Tommaso Ciampa finally received his shot at the United States Championship on Friday’s “WWE SmackDown,” going head-to-head with the reigning champion Ilya Dragunov. Despite Ciampa’s clever tactics and aggressive attacks on Dragunov’s injured knees, the resilient champion fought through the pain and avoided interference from DIY to hold onto his title.
From the start, the match was intense, with Dragunov’s fury counterbalanced by Ciampa’s ring intelligence. After a nearly fight-ending big boot from Dragunov, Ciampa focused his assaults on Dragunov’s knees, using strikes, holds, and suplexes. Even with the injury, Dragunov responded with powerful strikes and suplexes, keeping the fight alive.
What began as a technical battle soon turned into a fierce brawl. A disrespectful slap ignited a brutal exchange, culminating in a top-rope maneuver from Ciampa that left Dragunov bleeding heavily from the nose. Things almost slipped away from Dragunov when Johnny Gargano distracted the referee and Candice LeRae attacked, choking the champion against the ropes. However, Dragunov kicked out of Ciampa’s follow-up knee strike and secured the win with a quick pin.
Yet the challenge wasn’t over for Dragunov, as Gargano and Ciampa quickly overwhelmed him post-match. Just when it seemed like the champion was done, the arena lit up with gold as Carmelo Hayes rushed in, neutralizing both attackers and standing alongside Dragunov.
With this victory, Dragunov’s U.S. Championship reign continues with 57 days left. Meanwhile, Ciampa joins a list of recent unsuccessful challengers, which includes teammates Gargano, Fraxiom, Hayes, and WWE Raw’s JD McDonagh.
Fan Take: This intense showdown reinforces Dragunov’s toughness as U.S. Champion and keeps the title scene exciting. The ongoing rivalries and surprise alliances like Hayes’ interference signal a thrilling future for WWE fans, promising compelling storylines and fierce competition ahead.
