More News On Ilja Dragunov Angle
Added 2023-12-20 18:46:12 +0000 UTCIlja Dragunov was stretchered out on the 12/19 episode of NXT, but no fear -- it's an angle.
The story was filmed last week, and played off of Ridge Holland being involved in Big E's injury almost two years ago. The idea was one that Fightful was told was a bit controversial among some in WWE, but they went through with it. Corey Brennan of Fightful reported last week that the spot was just an angle, and we've learned more.
Brennan is told by NXT sources that everyone seemed happy with the performance and camera work, and producers seemed pleased with the reaction the angle got from the crowd. WWE producers were aware that most in attendance understood it was an angle because they quickly announced the next show was starting. Cameras followed Dragunov all the way to the ambulance, and it driving off.
Comments
What's most interesting is that the angle is a supposedly devastating neck injury, and yet Ilja has a title match scheduled in 2 weeks that they're not backing away from. It feels like a way to write the show out of a corner where Ilja is booked too strong to lose to anyone on merit (and he's already beaten Trick twice this year alone), so he'll either forfeit or compete with an insane handicap. And then he'll take some time off to "recover" before debuting on the main roster. There have to be a bunch of backstage segments edited into next week's airing that the live audience didn't see, just to explain what happens with the title match.
Mikhail Lavrentyev
2023-12-21 13:58:09 +0000 UTCBut what's the end game? Is his gimmick now that he's just an unsafe worker that accidently hurts his opponents? That doesn't do anything for him. This also creates a mentality of "the boy who cried wolf" for when a legit injury actually does occur.
Justin Peacock
2023-12-20 20:23:57 +0000 UTCI hated that Ridge got vilified by the community last week without know the context or actually seeing the footage.
James Donnelly
2023-12-20 19:03:30 +0000 UTCNot a big fan of them burning Ridge with that type of storyline, but I assume since they pulled through with it regardless, he must have been ok with it. Still a bit weird, but that's just the business I assume
CaptainRoosevelt
2023-12-20 18:53:39 +0000 UTCI'm not really a fan of them taking performers who caused actual injuries to other wrestlers and turning them into an angle a few years down the road. I don't think it was cool with the Xia Li kick to the head, and I'm not cool with the Ridge Holland spot last night.
Brad Woodard
2023-12-20 18:51:35 +0000 UTC
