to be detrimental for the former Champion. Dragunov doubled the strike with an H-bomb to seal the match in his favor and become the new United States Champion. This was a famous and standout win for Dragunov in his professional wrestling career so far.
Ilja Dragunov vs Gunther: The Intense Rivalry Which Became the Reason Behind His Year-Long Hiatus
One of the most vicious and intense feuds in contemporary wrestling is that between Ilja Dragunov and Gunther. Dragunov was left gasping for air after losing to Gunther in a match on NXT UK in October 2020, but it also made him a main event overnight.
Nearly a year later, at NXT TakeOver 36 in August 2021, Dragunov finally defeated the seemingly invincible Gunther in their rematch, capping his illustrious 870-day reign as NXT UK Champion in an instant classic. Their relationship, which was based on firm, clean blows and a mutual respect developed via suffering, was indisputable, and Dragunov was frequently presented as the only man who could withstand Gunther’s attacks.
Gunther vs Ilja Dragunov
Smackdown Dark Match (2024)
🎧: This Night Has Opened My Eyes- The Smiths pic.twitter.com/V43gZpgTjI
— C4.Graps (@C4graps_) September 10, 2024
But the saga met a tragic end on September 28, 2024, during a non-televised WWE house show. In a World Heavyweight Championship match against Gunther, Dragunov attempted his signature Torpedo Moscow, only to land awkwardly.
The result was a torn ACL, sidelining him for up to nine months. It was a heartbreaking conclusion to a rivalry defined by resilience, respect, and unrelenting physicality, the rise of Dragunov ending, poetically, at the hands of the very man who helped shape it.
Dragunov can further consolidate the locker room and trigger exciting twists in existing storylines of the company. What remains to be seen is how intense and nail-biting his reign as the US Champion will be.
What are your thoughts on Ilja Dragunov’s workout routine and his remarkable win over Sami Zayn? Share with us in the comments below.