On the October 17, 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown, Ilja Dragunov made a dramatic return after more than a year away recovering from injury. Dragunov answered Sami Zayn’s open challenge for the United States Championship in San Jose, California, shocking the crowd as his entrance theme hit.
The match saw Dragunov deliver a hard-hitting performance reminiscent of his NXT days, culminating in him defeating Sami Zayn to capture the United States Title in his first match back. His comeback ended a 404-day absence from WWE television caused by a knee injury suffered in late 2024.
This victory marks Dragunov’s first championship win on the main roster, continuing his reputation as one of WWE’s most intense competitors.