WWE Star Turns Down Joining Popular Faction

WWE

Ilja Dragunov has ruled himself out of becoming a faction mate with WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther by joining Imperium.

It had previously been reported by WRKD Wrestling that Dragunov could be called up to the main roster after WWE SummerSlam on August 5, 2023.

Further to this, it was also noted that Dragunov could potentially be joining Imperium should he be called up to.

Gunther has responded to the suggestion of Imperium expanding, saying that it is “perfect how it is.”

In a recent interview with Cultaholic, Dragunov himself has reacted to the idea of joining the group, saying:

“I mean, who would actually want that? There is no more people with more differences than me towards Imperium.

“Imperium is stoic and cold. Brilliant at what they do, but I’m the opposite. I’m the emotionally-loaded, intense mat dragon who can barely control himself as soon as he enters the ring. The difference is like day and night.

“For me personally, I see no reason why that would happen. I don’t even understand the question about this. I read that, of course, but literally it doesn’t fit at all.”

Dragunov and Gunther have crossed paths previously including at NXT TakeOver 36 in 2021 where Dragunov would win the NXT UK Championship.

Imperium is currently made up of Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci and was formed on NXT UK in 2019 with the three then called WALTER, Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner.

Gunther and Kaiser would make their main roster debut on SmackDown in April 2022, with Vinci remaining in NXT as a singles wrestler.

On September 3, 2022, at Clash at the Castle, Vinci was added back to the group and Imperium reformed.

However, there have been recent teases on Raw casting doubt over Vinci’s future in the group.

It was recently revealed that Gunther is is now listed internally as ‘The Ring General’ Gunther rather than simply as ‘Gunther’.

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• Imperium
• Ilja Dragunov
• nxt
• wwe

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