Ilja Dragunov returns to WWE and wins the United States championship

Ilja Dragunov made his surprise return to WWE on tonight’s (Oct. 17) episode of SmackDown as the latest wrestler to answer Sami Zayn’s open challenge for the United States championship.

The 32-year-old Russian star last competed in a match in September 2024, when he suffered a right knee injury in a house show match against GUNTHER. Today’s report about his return turned out to be true, and the live fans popped big for his unexpected entrance. The Mad Dragon came out after Carmelo Hayes stopped Miz from accepting the match first.

Ilja wore a large brace on his surgically repaired leg, but that didn’t stop him from beating the shit out of Sami for a large portion of the bout. They traded exciting near falls throughout the bout until Solo Sikoa finally showed his face at the top of the entrance ramp. Sami was distracted, and that gave Ilja an opening to finish him off with his signature moves and actually win the gold.

Dragunov didn’t get much time to celebrate his championship win, because the MFTs quickly stormed the ring and attacked both babyfaces. Rey Fenix ran in and tried to make the save (he was attacked by MFT backstage earlier in the show), but he got his ass kicked too.

Solo grabbed the mic to reiterate that MFT is taking over SmackDown, but then the lights went out, and it was time for another “Holy shit!” confrontation with the Wyatt Sicks.

Business is picking up on SmackDown, folks.

How do you think Dragunov looked in his return match, Cagesiders?

Catch up on all the results from SmackDown in our live blog right here.