Former champion sends cryptic update after missing out on Night One of WWE Draft

The WWE Draft got underway this Friday on SmackDown and will commence on the upcoming edition of Monday Night RAW. Former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov, who missed out on the Draft on Night One, recently posted a cryptic message on social media.

The 30-year-old lost the NXT Championship to Trick Williams in a back-and-forth contest in Week One of the NXT Spring Breakin' event. The two superstars were engaged in a hard-hitting contest, which ended with Williams hitting the Trick Shot for the win.

Dragunov recently took to Instagram to post several recent pictures ahead of the red brand's show. The Mad Dragon also shared a cryptic message in the caption of his post.

"I’ve got my head in the clouds, my feet on the ground," he wrote.

You can check out the Instagram post below:

Ilja Dragunov made his RAW debut on the April 8 edition of the show. He was involved in a singles match against Shinsuke Nakamura. The former NXT UK Champion flattened The King of Strong Style with the Torpedo Moscow to win the contest via pinfall.

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WWE Superstar Ilja Dragunov opens up about self-motivation while being away from family

Ilja Dragunov signed with WWE in 2019 and became one of the top stars in NXT UK, where he also defeated Walter (aka Gunther) for the NXT UK Championship. He ended The Ring General's 870-day title run. Ilja is considered by the WWE Universe, as one of the best in-ring performers to be a part of the company's developmental brand.

During an appearance on WWE's The Bump, the former champion talked about his time away from his family. Dragunov stated that he misses his son desperately. However, he motivates himself every day to keep pushing forward.

"It is a complicated time for me because I am a family person. And coming over alone, have this entire change in my life, is definitely not easy for me. But I was always the kind of person since the very beginning of my life that I always had the skill to motivate myself...I give myself this inside motivation every day. Even being alone, even feel solitude. Even like missing my son desperately, I know what I am doing this for and my reasons are so powerful, they push me every single day," he said.

Ilja Dragunov's loss to Trick William potentially hints at a move to the main roster. It remains to be seen what plans the wrestling promotion has in store for The Mad Dragon on Night Two of the Draft.