More Intense Than Ilja Dragunov: Open Challenge For Major WWE Championship Confirmed

Ilja Dragunov
Ilja Dragunov is the current United States Champion (Image credit: WWE.com)

A top star issued an open challenge for a major WWE championship. She even took a shot at Ilja Dragunov.

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Blake Monroe made her NXT debut earlier this year. After an intense and heated feud with Jordynne Grace. Following this feud, she turned her attention towards Sol Ruca and the Women's North American Championship. She challenged for the title at NXT Halloween Havoc and won. She even defended the title for the first time at Gold Rush against Sol Ruca and was successful.

Tonight on NXT Deadline, Blake Monroe was in a backstage segment with Ava. She told the NXT GM that she wanted to defend the title in an open challenge. Ava reminded her that an open challenge meant that anyone could challenge her for the title, and she is not like Ilja Dragunov. To this, the former AEW star said she is more intense than the Mad Dragon.

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"I am more intense than Ilja Dragunov."

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Ava then told Blake Monroe that she is not like Sami Zayn. Blake responded by saying that she is more beloved than Sami.

"Sami Zayn? I'm more beloved than Sami Zayn and this all started with John Cena....What's your answer? Just give it to me straight."

The NXT GM finally gave in to the Women's North American Champion and agreed to let her have the open challenge.

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Ilja Dragunov has been a fighting champion on SmackDown

Ilja Dragunov answered Sami Zayn's open challenge on the 17th October episode of SmackDown and won the United States Championship. Following this, Ilja continued to legacy of the US Open Challenge.

In the following weeks, he defended the title several times in some of the most intense matches. He has defended the title against Carmelo Hayes, JD McDonagh, Axiom, Johnny Gargano, Nathan Frazer, and many more.

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It remains to be seen if Blake Monroe will be able to retain the title in her open challenge.

If you use the quotes from the first half of the article, link back to the source with an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling.

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Edited by Sunil Joseph
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