Scrapped WWE SmackDown Plans Involving Ilja Dragunov Revealed

WWE originally had different plans for Ilja Dragunov on last week's episode of SmackDown.

According to Wrestlevotes Radio on Fightful Select, an angle was planned for the February 6 edition of SmackDown which would have seen The Miz attack Ilja Dragunov and set up another match between the two talents. The angle was included in very late drafts of SmackDown before it was removed at the last minute. Whether the angle has been scrapped completely or simply delayed to a later edition of SmackDown is unknown.

Dragunov still appeared with The Miz on SmackDown as he confronted the two-time WWE Champion and told him to stay out of his way. Carmelo Hayes then interrupted and announced Dragunov had earned a United States Title shot with his win over The Miz in Saudi Arabia, and that Carmelo would face Miz in non-title action later that night.

Matches that did take place on the post-Royal Rumble edition of SmackDown saw Randy Orton and Tiffany Stratton qualify for the Elimination Chamber, Oba Femi squash Kit Wilson, Tama Tonga defeat Shinsuke Nakamura, and RHIYO successfully defend the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Giulia and Kiana James.