This year’s Royal Rumble was loaded with big names including the one and only Brock Lesnar. At one point during the men’s Royal Rumble match Ilja Dragunov came face to face with The Beast Incarnate, and Dragunov decided to take the fight to Lesnar when he hit him with a series of chops.
Unfortunately for Dragunov the chops weren’t very effective as Lesnar no sold the strikes then proceeded to throw Ilja Dragunov over the top rope to eliminate him from the match.
The spot became infamous among fans who were discussing Ilja Dragunov’s booking on social media, and Dragunov himself recently shared his thoughts on how things played out during an appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show.
“I said it before, honestly, if you really understand the persona that I have been in the ring for the most part of the time, I’ve been facing monsters. And at the end of the day, you can’t change certain things. You have a person like Brock Lesnar standing in front of you. Most people would run away as soon as that happens. But me as a persona, me as Ilja Dragunov, who’s tough mentally and physically. I think for what I was given and how this whole situation occurred, I did the best what I could do about it.
I can’t change anything about it, but my best career moments were made by my vulnerability. I wasn’t becoming a name by being the person who dominates at all times. I became a name on moments where I’ve gotten beaten down. It’s always the way how I fought back and how I recovered after those moments because these moments make great stories.
I don’t see it as a defeat. I’m glad that people are upset for me, and maybe it could’ve worked out a different way. I don’t know it today, but I can tell you so much that I didn’t spare a second or third thought about it.”
Ilja Dragunov reflects on Brock Lesnar no-selling his offense at the Royal Rumble:
"For what I was given and how this whole situation occurred, I did the best I could do. My best career moments were made by my vulnerability.
I became a name in moments where I’ve gotten beaten down… It’s always the way I fought back and how I recovered after those moments.
I don’t see it as a defeat. I’m glad that people are upset for me, and maybe it could have worked out a different way.
I have two categories of people watching my work. Either people who are extremely behind me, really get me, really get emotionally invested in me, or it’s the polar opposite, the people who think I’m the cringiest person in the world. But I love it that way because people care."
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 20, 2026