AEW Teases Ilja Dragunov’s Debut

October 14, 2026

The arrival of Ilja Dragunov in AEW appears to be imminent.

For a few weeks, reports indicated that Dragunov’s next destination would be AEW. A contract had been signed, but official confirmation was still missing.

During AEW Dynamite/Collision on October 14, 2026, everything seems to be confirming Ilja Dragunov’s arrival. Just before the main event, the company aired a mysterious video to announce the debut of a new wrestler. From the music, the hands, or the boots, everything pointed to Ilja Dragunov:

Since leaving WWE in August 2026, Ilja Dragunov has kept a low profile on social media and has not wrestled on the independent circuit. Dragunov had decided not to renew his contract with WWE after seven years with the company, clearly aiming to begin a new chapter in his career.

Despite the airing of this video, it is currently impossible to confirm when Ilja Dragunov will make his AEW in-ring debut. This weekend, the company will present WrestleDream, the PPV, so he could be integrated into the storylines after the PPV.

 

Zachary Mitchell

Zachary Mitchell

I’ve been following professional wrestling for as long as I can remember, from major televised events to the independent scene. At Franchise Fansite, I cover the news, wrestlers, rivalries, and behind-the-scenes developments that keep the wrestling world moving.