NXT UK recap, August 14: One Step Closer

Ilja Dragunov is surely coping well

NXT UK makes a big deal over Ilja Dragunov’s “undefeated streak” heading into his main event match with Kassius Ohno. Except, when did winning three matches in a row against guys who rarely win — shout out to Joseph Conners pinning Jack Starz in early April — warrant being referred to as an “undefeated streak”? By a strict definition, sure, it’s an undefeated streak, but it’s not like he’s even beaten someone on the level of say, Kenny Williams or Ligero.

Anyway, this is all semantic nonsense because Dragunov gets his first loss in NXT UK handed to him by Ohno, and by “handed” we mean “elbowed in the back of the head.”

Forgetting what is or isn’t worth being called a streak, this is a really good match. Ohno is in full-on wrestling genius bully mode, and Dragunov proves he’s way more than capable of delivering an intense, entertaining match that goes longer than five minutes. It’s just …

Alright, one more tangent into the enigma that is Dragunov. The whole schtick of, “he’s so intense, can you believe how intense he is Nigel” is too much. It’s goofy. When he’s hyping himself up backstage — before coming out to gesticulate wildly to traditional Russian music and zero audible crowd reaction — he might as well turn to the camera and say a catchphrase, before winking. It’s borderline uncomfortable to watch for some reason. Also, he better be careful slamming his hands on the entrance ramp, before he dislocates his shoulder Randy Orton style.

ANYWAY, despite Dragunov’s unintentionally goofy persona, he and Ohno put on a non-goofy match that furthers both of them. Ohno is able to stave off Dragunov’s unlimited intensity and fury by targeting his shoulder, grinding at it with submission holds, and blasting him with strikes at every opening. This allows Dragunov to work from behind as he has not yet had to in NXT UK, and it definitely works towards establishing him as a complete maniac in the ring who can endure punishment just as well as he can dish it out.

If this were NXT Prime, you would probably expect Ohno to take the loss here. Putting over newer talents by giving them a victory over a credible opponent before they move on to bigger opportunities kind of became his thing. Over in the United Kingdom however, Ohno has unlocked a new level of strength, as if being in close proximity to the sacred texts of British wrestling has elevated his wrestling genius to brain-swelling levels.

Unlike in his defeats to Travis Banks and Mark Andrews, Ohno never gets cocky or loses sight of his actual goal. He takes this Dragunov freak 100 percent seriously, which is of course why he had to use slightly devious tactics — using the ref as a screen — to set himself up for the eventual victory.

Even though his “undefeated streak” is over, Dragunov is still well-positioned to go far in NXT UK. The loss shows how he can work as a very intense, talented and dangerous wrestler without resorting to being made the Russian Goldberg. You can be both an underdog and credibly threatening to larger opponents, the two need not be mutually exclusive. Just fix the other stuff that happens before his matches start. Please.