Ilja Dragunov addresses WWE’s booking of Gunther since the John Cena retirement match
While speaking to Ariel Helwani, former WWE star Ilja Dragunov was asked about WWE’s booking of Gunther since John Cena’s retirement at the end of 2025. Here is what Dragunov had to say…
“I guess my feeling is the same as a lot of other people’s. If you’re the person who retires John Cena, there’s a certain standard of depth that you should maintain, in my opinion.
For me, he is one of the best, and he will be one of the best of all time. He is a dear friend of mine. We’ve known each other for a long time, maybe since 2014 or 2015. We’re dear friends, and I want to see him succeed. I know he’s good, I know he’ll always do well, and whatever he does is going to be awesome.
But I can certainly imagine that, after the standard he set and the way he was portrayed, what we’re seeing right now isn’t necessarily the same level he’s been working at.”