5 things you didn't know about Ilja Dragunov

Last night, history was made as WWE's very first pay-per-view event in Wales took place in the form of NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff - and main roster WWE Superstar Cesaro had one of the matches of the night after issuing an open challenge for his debut on the brand.

The man who answered the challenge was Ilja Dragunov who came to the ring and called out The Swiss Superman, beating him to the punch.

The pair had undoubtedly one of the matches of the night on what was an incredible show, with Triple H even commenting on the match with Cesaro, saying "Cesaro made Dragunov."

Besieger has truly arrived, but what's the story behind one of WWE's biggest enigmas? Well, here's five facts to help you get to know Ilja a little better.

#5 Dragunov had a very tough upbringing

Dragunov's toughness in the ring represents his character

Ilja Dragunov's in-ring toughness may very well be a metaphor for his upbringing - and his background story makes the NXT star a guy you just need to get behind and root for.

Ilja moved from Russia to Germany at the age of five with just his mother. Born in Moscow, Russia, Dragunov moved to Dresden as a toddler and he says he's been fighting ever since.

I am an immigrant woman's son. So I came to Germany when I was five years old.

Eating c**p is basically everyday business. It starts with standing in line for social security, being verbally abused because you don't understand the language.

Then you don't have any money and you have to get by that. I remember a moment when I begged my mother for money, so I could buy a Twix, when I was a little boy. I just wanted to eat something sweet, but we didn't have any money for that.

#4 Ilja worked many jobs before becoming a wrestler

Like many others, Ilja Dragunov wasn't always a professional wrestler. The NXT UK star worked several jobs before making it to the squared circle. As mentioned in the previous slide, having come from an impoverished childhood, the Moscow-born star knew he had to make money somehow.

I soon realised that I needed to work for the things I needed and I can't whine when things are not going the way I want. That means I had quite a number of jobs.

I had every c****y job there is. I worked at a gas station, I had a job as custodial staff, worked at a pizza parlour - that's behind me now. I was screamed at by quite a number of people.

Dragunov credits those jobs and his upbringing for his mentality now, though, stating that he takes nothing for granted and appreciates everything because he had so little as a child.

In fact, when Ilja started training at wXw, he had nothing.

One fellow wrestler said Dragunov ate at his place because he had no food - and that Dragunov found a functioning family in wrestling, and with his wife and child.

#3 The WWE star became a wrestler by accident

Dragunov faced Ohno early on in his WWE career

Oddly enough, wrestling just fell into place for Ilja Dragunov. Having worked at a pizzeria and a gas station, it's incredible to think that the Russian had no real aspirations of wrestling in WWE early on - but once Ilja got into wrestling, determination has taken him to the very top.

Basically everything I do in my life, whether it's professionally or concerning my family, whatever I begin, everything that fuels me with passion, it's what I'll be invested in long-term.

So wrestling came into my life - I don't feel like I chose wrestling, wrestling chose me - and when I had realised that, I thought, "Okay, it's what I enjoy, that's what fuels me, that awakens something inside of me. So, to me, there was no other option than investing everything into it. That's all I can do."

Dragunov even goes on to say he didn't have any goals when he started out as he only follows his emotions, and he's a self-confessed emotional person.

I always follow a path without actually knowing where I am going. But I am happier and more surprised about what happened because I didn't see it coming.

I don't dwell on defined goals. It was my goal to stand in that ring, give my best, to always deliver, and always push myself to the limit. And that gave me the complete and utter confidence that whatever I'll do, I'll end up somewhere. And it'll be something positive. No matter how much c**p I have to eat on this way.

#2 Unbesiegbar

To Ilja Dragunov, "Unbesiegbar" isn't just a nickname - it's a life motto.

The Russian star's nickname literally translates to 'invincible' and is the single word that Ilja's life revolves around. From growing up in an impoverished, immigrant family in Germany, to making it to the very top of his profession, you almost have to be bulletproof.

Unbesiegbar became a phrase at some point. At first, I couldn't make anything out of this. During some promo at my early days at wXw, that word was mentioned. The idea was to say something at the end of the promo. "We need something from you." And then the word "unbesiegbar" came up.

Dragunov recalls that it all clicked as soon as he said that word.

That word pervades through my whole life. All of a sudden, something that had been in me my whole life came out. That's my mental attitude.

To make that understandable, I am not the smartest man, I am certainly not the most athletic, I am not the best athlete around - but those categories are completely irrelevant to me.

Ilja Dragunov believes he is invincible, thus he is invicible. He even claims that he can be "the biggest idiot ever" and go into a situation with no familiarity of it, but he will always succeed because of one reason - Unbesiegbar.

I probably have the biggest flaws. I am the biggest idiot that can walk this earth - but there's one thing that makes me a successful person at what I do, and I am always aware of this.

At any time, I am completely convinced, no matter if I am familiar with the situation I am in or not, I go in there and my mindset is, "I am invincible."

#1 He was trained by a WWE star and made a star by another

Ilja Dragunov was trained by two men - Rick Baxxter and WWE Superstar Alexander Wolfe.

Dragunov hails both men for his "Unbesiegbar" mentality, and for training and mentoring him. Wolfe shot to the WWE main roster as part of hugely successful NXT faction SAnitY, but the faction didn't quite manage to translate their success to SmackDown.

Wolfe, though, reinvented himself and is now a part of Imperium with United Kingdom Champion Walter, Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner.

Rick Baxxter/ @TheWWEWolfe My trainers/ my mentorsThey start my perspective. My love for the long way, the patience and the toughness. There wouldnt #UNBESIEGBAR without you both. pic.twitter.com/Aid4Fz6SFL
— Ilja Dragunov (@UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR) April 30, 2018

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One other man who should be credited, though, is Wolfe's compatriot Walter. The current NXT United Kingdom Champion is one of the major reasons that the world knew who Ilja Dragunov was before WWE came calling.

Dragunov beat Walter in the wXw 16 Carat Gold final in an unbelievable match while his long-time rival, John "Bad Bones" Klinger, started a new heel faction called RISE. Ilja would receive a long overdue shot for the wXw World title, in a Triple Threat alongside Klinger - who went on to win. Ilja chased Klinger for months, but would come up short every single time, usually unfairly.

Walter played a huge part in the rise of Ilja Dragunov

In the background, rumours of Ilja stepping away circulated and on wXw's 17th anniversary show, the Russian put his career on the line - and lost.

Back in comes Walter. Three months passed and, at 2018's 16 Carat Gold tournament, Klinger would be defending his title against Walter - who earned the right to choose the stipulation. Walter chose to make the match a Triple Threat Match to ensure Klinger didn't leave without his title - spawning a viral video of Ilja Dragnov's return.

Ilja would go on to win the match and finally become World Champion.