4 ways Ilja Dragunov can return to WWE

WWE fans have been enjoying a lot of returns and debuts as of late. Names such as Roxanne Perez, Giulia, and Stephanie Vaquer have joined the main roster. Meanwhile, Bayley, Kairi Sane, Nikki Bella, and Asuka have returned or will be making their comeback soon.

In exciting news, there is another potential return on the horizon. According to WrestleVotes, former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov is seemingly nearing a comeback.

This is amazing news, as the Russian performer has been out of action for around nine months now. He suffered an injury during a bout with Gunther at a live event right as he was building momentum on RAW.

Supposing that Ilja is indeed returning to television soon, what might The Mad Dragon do? This article will take a look at a handful of different ways the former United Kingdom Champion could return, which includes challenging a world champion, switching brands, and filling in as a mystery man in a major upcoming bout.

Below are four ways Ilja Dragunov can return to WWE.

#4. He could be the mystery man in the King of the Ring qualifier on RAW

The King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments are back! WWE General Managers Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce revealed the news on Friday Night SmackDown, and the matches officially kicked off on RAW this past Monday.

While each tournament will feature a total of 16 competitors, there are only 15 names revealed for the King of the Ring Tournament. A Fatal 4-Way will take place on WWE RAW that features a mystery competitor, Sheamus, Rusev, and Bronson Reed in a match that should feature plenty of meat slapping.

That mystery entrant could be Ilja Dragunov. He would be excellent in a tournament setting, and a Fatal 4-Way could be a great way to ease The Mad Dragon back into the ring. Not only that, but it could set up a major match with Gunther. With that being said, there could be another route to that match...

#3. Ilja Dragunov could challenge Gunther at WWE Night of Champions

Gunther is the World Heavyweight Champion again. The seemingly unstoppable WWE star battled Jey Uso in the main event of RAW this past Monday. They fought for over 20 minutes, and Gunther ultimately made Jey pass out to his choke.

Now, Gunther will need a challenger. Night of Champions is WWE's next Premium Live Event, and it is just two weeks away. There is a chance that the challenger could be Ilja Dragunov, especially given the two men's extensive history as rivals.

Ilja and Gunther battled it out on NXT UK and NXT in extremely violent and hard-hitting matches. In fact, Ilja was the first man to defeat Gunther in World Wrestling Entertainment. Not only that, but Gunther was involved in the live event match where Ilja was injured. The two battling at Night of Champions just makes sense.

#2. He could move to SmackDown to add to the mid-card

WWE Friday Night SmackDown airs each week on the USA Network. The program was initially two hours each Friday but moved to three hours earlier this year. It was expected that SmackDown would go back to two hours in the spring, but that hasn't been the case.

Seemingly in reaction to the blue brand remaining at three hours, WWE has made a clear effort to strengthen the mid-card scene. Fraxiom, The Wyatt Sicks, Aleister Black, JC Mateo, and Rey Fenix have all either debuted or returned over the past few months.

To continue to strengthen the mid-card scene, Ilja Dragunov could instead return on the SmackDown brand. The Mad Dragon could be an excellent challenger for Jacob Fatu. He could also feud with any of the other names mentioned above.

#1. Ilja could be a surprise opponent for Dominik Mysterio

Dominik Mysterio has his first singles title on WWE's main roster. Dirty Dom captured the prized Intercontinental Championship about two months ago at WrestleMania, where he stood tall over Bron Breakker, Finn Balor, and Penta.

Since winning the gold, Dirty Dom has successfully defended it three times. He has two victories over Penta, albeit through underhanded means, and he recently defeated Octagon Jr. at WWE Money in the Bank.

Ilja could decide Dominik Mysterio is his first target, and the Intercontinental Championship could be in his sights. Given that Dragunov was starting a feud with The Judgment Day prior to getting injured anyway, going after Dirty Dom just makes sense. Who knows, he could even be a surprise opponent for Mysterio, arranged by Adam Pearce.

​