Ilja Dragunov relinquishes NXT UK title due to injury

An injury has forced Ilja Dragunov to relinquish the NXT United Kingdom Championship.

At an NXT UK television taping on Wednesday, Dragunov appeared with one of his feet in a protective boot and had to vacate the NXT United Kingdom Championship due to the injury. An eight-man tournament will crown the new champion.

Dragunov had been NXT UK Champion since defeating WALTER for the title at NXT TakeOver 36 last August. Dragunov successfully defended the title against A-Kid, Jordan Devlin, Rampage Brown, Roderick Strong, and Nathan Frazer during his time as champion. Dragunov twice retained the title against Devlin.

A Dragunov vs. Wolfgang title match was also filmed at an NXT UK taping last month but has yet to air on TV.

The NXT UK Championship was first introduced in 2017. Tyler Bate, Pete Dunne, WALTER, and Dragunov are the only four wrestlers who have held the title since then.