Internal Reaction After Ilja Dragunov Stretcher Angle During 12/19 WWE NXT

WWE NXT wrapped up their show with a very interesting angle. Some people were actually worried about his health status following the tapings last week. Now, we know a big more about what happened.

On the episode of NXT that aired on December 19th, Ilja Dragunov was dramatically stretchered out, causing concern among viewers. However, there’s no need for alarm, as it was revealed to be a carefully crafted storyline.

The narrative was pre-recorded the previous week and revolved around Ridge Holland’s connection to Big E’s injury nearly two years ago. This was a bold statement, to say the least.

While the concept was considered somewhat controversial among certain members of WWE, the decision was ultimately made to proceed with the angle. Corey Brennan of Fightful reports behind Fightful’s paywall that the nature of the segment, and further insights have emerged.

According to sources within NXT, the performance and camera work received positive feedback, and producers were satisfied with the reaction it garnered from the audience. Despite the controversy surrounding the concept, the overall execution seemed to have resonated well.

Brennan is told by NXT sources that everyone seemed happy with the performance and camera work, and producers seemed pleased with the reaction the angle got from the crowd. WWE producers were aware that most in attendance understood it was an angle because they quickly announced the next show was starting. Cameras followed Dragunov all the way to the ambulance, and it driving off. 

It’s noteworthy that WWE producers were cognizant of the fact that a significant portion of the live audience understood the staged nature of the incident, as they promptly announced the commencement of the next show. The cameras even followed Ilja Dragunov’s journey all the way to the ambulance, emphasizing the meticulous attention to detail in creating a compelling storyline.

We will keep our eye on this story, and so many more, here at Ringside News. We never know what will break next, or what Shawn Michaels will book in NXT.

What’s your take on this controversial NXT segment? Let us know what you think in the comments section!