Ilja Dragunov has signed with AEW, according to reports from Fightful Select and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Neither AEW nor Dragunov has confirmed the signing.
Dave Meltzer reported in September that Dragunov "has actually already signed a deal with All Elite Wrestling" and would be starting "very soon," Wrestling Inc wrote. Fightful Select had earlier reported that he was heading to AEW in the near future. Meltzer also suggested the move "was always going to end up happening."
The reports followed his exit from WWE. PWInsider and Fightful Select reported on August 20 that his latest WWE deal had expired, POST Wrestling wrote. Fightful Select added that Dragunov kept training during his months away from television.
Dragunov is 32. He won the WWE United States Championship in October 2025 when he returned from a full year out with injury, defended it eight times, and lost it in December 2025. He also held the NXT Championship for 200 days. POST Wrestling noted that his SmackDown appearances slowed down significantly after he lost the title, and that he had not wrestled a match in four months by the time his departure was reported.
Wrestling Inc reported that AEW president Tony Khan openly praised Dragunov when he became a free agent. Dragunov did not appear at AEW All In London, despite fan speculation. Meltzer attributed that to contract details that needed a number of weeks to finish.
A debut date has not been announced, and it is not yet known how AEW plans to introduce him. As of now, Dragunov is reported as signed, with no confirmation from the company.
