WWE: El Hijo del Vikingo Reportedly Suffered Injury Prior to 6/30 WWE NXT Show, Ilja Dragunov WWE Abscense & Return Plans Update, Kurt Angle Responds to Kendal Grey’s Gear Tribute & NXT Women’s Title Victory at NXT Great American Bash 2026

Jul 1, 2026

El Hijo del Vikingo Reportedly Suffered Injury Prior to 6/30 WWE NXT Show

As noted before, Tuesday’s WWE NXT show at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida featured AAA Latin American Champion El Hijo del Vikingo suffering a storyline injury following a backstage attack angle involving Keanu Carver. Vikingo’s scheduled title defense against EK Prosper was pulled after NXT GM Robert Stone announced that he was not medically cleared to compete.

False Finish’s Cory Hays reported that his sources stated that Vikingo had suffered a legitimate injury during his rehearsals with EK Prosper for their match prior to the start of NXT’s show.

In response to a fan question on Twitter, Hays stated that Vikingo was healthy after his match during this past Monday’s WWE SmackDown tapings in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Hays also reported that the nature nor severity of Vikingo’s injury is currently not known.

Ilja Dragunov WWE Abscense & Return Plans Update

Ilja Dragunov has been absent from WWE since the 2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal match at the April 17th episode of WWE SmackDown in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez reported that his sources stated that Dragunov is currently expected to return to WWE sooner rather than later.

No other details were given regarding a potential date for Dragunov’s return nor the reason for Dragunov’s abscense.

Kurt Angle Responds to Kendal Grey’s Gear Tribute & NXT Women’s Title Victory at NXT Great American Bash 2026

As noted before, this past Sunday’s WWE NXT Great American Bash 2026 event at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida featured Kendal Grey defeating Lola Vice to become the new NXT Women’s Champion.

This match was notable for Grey wearing gear in tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle.

Kendal Grey with Kurt Angle-inspired gear!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/vt4IK50hhI
— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) June 29, 2026

Angle recently reflected on Twitter about Grey paying tribute to him for her NXT Women’s title match at WWE’s NXT Great American Bash 2026 show and his praise of her on her title victory.

“Witnessing the rise of the next generation is nothing short of incredible! I couldn’t be prouder to see Kendal Grey rocking my gear and claiming her throne as the new NXT Woman’s Champion! 🏆@kendalgreywwe relentless dedication embodies everything we represent in this industry.
There’s only one Kendal Grey, and I can’t wait to see her conquer new heights. But…… just a heads up, in 8 years, you might want to watch your back, Kendal. There’s another Angle eager to step into that ring, and she’s got her eyes on you! @kendalgreywwe #itstrue”

Witnessing the rise of the next generation is nothing short of incredible! I couldn't be prouder to see Kendal Grey rocking my gear and claiming her throne as the new NXT Woman's Champion! 🏆@kendalgreywwe relentless dedication embodies everything we represent in this industry.
— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) June 30, 2026

There's only one Kendal Grey, and I can't wait to see her conquer new heights.
But…… just a heads up, in 8 years, you might want to watch your back, Kendal. There's another Angle eager to step into that ring, and she's got her eyes on you! @kendalgreywwe #itstrue
— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) June 30, 2026

Grey responded to Angle’s comments thanking him for the praise and stated she will be waiting for his daughter as a challenger in eight years.