Ilja Dragunov Set To Join AEW

Ilja Dragunov is set to sign with All Elite Wrestling following his departure from WWE.

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp has reported the current plan is for Dragunov to join AEW barring any unforeseen circumstances. This has been the plan for some time and final details are being worked out, with it being noted that a number of recent WWE departures who were from outside of the United States, including Dragunov, were suffering from visa issues.

It is unknown if Ilja Dragunov will have to undergo a name change when he debuts for All Elite Wrestling. Dragunov - whose real name is Ilja Rukober - began wrestling as Ilja Dragunov on the European indies in 2012, but WWE currently hold the trademark for 'Ilja Dragunov' with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. WWE actually applied to trademark the name in 2020 but, after years of issues, the trademark was only registered on July 7, 2026.

Ilja Dragunov had been a part of WWE since 2019, initially wrestling on NXT UK, before he moved to the United States in 2022. He then performed on NXT before moving to the main roster in 2024. The former WWE United States Champion departed the company on August 20 upon the expiration of his contract.

The expectation was that Dragunov would land in All Elite Wrestling. Tony Khan heaped praise upon the Russian-German wrestler after his WWE exit and another sign of him joining AEW was hinted at this week as MyAEW added Ilja Dragunov vs. WALTER from wXw Superstars of Wrestling 2018 to the streaming service.