DEFIANT Wrestling has made a major change to their ongoing ‘Loaded’ series. The programme that airs for free on YouTube. wXw star Ilja Dragunov was due to take part in the company’s tapings for the show in February but this has since been cancelled. The company sent out a statement; “Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control. Ilja Dragunov is no longer able to compete on his scheduled Defiant dates in February. As a result we are removing a segment on this week’s Loaded (taped January 5). Meaning a slightly shorter episode will air this Sunday.”
Dragunov has been heavily linked with WWE and the NXT UK brand over the past few months. The former wXw Champion recently appeared at a WWE tryout in Germany.
With this announcement from DEFIANT it appears as though Dragunov may now well be on his way to WWE. Fellow wXw star WALTER recently appeared at the NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool event after the main event, confronting Pete Dunne. Dragunov is regarded as one of the top stars on the European scene, he debuted for PROGRESS back at their Wembley Arena show. Ilja took the loss at that event against WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne.
There is currently no confirmation on Dragunov’s status, however the drastic change to DEFIANT’s show may be a strong indicator that he has indeed signed with WWE.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, Ilja Dragunov is no longer able to compete on his scheduled Defiant dates in February.
As a result we are removing a segment on this week’s Loaded (taped January 5), meaning a slightly shorter episode will air this Sunday. pic.twitter.com/l2cfrGcTtC
— DEFIANT Wrestling (@DEFIANTwres) January 16, 2019
