One bizarre Rocky IV theory suggests that Ivan Drago could actually be a robot, and it's secretly brilliant. Rocky IV escalated the stakes of the Rocky franchise to literal life-or-death levels, having Rocky Balboa face off against an opponent with devastating punching power capable of killing a man. Despite the overdramatic nature of its story being unrealistic, Rocky IV remains one of the best-loved entries in the franchise, with far-reaching story implications that facilitated the Creed spinoffs — and directly inspired Creed II.
Rocky IV's villain is Ivan Drago, a colossal Soviet boxer who proved to be something of an amateur sensation. This prompted an exhibition fight with former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed — a fight that ended in Creed's death at Drago's hands. This served as the basis for Rocky IV's Cold War grudge match, with Rocky fighting to avenge his friend. Drago's inhuman power made him Rocky's most fearsome opponent, and Rocky IV went to great lengths to detail just how impossibly powerful Drago's punches were.
There is one interesting theory that suggests a potential reason for such boundless power: Rocky IV's Ivan Drago may not be human at all. He's actually a robot programmed to beat world-class fighters. Although it's bizarre, this is actually plausible within the specific context of Rocky IV, particularly as the sequel's characterization of Drago plays down all of the fighter's human aspects, portraying him less as a man than a killing machine.
Robots Exist Within The Rocky Universe
One of the most important pieces of the wider context for the theory is established by an unrelated — and infamously strange — Rocky IV detail. The inclusion of a robot in Rocky IV is a strange addition to the franchise and serves no obvious narrative purpose within the film itself. However, Rocky IV's robot establishes that capable AI systems not only exist within the Rocky universe but also that they can be obtained by the general public. While the robot is mostly used as Paulie's personal slave and a sentient toy for Rocky Jr., the idea that the technology is available lends additional credence to the theory that Drago could be a particularly sophisticated type of robot.
Rocky IV's Story Can Be Summarized As “Man Vs Machine”
Rocky IV's story is primarily one of East versus West to match the Cold War sentiment of the era, but it could also be categorized as a "man versus machine" story. Rocky IV draws parallels between the cold, emotionless, and powerful "machine" character, Drago, and the vulnerability and raw emotions of Rocky after Apollo Creed's death. This is partly a way of contextualizing the film's heavy-handed Cold War message, but it's a deeper theme that fits surprisingly well with the theory that Ivan Drago could be a literal machine.
The film references the idea a number of times in the climactic fight between Rocky and Drago. After Rocky shows he's capable of fighting back against Drago, Duke shouts, "He's not a machine. He's a man!" — whereas Drago is heard saying of Rocky, "He's not human... he's like a piece of iron." This is clearly intended to flip the dynamic between the fighters and evidence Rocky's ability to break down Drago's will, but the references to machines and humans in the fight further the overall theme of humans versus machines.
Ivan Drago's Character And Training Hint He's A Robot
The combination of Ivan Drago's perfect amateur boxing record, his cold and emotionless demeanor, and the circumstances of his training points toward his robotic nature. Throughout Rocky IV, Drago acts exactly as he's told — or programmed — with no discernable emotional response even after beating Apollo Creed to death. Drago only seems to react emotionally after being repeatedly pummelled by Rocky, which in line with the theory could be the result of damage to his processing unit.
Interestingly, Drago's training also offers a hint that he may not be human. In stark contrast to Rocky's own training regime, Drago's takes place in a laboratory surrounded not by trainers, but by scientists and computer systems. He's shown hooked up to various machines, with his every statistic being constantly monitored by a huge team of scientists. This paints Ivan Drago as less a boxer in training than a machine being fine-tuned, and the theory paints this as not subtext but a literal demonstration of Drago's true nature.
Rocky's Unorthodox Boxing Style Allowed Him To Beat Robot Drago
The aspect of Rocky IV that most requires the suspension of disbelief is Rocky being able to physically outmatch Drago in order to win their fight. However, the theory actually makes this seem much more reasonable. If Drago is in fact a robot, then it only follows that he'd be programmed a certain way. Given the boxing style of Drago being very technically accurate — almost to a science, in fact — it's reasonable to assume that robot Drago was programmed to box, as opposed to fight.
The fact that Apollo Creed dies fighting Drago proves the legitimacy of Drago's boxing ability, and not just his power. However, against Rocky — a fighter who himself struggled to beat Creed — Drago is much less effective. It's entirely plausible that Rocky's wild, unpredictable style of fighting was enough to confuse Drago's programming. After all, Rocky's style is less based on the science of boxing than any other fighter in the franchise, and it's the only conceivable edge he has over either Drago or Creed. That Drago was beaten by Rocky after such a brutal victory over Apollo Creed paints an interesting picture of his capabilities, and it adds another layer to the theory.
Sadly, Creed II's Human Drago Ruins The Theory
While the theory holds up well based on Rocky IV's evidence alone, Creed II ruins it by making Ivan Drago a human being. A key element of Creed II's story is the aftermath of Drago's fight with Balboa and the way the fallout affected his career. This has reshaped Drago's character on an emotional level, proving that he's far more than a machine.
Ivan Drago's relationship with his son Viktor is the final nail in the theory's coffin, as it cements Drago's empathy and status as a loving father. Though he initially pushes for Viktor to avenge his defeat, when he realizes that his son is in danger, he stops the fight, protecting his child at the cost of his own reputation. This is a touching moment for Ivan Drago in Creed II, but it further disproves the theory, making Drago a decidedly human character.
Although the theory falls apart under the added context of Creed II, based on Rocky IV alone it's entirely possible that Ivan Drago is a robot. Exactly whether there's room for the theory to exist alongside the character's redemption in Creed II isn't clear, but at face value, the two ideas are mutually exclusive. However, Drago's characterization in Rocky IV is certainly enough for this theory to remain plausible, even if the chances that Ivan Drago is actually a robot remain slim.
