Ilja Dragunov explains why he thinks WWE fans connect with him.
The NXT Champion captured the title over the weekend when he defeated Carmelo Hayes in an incredible match at No Mercy.
In a new interview with Fightful, Dragunov talked about being involved in all of the NXT related brands and discussed why crowds have connected with him.
“I just progress all the time. I had the wonderful benefit, pretty much from the beginning—doesn’t matter if its NXT:UK or NXT—people trusted in what I do. Because they see I have something different to offer. How I think about all that is entirely different. I care about emotion. I care about something that people can connect to. I care about moments. I care about atmosphere. That’s what I bring to the table. This is something that is sometimes just missing nowadays, people that truly express their true self to the audience. Because if you don’t do that, there is no possibility that the crowd can connect to you. I think that’s the reason why the crowd really, really has connected to me. Because you believe what I do, because I believe what I do. I just go out every single time and I’m empty when I come out again. I feel entirely drained. There are days, and there have been a lot of days—it doesn’t matter if it’s NXT:UK or it’s NXT—I’m just on empty after all that in the ring. Entirely drained. I left it all inside there. This is something I think that the crowd more and more can appreciate.”
Ilja Dragunov
Elsewhere in the interview, Dragunov discussed his first NXT title match with Carmelo Hayes earlier this year.
in the same interview, Dragunov spoke about how he isn’t the biggest fan of gimmick matches.
H/T to Fightful for transcription
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