SPOILERS: Former Champion Returns To WWE NXT At September 14 Taping

A former champion made his return during Wednesday's tapings of NXT from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

In the main event of the taping for next week's show, JD McDonagh defeated Tyler Bate to become the number one contender for the NXT Championship. This led to a confrontation between McDonagh and Bron Breakker after the contest but both men ended up being interrupted by the returning Ilja Dragunov, who headed to the squared circle and confronted them.

There is no word on WWE's plans for Dragunov but his return rockets him straight into the NXT Title picture.

Dragunov had been out of action since early July, when he vacated the NXT UK Championship at the brand's TV tapings due to a serious ankle injury. During Dragunov's time off TV, Tyler Bate was crowned the NXT UK Champion before the brand was shuttered by WWE, with much of the roster being released, while a few were transferred to NXT.

WWE will replace NXT UK with NXT Europe, which will launch next year.

Dragunov had a short run on NXT in the summer of 2021 that culminated with him defeating WALTER (now Gunther) at NXT TakeOver 36 to win the NXT UK Championship.

H/T to F4W Online