Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes had one of the best matches in recent NXT history at No Mercy. They both put on a great show, capped off by a heart-pounding final few minutes in which the Russian had to deliver up to three H Bombs to knock out his opponent and capture the NXT Championship.
With this victory, Ilja put an end to Melo's dynasty to begin his own: the era of Unbesiegbar. Meanwhile, before his first appearance on the NXT weekly show as the new top champion of the brand, Dragunov was interviewed on Busted Open Radio, where he was asked about the feelings he experienced when he could finally be alone and enjoy his victory.
"When that moment came, I felt empty, but emptiness can sometimes be good. I tell myself one thing: when one day I leave, 'I want to leave empty.' I want to leave knowing that I gave everything I could. I have nothing to regret, nothing to leave behind, I left everything I had to offer. This is one of those moments when I felt that emptiness, but in a good way," replied Ilja.
How will you differ from the previous NXT champions?
"The thing is, I'm not going to stop. There's no one in this business who can offer this kind of excitement, this kind of passion, and get people involved in the fight. When I fight, people feel like they're inside. They feel the pain, they feel the struggle. Everything I work on has become the ultimate symbol, as if I'm not even human anymore, just a symbol that people can cling to. This is what I can offer for the NXT Championship. To be a champion that people can believe in. They look at him and see something they want to be in some part of their life. This fighting spirit, you can put it in any aspect of your life, and people want to have it. This courage to take a step forward and fulfill the full sense of your existence," declared Dragunov.