WWE NXT UK recap for May 15, 2019: Laying down some groundwork

Ilja Dragunov seems nice

Ilja Dragunov makes his NXT UK debut, smacking around Jack Starz as if Starz were Dragunov’s own face or something. Seriously, he smacks himself so much backstage before the match that his cheeks are red by the time he gets to the ring. Starz and his one-sleeved trench coat that is also a cape are no match for Dragunov’s brand of being intensity embodied.

Dragunov definitely impresses, but he honestly might need to dial it back just a bit. Whoever controls these things needs to make sure he comes across as legitimately scary, because it felt as though he was teetering more on the edge of goofiness. Like, he was less “intense and crazy” and more, “the idea of someone being so intense that they’re crazy.” His entrance theme being this very traditional-sounding Russian music also felt like kind of an odd choice, as it’s not exactly the kind of music that conveys dominance or instills terror.

Or maybe that’s the point, that he’s over-the-top and incongruous to the point of being twisted. Time will tell. He’s at least got the in-ring skills to go over huge in NXT UK.