Ilja Dragunov To Continue US Title Open Challenge On 10/31 WWE SmackDown

Ilja Dragunov will continue his WWE US Title Open Challenge on the October 31st episode of WWE SmackDown.

Dragunov wrote on social media, “This title is a legacy and the open challenge is my duty. Who wants to step up tonight?”

Dragunov won the US Title on October 17, defeating Sami Zayn in an open challenge. He successfully defended the title against Aleister Black in an open challenge last Friday.

This title is a legacy and the open challenge is my duty.
Who wants to step up tonight?#SmackDown @WWE pic.twitter.com/cbYOfPXrGB

— 𝙄𝙡𝙟𝙖 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙤𝙫 (@UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR) October 31, 2025

Here is the current lineup for WWE SmackDown:

WWE SmackDown (10/31)

• Kit Wilson vs. Carmelo Hayes
• Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
• Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre to appear
• Jade Cargill to speak
• WWE US Championship Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. TBA

Fightful will have coverage of SmackDown beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Friday.