EXCLUSIVE: Ilja Dragunov Not Interested In Joining Imperium

Don't expect Ilja Dragunov to join Imperium anytime soon. 

Reports back in May suggested that WWE were considering adding a new member to the main roster faction and Ilja Dragunov was being "eyed to join Imperium later." The former NXT UK Champion has also been tipped to move to the main roster in the near future but he has so far remained on WWE NXT.

While Dragunov would likely be a popular addition to Imperium, the man himself exclusively told Tom Campbell of Cultaholic Wrestling that he has no interest in linking up with GUNTHER and co. 

"I mean, who would actually want that? There is no more people with more differences than me towards Imperium. Imperium is stoic and cold. Brilliant at what they do, but I'm the opposite. I'm the emotionally-loaded, intense mat dragon who can barely control himself as soon as he enters the ring. The difference is like day and night. For me personally, I see no reason why that would happen. I don't even understand the question about this. I read that, of course, but literally it doesn't fit at all," Dragunov said.

Imperium is currently composed of GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. The faction has been featured on WWE programming since 2019. 

Ilja Dragunov is set to headline WWE NXT Great American Bash on Sunday, July 30 when he challenges Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship. Fans in the United States can catch the show on Peacock, while UK fans can tune in on the WWE Network from 1 am BST. 

Check out Tom Campbell's full interview with Ilja Dragunov tomorrow on the Cultaholic Wrestling podcast feed. Cultaholic Wrestling also has an account on Threads! Follow us here.