VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #6 (WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov)

Two lifelong rivals—WALTER and Ilja Dragunov—hold nothing back in this brutal classic.

2021 MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• Introduction & Honorable Mentions
• 100-76
• 75-51
• 50-26
• 25-11
• Top 10 Reveal/Audio Show ($)
• #10: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shingo Takagi
• #9: Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker
• #8: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
• #7: Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White

VOICES OF WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012

#6
WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov
8/22
WWE (NXT)

Overall Points: 406
Total Votes: 63
% of Ballots: 35.8%
5 First Place Votes

“The valiant Dragunov juxtaposes perfectly with the champion brute in a match as unrelentingly physical as their classic 2020 encounter. Dragunov had to endure hell to bring down his big beast of an adversary. As fun as the thudding strikes are, its his heart and guts that truly power the bout. Champion and challenger wallop each other in a fight for pride, for survival, for each man’s legacy. Again, these two made the NXT UK Championship feel like a prize as valuable as Excalibur’s sword.” -Ryan Dilbert

“Violence incarnate – a snuff film within a wrestling ring.” -Jacob Nelson

“These two have had matches all across Europe, and while it sucked that their built-up rematch ended up happening in the States and not in the UK, at least they were able to show why those of us in Europe were banging the drum for them for all these years.” -Ian Hamilton

“The follow-up to their 2020 classic on NXT: UK, Dragunov and WALTER again stole the show, this time on a bigger stage. The “Takeover” name is synonymous with excellent matches but this one may have beaten them all. WALTER’s indomitable reign as NXT: UK champion was ended in memorable fashion to, really, the only person on that brand who could’ve taken the title from him.” -Greg Parks

“Does anyone remember the match that these two had last year (2020)? Well if you don’t first of all what is wrong with you go watch it NOW! Because that match was awesome, they had a rematch in the later part of 2021 as part of the NXT Takeover 36 event and it had a lot to live up to but this match probably outdid their first meeting and even saying that sounds insane. My point is that any time these two have wrestled each other (only twice in WWE/NXT to my knowledge) it has been absolutely amazing. Going into this match I was hoping it was going to be really good because of how good that their first encounter was, I try not to anticipate a good wrestling match too much because I don’t want to be disappointed by my own high expectations that I have had for a match if it’s not as good as I had hoped that it would be but this match was incredible and it was ten months removed from the first time they wrestled so the anticipation for this one was off the charts. Once again both WALTER and Dragunov beat the living shit out of each other. The match was an experience and after watching this one my body was hurting even though I was watching it from the comfort of my own home on my couch. I can’t even imagine the physicality that these two men went through and the toll that this match took on both of their bodies but this match was one that will be talked about for years to come. Dragunov would win this match after making WALTER tap out to a sleeper hold to become the new United Kingdom Champion. WALTER’s historic title reign came to an end on its 870th day. A reign that will go down in history of one of the best title reigns ever but Ilja Dragunov will also be in the record books because he was the one who dethroned WALTER and destroyed his Kingdom.” -Nathan Neumann

“We all know that Walter’s chops are part of the draw of his matches, but the real flourish here is seeing Ilya as a man who can absorb them, again and again, without physically or mentally breaking down. This was a just end to Walter’s lengthy run as NXT UK champion.” -Brian Moore

“The finish was a chefs kiss of a moment and the perfect way for WALTER’s reign as NXT UK Champ to end. It would be the show stealer of NXT 1.0’s final hurrah with it’s callbacks to their history adding flavour to the brutality that they served up. It makes you want the main roster style and NXT 2.0 to not be what it is right now.” -Peter Edge

“This is all heart all fire. This is two eternal rivals that are destined to do this forever. I know some say this isn’t even their best match and they are probably right. That is scary in itself. I don’t hear enough people say it but WALTER vs Dragunov is one of the greatest in ring rivalries in history. It is every bit in the ilk of Omega vs Okada, Kobashi vs Misawa and this match among the best in their saga” -Markeem Graham

“These two can do no wrong. A wonderful, violent spectacle and just as good as their 2020 offering.” -Mark

