Ilja Dragunov Claims NXT Championship at No Mercy
In a stunning turn of events at No Mercy on Saturday, Ilja Dragunov emerged victorious over Carmelo Hayes to capture the NXT Championship. This win marks Dragunov’s first-ever championship victory in his professional wrestling career.
The WWE NXT Twitter account (@WWENXT) could hardly contain their excitement, proclaiming, “DESTINY FULFILLED! @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR is the NEW #WWENXT Champion!!! #NXTNoMercy.” The WWE (@WWE) also chimed in, welcoming fans to a new era of WWE NXT and acknowledging Dragunov’s triumph with a tweet that read, “Welcome to a new era of #WWENXT! @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR #NXTNoMercy.”
This long-awaited win follows a previous encounter between Hayes and Dragunov during the main event of the Great American Bash two months ago. Although Hayes came out on top in that match, it was marred by controversy. Hayes’ close ally, Trick Williams, who was present at ringside, ended up interfering in the bout, ultimately contributing to Hayes’ victory.
During the Great American Bash match, Dragunov inadvertently dove into the NXT Championship belt that Williams was holding, which enabled Hayes to seize the opportunity and execute his finisher for the win. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Dragunov challenged Williams to a match, leading to a showdown on NXT TV’s Heatwave edition. While Dragunov emerged victorious in that encounter, Williams put forth an impressive performance, solidifying his decision to break away from Hayes and establish his own path.
While Williams’ relationship with Hayes deteriorated, Dragunov remained focused on earning another chance at the NXT Championship. He secured that opportunity by defeating Wes Lee. In a bid to exploit the tensions between Hayes and Williams, Dragunov planted seeds of doubt in Trick’s mind, questioning whether Hayes could overcome him without any assistance.
In one of the final episodes of NXT leading up to No Mercy, Hayes faced Dominik Mysterio with Dragunov present at ringside. The situation intensified when Mysterio was thrown into Dragunov, inciting a brawl that involved both Mysterio and Hayes.
With a mounting sense of animosity between them, Hayes and Dragunov locked horns at No Mercy. The stage was set for a fierce battle, as Melo sought to cement his standing as the best while Dragunov yearned to finally grasp the NXT Championship.
After countless close calls and near-victories, Dragunov emerged triumphant on Saturday, toppling one of NXT’s most exceptional champions in recent memory. With this historic win, Dragunov solidifies his position as the undisputed top competitor in NXT.
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