The WWE community has witnessed wrestlers of multiple nationalities become champions in the promotion. Despite being a US-based promotion, the WWE facilitates a talent-first policy when it comes to crowning its champions.
While many fans may know that wrestlers of Canadian origin, including Bret Hart, Natalya, and others, have held multiple championships in the promotion, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Russian wrestlers haven’t done that well.
After watching Ilja Dragunov defeat Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship during the last (October 17) episode of SmackDown, fans know that Mad Dragon is certainly one of the Russians who became a champion in the WWE. But are there any more? Here’s a look
Russian Titleholders in WWE Excluding Ilja Dragunov
Credits: WWE
Credits: WWE
Credits: WWE
Credits: WWE
Just like the SmackDown episodes of the recent past, Zayn put his United States title on the line in an open challenge during the October 17 episode of SmackDown. While Shinsuke Nakamura responded to Zayn’s challenge at the October 10 episode, Dragunov walked out to the ring to lock horns with Zayn in the last episode.
Dragunov emerged victorious after an intense match with Zayn, which made him the United States Champion for the first time despite his Russian background. However, this isn’t the first time Mad Dragon claimed a WWE title.
Dragunov won the NXT UK Championship as his first-ever WWE title at NXT TakeOver 36 on August 22, 2021. The Russian also bagged the NXT Championship with a victory over Carmelo Hayes at NXT No Mercy on September 30, 2023, which makes the United States Championship the third title of his WWE career.
However, no Russian-born wrestler (in reality) other than Dragunov has won a WWE title to date. Nevertheless, the WWE has filled that gap by featuring kayfabe Russians winning titles.
Kayfabe Russians in WWE Who Have Won a Title
Rusev dominating in one of his matches | Credits: WWE
While the real Russian-born wrestlers haven’t done very well in winning WWE titles, Triple H and Co. have created kayfabe Russian characters despite the real wrestlers hailing from other countries.
Just to consider an example, Triple H and Co. portrayed the Bulgarian-born Rusev as a Russian on the screen for a prolonged period, including making him walk out at WrestleMania 31 in a tank with kayfabe Russian soldiers accompanying him.
Rusev also won the United States Championship three times, which makes him one of the kayfabe Russians to win a WWE title. However, a look at the WWE’s history says two other kayfabe Russians have also won titles. So, here’s a summary of all the kayfabe Russian WWE stars who have won a WWE title.
Sl. No.WrestlerKayfabe roleActual BirthplaceWWE titles won1.Nikolai VolkoffRussian heelCroatiaWWF (WWE’s former name) tag team title (2 times)2.Ivan KoloffRussian heelCanadaWWF World Heavyweight Championship3.RusevRussian heelBulgariaWWE United States Championship (3 times)
With Dragunov standing as the only authentic Russian-born WWE champion to date, do you think the count will increase in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