“This match absolutely ruled. RULED. The match in 2020 was about Walter dominating and Ilja surviving, this time however Ilja had way more of the match and it was Walter’s time to survive as much as he could. From the first beat, Ilja is the one that fires off the first chop and Walter kicks the bottom rope in frustration and it sets the stall out that Ilja is going to be an even tougher challenge than he was before. The match is a hell of a fight and never lets up the pace, even when they do some grappling in the opening minutes and Walter throws in some lunging knee strikes while on the mat. There’s that one clunky moment right towards the end of the match where they do a top rope sleeper thing and it doesn’t come off well, but for me that just adds to the exhaustion of the match that these two guys aren’t executing moves smoothly, and Ilja goes straight back on the attack anyway with rapid elbows rather than let the dodgy moment linger. Ilja was a man possessed and I can’t think of a better performance by a Walter opponent ever to convince me that Walter was beatable than the Russian pulled off here. He was relentless and varied in his offence, flying and striking at Walter anyway he could and when the Torpedo Moscow failed to get the win, he poetically went for a strategy that has won Walter so many matches in his career – the sleeper – the move that finally lost him the previous title match back in 2020. I fucking love this finish with Ilja determined to make this sleeper work, and when Walter battles out, he just fires off with more strikes and locks it in tighter. The quick tap out surprised me as I thought they were going for Walter passing out, but I think it helped create a bigger moment” -Ed Mills

“WALTER and Dragunov clashed in an epic rematch from their NXT UK title last year. Last year these two had one of the best empty arena matches. This time they were able to wrestle in front of fans on a Takeover. This match was just as intense as the first. WALTER unleashed his devastating chops and power offense on Dragunov. However, Dragunov refused to be put down again by WALTER. Dragunov absorbed the punishment and kept fighting. In the end, Dragunov was finally able to defeat WALTER and end his 870-day reign.” -Jeremy Donovan

“I have no idea what the hell is going on at this supposedly real show called “NXT: UK” so it seems to me like these two guys just meet up out of the blue once a year to slap each other’s chest until it looks like hamburger meat and it’s great fun every time. This year’s meeting seemed to be more emotionally charged and I was even more taken with Dragunov’s determination to actually win this time, as opposed to last year when it kinda felt like he was just challenging a bear to kill him and trying to survive for fun, which I’m lead to believe by American media isn’t unusual behavior for Russian men. Can’t wait to see next year’s edition.” -Casey Fiore

“Pro Wrestling in its simplest form is the hero conquering the villain. That is this match. Ilja was the underdog. He is smaller than WALTER, the undefeated and dominant champion of 870 days. WALTER had beaten Ilja before in another classic match but tonight, Ilja had a different energy about him. He was unafraid of the beast standing before him and looked confident in his abilities. Ilja uses his speed early on, trying to get the Ring General to the ground where WALTER’s size and power would be neutralized but WALTER is too strong. He brutalizes Ilja with chops, stomps and slaps to the face. But Ilja will not give in. He throws everything he has at WALTER and more. A Torpedo Moscow isn’t even enough to keep the Ring General down. WALTER looks to end it. A brutal powerbomb and a top rope splash! 1. 2. KICKOUT! Ilja lives! Ilja fires up and unloads on WALTER! WALTER is down! Stiff MMA elbows to the big man! Ilja locks in a sleeper! He pulls back! He knows he has nothing left if WALTER escapes. This is his last shot! WALTER taps! The monster has been slayed! The hero has done it! This was pro wrestling at its most pure and simple form. And it was glorious!” -Alex Kalil

“I’m going to be honest for a moment: I hated the first WALTER/Dragunov match in NXT UK. While I can definitely see why a lot of people loved that match, to me, it felt like watching a snuff film. I felt like it went too far in too many places, and while I admired the technical aspects of the match, it didn’t make my Top 10 last year. This match was a lot more palatable in my opinion, and showcased why WALTER is such a special athlete, and why Ilja was his perfect foil.” -Slyguy46

“Their empty arena match might have been better, but this was definitely more exciting with the atmosphere and everything. Also, this match kind of symbolized the end of the NXT we all loved. A bitter-sweet moment.” -Evandor Furtado

“Writing this after the name change certainly has me look back on this match perhaps in an even more positive light. WALTER and Ilja had a Match of the year in 2020 in an empty UK venue for NXT UK. So when they announced The rematch at Takeover 36 part of me was worried, but part of me also knew these two could deliver and they absolutely did. Not as Brutal as their 2020 encounter but with a crowd there it did not need to be. The ending of WALTER tapping and Ilja having the same reaction as myself, disbelief, put the perfect bow on this fantastic match.” -Kentucky210

