Ilja Dragunov Beats Tony D'Angelo to Retain NXT Title at Stand & Deliver 2024

Ilja Dragunov defeated Tony D'Angelo at NXT Stand & Deliver on Saturday to retain the NXT Championship.

Despite his hand injury, Dragunov climbed to the top rope for a super H-Bomb. The high-risk gamble paid off as he connected flush with D'Angelo for the victory.

Dragunov won the NXT title for the first time at No Mercy back in September, and he subsequently defended it against many of the top stars in NXT, including Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams and Baron Corbin.

After a slight delay, the Mad Dragon put the NXT Championship on the line against Williams at Vengeance Day in February, and Dragunov was victorious. Following the bout, Hayes turned on his longtime friend by brutally attacking Williams.

With Trick seemingly out of the way, Melo set his sights on regaining the NXT Championship, however, a new potential contender emerged in the form of D'Angelo.

On the heels of D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo losing the NXT Tag Team Championships to Bron Breakker and Corbin, The Don of NXT expressed his desire to move on to bigger and better things.

Hayes thought he was in line to have an NXT title match against Dragunov on the Roadblock edition of NXT, but D'Angelo negotiated his way into the championship picture, and the decision was made for D'Angelo and Hayes to clash with the No. 1 contendership on the line.

Trick's music played during the match, which distracted Hayes long enough to pick up the victory, and Williams made his return after the match, taking the fight to Melo in the process.

While it initially seemed as though Dragunov and D'Angelo had mutual respect for each other, The Don made things personal in the weeks leading up to Stand & Deliver.

Dragunov interrupted a dinner between D'Angelo and his family, prompting Stacks and Luca Crusifino to kidnap Ilja and throw him in the trunk of a car.

D'Angelo's family eventually set Dragunov free, but the stunt may have lit a fire inside one of the most intense competitors in pro wrestling.

While D'Angelo had a golden opportunity to win the first singles title of his career at Stand & Deliver, Dragunov came through in crunch time once again and continued his nearly 200-day reign.

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