[WATCH] 30-year-old WWE star subjected to standing ovation after pushing Gunther to the limit
Reigning World Heavyweight Champion Gunther was recently pushed to the limit by a 30-year-old WWE Superstar. The Ring General put his title on the line against Ilja Dragunov at a live event in Columbus, Georgia on Saturday.
Gunther is still waiting for his next challenger despite Sami Zayn's attempts to get a match. While that's on WWE television, the Austrian superstar had to defend the World Heavyweight Championship at a WWE SuperShow in Columbus.
In the video uploaded by @cardboardjak on X (fka Twitter), Dragunov battled Gunther in a hard-hitting match. It was a great match, according to those in attendance, as The Ring General retained his championship.
The Columbus crowd enjoyed Dragunov's performance in the match so much that they gave him a standing ovation. He might not be in the title picture on television, but he continues to build a fanbase by wrestling on house shows and live events.
Gunther's last televised match was at WWE Bash in Berlin when he defeated Randy Orton in the main event. On the other hand, Ilja Dragunov's last match on WWE TV was on September 9, losing to Jey Uso in the Fatal Four-Way match to determine the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship that also involved Braun Strowman and Pete Dunne.
Ilja Dragunov praises Gunther for helping him become the star he is today
Before making it to the main roster, Ilja Dragunov and Gunther feuded for the NXT United Kingdom Championship. Dragunov was the first superstar to pin The Ring General in a singles match in WWE, beating him at NXT TakeOver: 36 on August 22, 2021.
Speaking to The Daily Star last month, The Mad Dragon opened up about the current World Heavyweight Champion's influence on him.
"As much as he is a rival for me, he also made me the person I am today and the performer I am today. And the reason why I am such a high level in what I do is definitely him, because you definitely need somebody who pushes you really, really to your limit, so you can actually realize where that is," Dragunov said. [H/T Wrestling, Inc.]
While The Ring General has established himself as one of the best wrestlers in WWE and won two major titles, The Mad Dragon is still trying to find his footing in the main roster.