Ilja Dragunov made a stunning and thrilling return to the ring after being out for over a year due to injury, answering Sami Zayn’s United States Open challenge during Friday’s edition of SmackDown and taking the champion’s title belt.

Dragunov got the job done after hitting Zayn with a Torpedo Moscow and then an H-Bomb for the win.

Zayn was clearly distracted by nemesis Solo Sikoa beforehand, although he still caught a charging Dragunov and gave him an Exploder Suplex.

Zayn then ran in for a Helluva Kick, but Dragunov countered and closed the match, stunning fans.

Dragunov previously suffered a torn ACL in a match with Gunther during a live event in Sept. 2024 and had been out ever since.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.
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