Gunther: Ilja Dragunov would be 'a better enemy than friend' on WWE main roster

Gunther thinks Ilja Dragunov would be a better enemy than a friend on the WWE main roster.

It's expected that Dragunov will be called up to either Raw or SmackDown when night two of the 2024 WWE Draft takes place this Monday. In an interview with Gorilla Position on WWE's tour of the United Kingdom last week, Gunther praised Dragunov as someone who will do great in WWE moving forward:

I think somebody that will do great going forward is Ilja. I think that's somebody that is kind of like waiting to explode right now. He just wrestled on Raw. The draft is coming up, so let’s see where that heads. But I think he would be the guy that I would single out right now that performs at a stage that he’s – I would say almost too advanced for right now.

Gunther told Gorilla Position that he thinks it would be better if Dragunov remains a rival on the WWE main roster instead of joining him in Imperium. The two have had stellar matches against each other in NXT, NXT UK, and on the indies.

I think Ilja is definitely a better enemy than a friend. And yeah, it has to come down to that. Ilja is one of us in the terms of like – [Ludwig] Kaiser, Ilja, and I, we all wrestled each other years back. So I naturally want him to be where I am. And I think he's somebody that brings out the best in me and I'm someone that brings out the best in him. But I think before that can happen, he has his own way to go, wherever he ends up. And further down the line, I think it’s a no-brainer that this has to happen a few times.

At WrestleMania 40 earlier this month, Gunther lost the Intercontinental title to Sami Zayn. Gunther's 666-day reign as champion is the longest in the history of the IC title.

Dragunov also recently lost championship gold. In advance of his call-up, Dragunov dropped the NXT Championship to Trick Williams this past Tuesday.

Imperium's Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser are eligible to be selected on night two of the WWE Draft this Monday.

Giovanni Vinci was kicked out of Imperium on the most recent episode of Raw. Also on the show, Gunther declared that he'll be competing in this year's King of the Ring tournament.