Ilja Dragunov is not the biggest wrestler in the world, but he's become one of the top talents in NXT UK thanks to his in-ring ability.
While Dragunov is established in WWE, the company is reportedly shifting its hiring focus to looking at younger and larger athletes.
Speaking to Sport1, Dragunov was asked about the shift and how it could impact him.
"Fortunately, I have a profession that concerns me with so many challenges that it does not give me time to worry much about something like that I don't have in my hand," he said. "In general, however, I am of course aware of one thing: I am a guy who embodies something with which certainly not everyone can do what. But I also say: This is not my claim, I don't want that at all. Someone everyone likes has no rough edges. And if you don't have them, you won't do anything, because you don't have anything to set him apart, which gives him recognition value. I have that, I embody what I am in the ring, express something deep inside me - and I would never want to do anything else," he said.
Dragunov will step in the ring with a larger man on Sunday as he challenges WALTER for the NXT UK Championship at NXT TakeOver 36.
Fightful will have live coverage of NXT TakeOver 36 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
