Ilja Dragunov has credited GUNTHER as the single biggest influence on his wrestling career, speaking at length about their rivalry and his own departure from WWE in a pair of recent interviews.
Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, Dragunov discussed the impact GUNTHER had on their on-screen rivalry and his development as a performer. According to F4W Online, Dragunov praised GUNTHER as the greatest wrestler of all time, a status he said would hold until he himself retires, and credited GUNTHER with pushing him to new heights throughout their history together.
The two men built one of the most acclaimed rivalries in recent WWE memory, with their matches widely regarded as showcases for both performers. Dragunov’s comments frame that program as foundational to his own growth, rather than simply a notable feud on his résumé.
GUNTHER’s Booking Since the Cena Match
In a separate conversation with Ariel Helwani, Dragunov addressed WWE’s booking of GUNTHER since his match against John Cena on Cena’s retirement tour, according to NoDQ. Dragunov’s remarks came in response to a direct question about how GUNTHER has been positioned by WWE creative following that high-profile encounter with Cena, underscoring how closely Dragunov continues to track his former rival’s standing within the company even after his own exit.
Addressing the WWE Departure
Dragunov also addressed whether he blames WWE for his departure, telling Ringside News that he could sense something shifting within the company well before his contract actually expired. Dragunov explained that after fighting back from a serious ACL injury and immediately capturing the United States Championship, things began to feel different to him once that title run concluded, which is when he began questioning whether a change was needed.
Taken together, the interviews paint a picture of a wrestler reflecting candidly on both the partnership that shaped his career and the gradual circumstances that led him away from WWE. Dragunov’s comments on GUNTHER suggest the two remain linked in his own assessment of his career highs, even as he now speaks from outside the company both men once shared a locker room in.
