Ilja Dragunov looks back on his first match with Carmelo Hayes.
The first match between the two men took place back at NXT The Greatest American Bash and was an instant classic between the two NXT names. In the end, Hayes would be able to capture the victory despite an incredibly intense challenge from Ilja.
In a new interview with Fightful, Dragunov was asked about bringing out a different side out of Hayes during their first matchup.
“I think I bring out a lot of different things out of a lot of people because what I do in the ring is so entirely different compared to a lot of other different performers next to me. When I step into this ring will certainly feel something, because I feel something. Because as soon as I step into this ring everything is real to me, even before this. Everything is real to me. When I step in, I’m coming for a fight. I’m coming into break absolutely everything. The entire passion that I carry around with myself that everybody feels. Yeah, I bring different sides out of people because you need a lot to get me down. I’m not going to make it easy for you.”
“You look at the struggle that was there, you look at the entire back and forth between us—most definitely. Because he’s the champ. He needs to bring out different sides of different people. It is absolutely necessary. If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t be champion. He’s gotta prove himself towards me. He did, I think. The people were absolutely excited to see that match that you can just hear the noise in the arena. There is something that people, I think, absolutely remember.”
Ilja Dragunov
The two men are currently set to rematch tonight at NXT No Mercy with the NXT title once again being on the line.
H/T to Fightful for transcription
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