Ilja Dragunov is ready for his trilogy showdown with Carmelo Hayes next Tuesday night.
Ahead of the next defense of the NXT Championship at night two of NXT Halloween Havoc next week, "The Mad Dragon" spoke with TV Insider for an interview to promote the big event.
During the discussion, Dragunov revealed what advice John Cena gave him during his recent visit to the Capitol Wrestling Center for his appearance on the episode of WWE NXT that went head-to-head against AEW Dynamite: Title Tuesday.
"It wasn’t a long conversation," Dragunov said. "What I really appreciated was him just randomly pulling me aside. This was something that doesn’t happen every day. He spoke about making moments and building a connection. That is what we were talking about. He gives you a whole different perspective, even when you may have the same opinion on things. When you have his approval, then you have the right mindset for this business, and you are on the right path."
Dragunov also spoke about WWE Hall of Fame legend The Undertaker being at the show and backstage at the CWC and what that meant to himself and the rest of the NXT roster.
"Meeting those legendary performers for the first time," he said. "You feel the connection between the present and the past in a very special way. A lot of people felt proud because you watched those guys growing up and now you’re in the same working environment. It gets you feeling in life, you feel everything is possible."
Check out the complete interview at TVInsider.com.
