Ilja Dragunov believes Gunther should be operating at a higher level in WWE following the defining victories attached to his name, particularly his retirement of John Cena.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Dragunov was asked about the current presentation of his longtime friend and one of his most significant in-ring rivals. Dragunov made clear that he has no doubts about Gunther’s ability, nor about the quality of his work in any situation. His concern was instead centered on the level of importance surrounding Gunther after a run of career-altering accomplishments.
Gunther forced Cena to submit in December, retiring the man famously associated with perseverance and the “Never Give Up” motto. The magnitude of that moment was difficult to overstate. Cena’s career has been among the most celebrated in WWE history, and being positioned as the wrestler who conclusively ended it places enormous narrative value on Gunther. He subsequently retired AJ Styles as well, adding another all-time great to an already imposing record.
That is why Dragunov feels the current direction does not fully match the status Gunther earned through those victories. Gunther has stepped away from the immediate orbit of those landmark retirements and is currently involved in a program with Danhausen and Finn Balor.
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“I guess my feeling is the same feeling that a lot of other people share. If you are the person to retire John Cena, it’s a status that you should keep a certain level of that,” Dragunov said. “For me, he is one of the best and he will be one of the best of all time. He is a dear friend of mine since 2014-15. I know he’s good. I know he will always do good, and whatever he does is going to be awesome. After the standard that he set and how he got portrayed, this is not necessarily the level we’re working at right now.”
Dragunov’s Perspective Carries Particular Weight
Dragunov’s assessment is notable because he is not speaking as a detached observer. The two men have a long shared history, both professionally and personally. Dragunov said their friendship dates back to 2014 or 2015, while their rivalry has supplied some of the most physically intense and emotionally charged work of either man’s career.
That history allows Dragunov to separate his faith in Gunther as a performer from his view of how the wrestler is being positioned at a given time. He was not suggesting that Gunther has lost his ability, his presence, or his capacity to make a storyline compelling. In fact, Dragunov was emphatic that Gunther will deliver regardless of the assignment placed in front of him.
The issue, in Dragunov’s view, is the standard created by the Cena retirement. In wrestling, a retirement angle involving a figure of Cena’s stature is not simply another win on a résumé. It is the kind of result that can redefine a wrestler’s place within a company. The person who defeats a legend in that setting inherits attention, credibility, and expectations. When that wrestler then adds a retirement of AJ Styles, those expectations only become greater.
For Dragunov, those results should leave Gunther in a consistently elevated space. His comments reflect a belief that the aftermath of a career-ending victory matters as much as the victory itself. A promotion can present a major result as historic in the moment, but its lasting value is measured by what happens to the winner afterward.
The Challenge of Following a Defining Moment
Gunther’s December victory over Cena came with unique symbolism. Cena built a legendary career around enduring punishment, overcoming odds, and refusing to quit. Having Gunther force him to submit was a direct statement about Gunther’s dominance. It was not merely a pinfall or a disputed finish. It established that Gunther pushed one of WWE’s most resilient icons beyond his limit.
The retirement of Styles carried a similarly substantial implication. Styles has been regarded as one of the premier in-ring wrestlers of his generation, and the combination of those two retirements gave Gunther a remarkable connection to WWE history. Those achievements naturally raise questions about what should come next for him.
Dragunov’s comments do not dismiss Gunther’s current opponents or suggest that Finn Balor and Danhausen cannot be part of meaningful television. Rather, he is addressing the broader hierarchy around Gunther. The expectation is that a wrestler entrusted with retiring Cena, then Styles, should be treated as a central force whose presence immediately signals the highest possible stakes.
That expectation can create a difficult balancing act. Once a performer reaches a level associated with major retirements and elite opponents, every subsequent program is evaluated against that benchmark. Gunther’s current work is therefore being judged not only on its own merits, but through the lens of the position he occupied when he defeated Cena and Styles.
A Friendship Built Alongside a Fierce Rivalry
Dragunov also offered a strong personal endorsement of Gunther’s long-term standing. Calling him one of the best and a future all-time great, Dragunov indicated that his confidence in Gunther is not dependent on a single creative direction or one stretch of programming.
That confidence is understandable given the intensity with which both men have approached their careers. Their rivalry has been fueled by a shared willingness to treat competition as deeply personal and physically demanding. Yet Dragunov’s remarks underline that the relationship extends far beyond competition. He views Gunther as a close friend and has known him for more than a decade.
As a result, the comments land as constructive criticism from somebody who understands both the performer and the expectations attached to him. Dragunov is not questioning whether Gunther can succeed in a program with Balor and Danhausen. He is arguing that Gunther’s stature after retiring Cena should set the baseline for how he is featured moving forward.
Gunther’s own reputation remains formidable. Dragunov stated plainly that whatever Gunther does will be “awesome,” a concise endorsement of his consistency and ability to make the most of any role. Still, Dragunov sees a gap between Gunther’s talent and the level at which he believes Gunther should presently be working.
What the Comments Mean for Gunther’s WWE Position
The central question raised by Dragunov is not whether Gunther belongs among WWE’s top names. Dragunov clearly believes that he does. The question is whether the company’s week-to-week presentation is sustaining the level of importance that came with putting Cena’s final match in Gunther’s hands.
In that sense, Dragunov’s comments speak to the long-term handling of major accomplishments. Retiring a legend can be a launching point, but only if that achievement continues to inform a wrestler’s presentation afterward. A star who defeats someone like Cena becomes associated with a rare kind of responsibility: carrying forward the significance of a moment that cannot be repeated.
Gunther also carries the added distinction of retiring Styles. Together, those outcomes give him an extraordinary body of accomplishments and make any perceived step down in stakes more noticeable. Dragunov believes that reality should be reflected in the level of Gunther’s programs.
For now, Gunther remains engaged with Balor and Danhausen, while Dragunov continues the next chapter of his own career in AEW. Dragunov left WWE in August when his contract expired and officially joined AEW at WrestleDream. Even from another promotion, however, he remains invested in the standing of a friend and rival he considers one of wrestling’s very best.
His message was ultimately one of belief rather than doubt. Dragunov is confident Gunther will excel in whatever he is given. But after retiring John Cena and AJ Styles, he feels Gunther has earned a level of presentation that should be unmistakable every time he appears.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.