WWE dropped some unfortunate news regarding a former NXT Champion on Monday’s episode of “WWE Raw” before a promo segment featuring World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. Commentary informed the audience at home that Ilja Dragunov suffered a suspected torn ACL and will be out of action for around six to nine months. Dragunov was injured wrestling GUNTHER for a shot at the championship during a live event in Columbus, Georgia over the weekend. In a video WWE posted to social media as well as airing on the broadcast, Dragunov was seen leaving the ring on his own volition following the injury, though he hobbled up the ramp without putting weight on his right leg.

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Dragunov’s most recent television match was a loss to Jey Uso in a fatal four-way match also featuring Braun Strowman and Pete Dunne for a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship on the September 9 episode of “Raw.” Before the IC Title tournament, Dragunov had been working with GUNTHER on house shows in Germany before Bash in Berlin. Dragunov was called up from “WWE NXT” to the main roster’s red brand at the end of April in the fourth round of the 2024 WWE Draft, following his NXT Championship loss to Trick Williams at “NXT” Spring Breakin’.

Mercedes Mone first made a name for herself in pro wrestling in WWE as Sasha Banks, which most fans know her for, and has faced numerous big-name stars in her spells with WWE, NJPW, and now AEW.

In the latest edition of her newsletter, “Mone Mag,” the AEW TBS Champion recalled being asked about her Mt. Rushmore of wrestling during a yet-to-be-aired appearance on First We Feast’s “Hot Ones” and listed her picks from stars she’s already faced. 

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“For my Mt. Rushmore of toughest opponents, I answered Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Bianca [Belair], and Willow [Nightingale],” Mone wrote.

Mone’s history with Charlotte Flair and Bayley is well-documented, and the three, along with Becky Lynch were dubbed the Four Horsewomen, after their rise to the WWE main roster from “NXT.” The four were instrumental in helping WWE transition away from the Divas Era. Bianca Belair, meanwhile, has quickly risen to become a major star in WWE, and together the two had a major clash at Night 1 of WrestleMania 37, where they created history by becoming the first black women to main event “The Show of Shows.”

Of her Mt. Rushmore list, Willow Nightingale is the star Mone has faced most recently as the two last went head-to-head at AEW Double Or Nothing for the TBS Championship, where the “CEO” walked away with the belt. Not too long ago, Nightingale praised Mone for her actions during their match at NJPW STRONG Resurgence in 2023, after Mone suffered an injury and called an audible for Nightingale to win the bout. Additionally, she admitted she has respect for Mone, despite how heated their feud became.

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CM Punk and Drew McIntyre met for a verbal confrontation during “WWE Raw” ahead of Bad Blood this weekend. Like their trilogy bout in Atlanta this weekend, the last face-off took place inside Hell in a Cell, though the cage was merely the setting for a standard back-and-forth between the arch rivals. 

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The promo was mediated by “Raw” General Manager Adam Pearce, with security guards dividing the ring to keep Punk and McIntyre separated. And it was McIntyre who opted to open the discussion, noting that he had worn a black suit out of respect for Punk’s wife in the face of what he will do to him. He said that the “Voice of the Voiceless” taught him that hate was a powerful weapon, but his hate will die alongside Punk after their match this weekend. Not known to keep his thoughts to himself, Punk spoke up to interrupt McIntyre. He said that he is so filled with rage that he has been living in a hotel for the last four months, not wanting to show this side of him to his wife – the side that McIntyre has brought forward. But this Saturday, Punk said that it would be McIntyre on his knees begging and praying for mercy, finishing off with the “I’ll see you in Hell” tag-line. 

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Punk and McIntyre will be facing off in the third match of their rivalry this weekend, with hostilities rearing their head immediately following CM Punk’s debut at Survivor Series almost a year ago. They are tied 1-1 as things stand, with McIntyre winning at SummerSlam and Punk tying things at Bash In Berlin.