ILJA DRAGUNOV RELINQUISHES NXT UK TITLE DUE TO INJURY

Ilja Dragunov has been forced to relinquish his NXT UK Championship due to an undisclosed injury. Dragunov won the title at NXT TakeOver: 36 on August 22 2021 when he defeated WALTER, now known as Gunther. Since then, Dragunov has defended the title on six occasions, most recently against Jordan Devlin in a Loser Leaves NXT UK match broadcast in May. 

At the most recent NXT UK tapings this past Wednesday, Dragunov addressed the crowd and announced that he had to relinquish the title. Details on Dragunov’s injury have been not be released but he did appear in a protective boot at the NXT UK taping. Dragunov’s reign as NXT UK Champion lasted 318 days

Also at the taping, an eight-man tournament was announced, and got underway to crown a new champion. In the first round of matches Tyler Bate, Joe Coffey, Trent Seven and Oliver Carter advanced to the semi-finals.