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.
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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.
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