Final Saturday, “The Mad Dragon” Ilja Dragunov debuted for AEW at WrestleDream, abandoning the overture he created in WWE for seven years to start out anew. When requested why he joined WWE’s rival, the most recent signee to All Elite mentioned his choice all boiled right down to eager to broaden his profession horizons, and to soak up a brand new panorama that will problem him.
“I have been doing this for nearly 14 years, and I have been by quite a lot of phases when it comes right down to my indie profession and professional wrestling profession basically. I’ve traveled to locations and been below contract. I’ve by no means had the possibility the place I did not really feel like I am unable to guess on myself. If I felt that this opportunity is restricted, then it will get extra restricted,” he mentioned within the post-WrestleDream media scrum. “I really feel like I am getting caught someplace. Not due to exterior elements, simply feeling caught basically, as a result of I’ve this urge to combat. I like to combat, and I wish to compete, and I wish to step up. I really feel that the air in a sure setting will get thinner for me, I must breathe. That is what I did right now, right here.”
Hungry for the perfect competitors on the market, Dragunov is for certain AEW will treatment his thirst by permitting him to compete in additional arduous fought battles.
“It is a panorama of limitless alternatives that I see in entrance of my eyes as a result of if we are saying that AEW is ‘The place the perfect wrestle,’ how could not I belong right here?” he concluded.
Dragunov’s abrupt WWE departure occurred this previous August after he and the corporate could not agree on his contractual pay below a brand new deal. The “Unbesiegbar” will make his in-ring debut this Wednesday on “AEW Dynamite.”
When you use any of the quotes on this article, please credit score “AEW” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
