At NXT TakeOver 36, WALTER‘s 870-reign as the NXT UK Champion faced perhaps its toughest test yet when Ilja Dragunov challenged the champion. In a rematch of their classic encounter from last year, Dragunov ended WALTER’s reign when he shockingly made the big man tap out.
As fans have come to expect from these two men, WALTER and Dragunov battered each other with some brutally physical offense. In an early highlight, the champion powerbombed his rival onto the ring apron. Later in the bout, both men traded stiff chops.
These lads are just warming up ?#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/vwoiQZPKS0
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) August 23, 2021
The champion suplexed Dragunov over his head for a two count. Another devastating chop dropped Dragunov, and WALTER firmly had the match in the palm of his large hand. But Dragunov fired back with a series of stiff strikes and seemingly gained momentum until WALTER blasted him with a nasty lariat. Still, Dragunov kept fighting, as he dropped the champion with a German suplex.
The legendary chop from @WalterAUT is a sight to behold.#NXTUKTitle#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/Mtx9fNtbzB
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021
Both men were down after a German suplex from WALTER and a brutal shoulder block to the head from Dragunov. Dragunov superplexed WALTER and hit a diving dropkick, but the champion responded with a ring-shaking dropkick and a powerbomb. WALTER surprisingly went to the top rope and hit a splash, but Dragunov still kicked out.
.@UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR is pulling out ALL THE STOPS to try and conquer @WalterAUT for the #NXTUKTitle! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/nA9MI6z0U2
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021
Dragunov took the champion down with some elbows to the head, and he locked in a sleeper hold. WALTER powered out of it , but Dragunov locked it in again. The champion desperately tried to escape, but he had no choice other than to tap out. As a result, Dragunov won the bout and ended WALTER’s historic reign. This submission marked the first time WALTER has tapped out during his WWE career.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️@UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR dethrones @WalterAUT in an all-time classic to become the NEW #NXTUK Champion!#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/8KJh8iqiu4
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021
