Ilja Dragunov finally made his big WWE return on the October 17 SmackDown from the SAP Center in San Jose, stepping up to answer Sami Zayns United States Championship Open Challenge. Fans gave him a strong ovation after nearly a year away from the ring.
According to Bodyslam, the return wasnt always mapped out this way. Dragunovs tentative comeback date was originally scheduled for September, but the plan was pushed back a few weeks. On top of that, early discussions had him slotted for the RAW brand instead of SmackDown.
The move to Friday nights came after SmackDown needed what insiders described as a shakeup, leading WWE to shift the former NXT Champion over. That change ensured his return would feel even bigger, injecting fresh energy into SmackDowns roster.
Dragunovs road back to TV wasnt easy. Before his injury, he fell short in major matches against Jey Uso in a number one contenders fatal four-way and against Gunther in a live event World Heavyweight Championship clash. Now, with a fresh start on SmackDown, hes positioned for another big run.
Do you think WWE made the right call moving Dragunov to Smack Down instead of WWE RAW? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
