Ilja Dragunov Details His Wrestling Influences, Being In AEW With Samoa Joe & More

Ilja Dragunov recently weighed in on his influences as a wrestler and what it’s like to be in AEW with the likes of Samoa Joe. Dragunov debuted on AEW WrestleDream and then won his in-ring debut on Dynamite against Mike Bailey.

Dragunov spoke about who influenced him getting into wrestling during his interview with TMZ Inside the Ring. You can see highlights below:

On His Influences:

“So when I started to do to pursue professional wrestling, I had different influences that made me start. And it wasn’t necessarily the American wrestling-ish style or however you would call it. Like, my role models are [the] Kabashis, Mako Satamuras. Terry Funks, Roddy Pipers. William Regals. And coming from continental Europe, we have our own legends like Axe Dieter, Klaus Karlhoff, René Lazartes.

“These are — where I come from, and what people inspired me, professional wrestlers are fighters. And that’s how we entertain. We don’t entertain first and then we are fighters or portraying fighters; we are fighters in the first place.”

On Being Part Of AEW:

“Coming over to the States is definitely of course, like a different direction. But this is the beautiful thing about AEW being a place for people who are really expressing this craft. Like, people being there like a Samoa Joe, who was highly influential on me when I didn’t even know how to put on a wristlock. To know that this person is there for instance, just as an example — yeah, it clicks with me and resonates with me. And I feel like, ‘Okay, okay, that feels good.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit TMZ Inside The Ring with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.