“This was somehow better than all their wXw and other indie encounters and their classic from 2020, resulting in one of the best matches in WWE history.” -Parker Klyn

“It’s crazy to me that this match was as high for me as it was the year previous, but when you put WALTER and Dragunov in a ring together, there is now no doubt in my mind that they are a phenomenal match. 2020 was mainly about the brutality of WALTER and in 2021, the pair continued their story, showing the heart and fire of Dragunov to overcome the giant. The match itself was nothing short of violent and if there was ever a 3rd, count me in.” -Ryan Neitzey

“A primal, carnal war. Intensity so high it overcame the setting that the match took place in.” -Ibrahima Niang

“I’ll admit that when this match was announced, I was uncertain about it. Not because that I thought it was the right time for a rematch, nor because I doubted WALTER and Dragunov’s capability in producing a fantastic battle, but rather, I asked myself these questions: *how* could they top their previous match? Will WALTER really walk away as the NXT UK champion, extending his 870 day reign? What followed was one of the most hard-hitting matches of the year. Every doubt that I had about this rematch washed away as I laid witness to two men brawling each other for their own desires: WALTER defending his glory in a title, while Dragunov clawed through his opponent’s defense. Overall, was left speechless by this match. I want an encore.” -Caro

“After the first encounter received worldwide praise despite happening in front of zero people, it was only right that the battle which saw Ilja Dragunov takedown WALTER was witnessed by an actual crowd. The final great match of the NXT we once knew and loved is this one as these two brutalized each other until their both bodies were as red as a stop sign. I still wince at the thought of those chops they exchanged and cringe at what they probably had to deal with the days after their war. WWE can take away what makes a lot of wrestlers great to fit their style but Dragunov and WALTER didn’t let that happen. They brought the styles that got them to the dance to begin with and what followed was amazing.” -Scott Edwards Jr.

“If there is one thing that WALTER always brings, it’s violence in everything he does, from his chops to the way he holds Ilja’s body. And this match had that in absolute spades. Ilja Dragunov to his credit, is one of the rare few that can equal WALTER in that way, through his intensity. I loved his desperate attempts to prevent the chops from becoming the trope of the match, as it’s been the deciding factor for WALTER for years now. He rabidly attacked the arm, which helped prevent WALTER from locking in the Gojira Clutch, adding to the strategy in the long term. Dragunov caught a nasty cut on his forehead, just above the eye, and it was one of the better cuts you can get, visually imo as it didn’t draw much blood. It seemed more like a stinging hole in the skull than anything else. Little things like that, when not planned, only add to everything. The closing stretch was just tremendous wrestling as well. Not so much in the moves and sequences, as you can see them in every version of this match, but rather WALTER’s selling and Dragunov’s drive and god honest plausibility in his performances. You could believe that he truly wants to win the match, throwing everything he had into the match. Even landing hard in the corner after hitting a Moscow Torpedo. And his reaction when WALTER tapped was amazing. No one could believe it. WALTER gave up and lost the title. Unbelievable” -MC

“Ilja Dragunov’s redemption story was the best thing that WWE had done in LITERAL YEARS. The culmination was here. The biggest match in NXT UK history INSIDE A WAREHOUSE just to generate some interest on an otherwise really garbage show. I am not gonna lie, when umI heard that it was taking place in the CWC I lowered my expectations. Despite all those handicaps they were met with, WALTER and Dragunov put on a brutal classic with ilja’s undeniable fighting spirit shining through.” -Ashutosh Dubey

“I sometimes don’t enjoy matches where wrestlers truly punish each other in the ring, be it head-drops or chopping each other into hamburger meat. So I was kind of dreading this match going in. Walter is such a unique presence like Brock Lesnar that it is really difficult to believe anyone can defeat him. It’s just part of his character. I have never seen Ilja in a match that wasn’t with Walter, so I can’t really appreciate him on his own, but I finished this match thinking there was no more perfect opponent, or conqueror than Dragunov to finally chop down the champion.” -Kevin Ely

“I love me a match where you wonder if the guys fighting know wrestling is a work.” -Warren Hayes

“WALTER and Dragunov delivered a second year of the row with a match that felt exactly like the big-time battle it was, with the historic title change to boot. Everything clicked in a match that just saw two longtime rivals beat the ever-loving snot out of each other.” -Jeremy Thomas

VOICES OF WRESTLING 2021 MATCH OF THE YEAR