WWE plans to ignite a noteworthy AJ Styles Ilja Dragunov rivalry once Dragunov is medically cleared to compete again. Ilja Dragunov, sidelined since September 2024 due to a torn ACL sustained in a match against Gunther at a WWE Live Event, was expected to make a significant impact after his promotion from NXT to the main roster in 2024. Meanwhile, AJ Styles recently challenged Dominik Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam 2025 but came up short.
AJ Styles’ Ongoing Battle for the Intercontinental Championship
Dominik Mysterio, a member of The Judgment Day stable, successfully retained his Intercontinental title after defeating AJ Styles at SummerSlam. Despite Styles’ efforts, Mysterio kept the title without interference from his allies, showcasing strategic poise. Shortly after the event, Styles confronted Mysterio on WWE RAW, clearly indicating his intent to continue pursuing the championship as long as Mysterio remains champion.
Critical Voices Question the Direction of AJ Styles’ Storyline
Criticism has emerged over the approach taken with AJ Styles in recent WWE storylines. Vince Russo, a former WWE writer, expressed frustration with the narrative’s execution during an appearance on Sportskeeda’s Legion of RAW show. Russo described the storyline where Styles used various disguises to spy on Mysterio as pointless and lacking purpose.
“The whole last three weeks, four weeks, whatever it is, this was the premise: AJ is keeping an eye on Dom until he gets cleared. That’s nothing. So now, this week, they had him in costume. ‘Oh, I am a valet, oh I am a Janitor, because I’m keeping my eye on you till you get cleared.’ We know eventually that he’s going to get cleared. So what is the point of three weeks of Aj doing this? What is the point of all that silliness?” said Russo.—Vince Russo, former WWE writer
This critique highlights a growing concern among fans and commentators about the effectiveness of the current story arcs involving top talents like AJ Styles.
The Future of Dragunov and Styles’ Rivalry in WWE
The anticipation around the AJ Styles Ilja Dragunov rivalry underscores WWE’s strategy to re-energize its roster with compelling matchups once Dragunov returns. Following Dragunov’s recovery, the promotion seems poised to capitalize on his momentum from NXT and the star power of Styles to draw viewer interest, especially after Styles narrowly missed winning the Intercontinental title at SummerSlam. How this storyline evolves will likely shape the landscape of WWE’s mid-card championship scene in the coming months.
