Ilja Dragunov exits WWE after seven-year run and multiple title reigns
Wrestler Ilja Dragunov has left WWE following the expiration of his contract, ending a seven-year tenure that included U.S., NXT and NXT UK championships.
Ilja Dragunov’s contract with WWE expired, prompting the company to shift his listing to the alumni roster and confirming his exit after seven years. He arrived in 2019 via NXT UK, where his aggressive style earned him the NXT UK Championship and later the NXT Championship. In 2024 he joined the main roster, suffered a torn ACL that kept him out for a year, and returned in October to capture the United States Championship by defeating Sami Zayn.
Dragunov defended the title in several high-profile open challenges before dropping it to Carmelo Hayes in December. Subsequent appearances were sparse, including an elimination by Brock Lesnar in the 2026 Royal Rumble and participation in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, after which he vanished from programming until his contract ended.
Why it matters
Dragunov’s exit opens a new free-agent market for a top wrestling talent, affecting WWE’s roster depth.
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