Ahead of his first AEW Dynamite appearance, Ilja Dragunov promised “many symphonies to come”, and he can make music with multiple stars.
Having debuted at WrestleDream, Ilja Dragunov defeated Speedball Mike Bailey in his first match as an AEW star.
Speaking ahead of that match, Dragunov reflected that there were “many, many symphonies to come” and that he would “conduct them like a maestro”.
When it comes to opponents, playing into Dragunov’s many strengths would serve AEW well:
HOOK
Dragunov is renowned for his hard-hitting style, and HOOK would be an ideal opponent for the newly signed star to compete against.
With HOOK as a member of The Opps, the idea that the faction could seek to test Dragunov as a potential recruit is an intriguing one, even if he were to turn down such an offer.
Samoa Joe
Why stop with HOOK, though? Dragunov vs. Samoa Joe would be an impressively impactful encounter for both men, with both having a style that plays into the no-nonsense “authenticity” of professional wrestling.
Allowing Dragunov and Samoa Joe to scout each other in the ring, instead of aiming for a quick bell-to-bell match would deliver quite the spectacle of their craft.
Kyle Fletcher
Two stars familiar with each other before signing with AEW, Kyle Fletcher has previously called Dragunov “incredible“, reflecting on their shared passion for the business.
With both stars having evolved since their last singles encounter, it would be an opportunity for Fletcher to further demonstrate his standing as one of Tony Khan’s Four Pillars of AEW, while drawing Dragunov into the orbit of the Don Callis Family and the opponents that could provide.
Will Ospreay
Coming out of a feud with Fletcher and, by extension, the Don Callis Family, particularly with Okada as International Champion and Hechicero as CMLL World Heavyweight Champion as potential opponents, there’s an opportunity for Dragunov to focus on higher goals.
Will Ospreay vs. Ilja Dragunov is bound to be a highly anticipated main event, something that the AEW World Champion is very much aware of, according to his recent interview with SI’s The Takedown.
Sheamus
Okay, Sheamus is yet to sign with AEW, with a recent Fightful report noting that the former WWE star has support from “some heavy hitters like Claudio Castagnoli and Adam Copeland”.
Now known as Stephen Farrelly, his real name, the star last competed in November of last year, with that match being a tag team victory on WWE Raw alongside John Cena and Rey Mysterio over Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh).
To say that Ilja Dragunov and the former Sheamus would tear up the ring would be an understatement. Having them locked into a feud would no doubt see both stars deliver “banger after banger”.
A world of opportunity
“Where the best wrestle” may be a contentious statement in some circles, but there is no denying that AEW really does have a treasure trove of talent.
While it’s easy to see Dragunov in a top card spot, only contesting the cream of the crop, there’s something to be said for the star becoming a test for anyone who thinks they can step up to the Mad Dragon. Using him as a gatekeeper for stars wanting a true test would be a strong option, while having Dragunov push forward towards his eventual World Champion-level feuds.
Dragunov may have only been NXT Champion and United States Champion in WWE, but between AEW and the partnerships with CMLL and NJPW, there are more opportunities for the star to claim a wealth of titles, setting the standard as he does so.
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