On a recent edition of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, Booker T opined that WWE NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov could be debuting on the main roster sooner than expected.
Dragunov defends his title against Tony D’Angelo later today at NXT Stand & Deliver 2024.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On the new cornerstones of NXT: “Well, I think the cornerstone right now is Ilja Dragunov. Even though Trick [Williams] and Mellow [Carmelo Hayes] are doing their thing, I mean the guy that’s really, really breaking it. The guy is really, really going out there and delivering every time he shows up is Ilja Dragunov. I don’t expect Ilja to be there too much longer as well, just because he’s such a great worker. He’s such a really, really talented dude. Who’s going to be that next guy to hold that mantle? Man, Man it’s really, really hard to say. I don’t know who’s gonna step up.”
On Cody Rhodes saying he will become a commentator if he doesn’t win at WrestleMania: “Cody might be backing himself into a corner, man. He might be moving into commentary. [laughs] I’m not sure but, I don’t know, man. I think Cody is being realistic as far as, ‘Man, if I don’t do it this time it may never happen for me.’ How long are you going to spend your wheels trying to make that happen? I know it’s something that is near and dear to his heart, just because of the significance of Dusty Rhodes and whatnot. But you know, I don’t know about it. I’m gonna say this, Cody ain’t gonna retire, he ain’t gonna go do commentary. Even if he were to lose this match. Cody he’s gonna be in for the long haul. If Cory didn’t win it this time, he’s gonna stick around and hopefully win it the next time. If you don’t win at WrestleMania, it might be at SummerSlam or whatever. But I don’t see Cody Rhodes walking away from this business until the dream is complete.”
In a recent episode of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T shared his thoughts on the future of NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov. Booker T expressed his belief that Dragunov could make his debut on the main roster sooner than expected.
Dragunov is set to defend his title against Tony D’Angelo at the upcoming NXT Stand & Deliver 2024 event. With his impressive performances and exceptional in-ring skills, Dragunov has been making waves in the wrestling industry.
Booker T praised Dragunov as the current cornerstone of NXT, acknowledging that other talents like Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes are also making their mark. However, Booker T emphasized that Dragunov stands out due to his consistent delivery and outstanding abilities. He believes that Dragunov’s talent and work ethic could lead to a swift promotion to the main roster.
When discussing Cody Rhodes, Booker T touched upon Rhodes’ recent statement about becoming a commentator if he fails to win at WrestleMania. Booker T expressed skepticism about Rhodes’ potential career change, stating that he believes Rhodes will continue to pursue his wrestling dreams regardless of the outcome.
Booker T acknowledged the significance of Rhodes’ family legacy, particularly his father Dusty Rhodes, who was a legendary figure in professional wrestling. However, Booker T believes that Rhodes will not retire or transition to commentary if he doesn’t achieve his goals at WrestleMania. Instead, he expects Rhodes to remain committed to the industry until he fulfills his ambitions.
Booker T concluded by stating that even if Rhodes doesn’t succeed at WrestleMania, he will persevere and continue striving for success. Whether it’s at SummerSlam or another major event, Booker T is confident that Rhodes will persist until he achieves his ultimate dream.
In summary, Booker T’s comments on his podcast suggest that Ilja Dragunov could be making his main roster debut sooner rather than later. Booker T also shared his thoughts on Cody Rhodes’ potential career change, expressing his belief that Rhodes will remain dedicated to wrestling despite any setbacks. As the wrestling world eagerly awaits these developments, fans can look forward to witnessing the future endeavors of Dragunov and Rhodes in the WWE.