Ilja Dragunov is reportedly leaving WWE.
According to a report from PWInsider.com, Ilja Dragunov is set to exit WWE. The report noted that the former United States Champion’s contract has expired, and he was removed from the internal WWE roster earlier this week.
Dragunov joined WWE back in 2019 as part of the NXT UK brand. The Mad Dragon became a popular part of the roster as an underdog who eventually worked his way to the top of the card. After unsuccessfully challenging Gunther – then known as WALTER – for the NXT UK Championship in 2020, Dragunov finally dethroned The Ring General at NXT TakeOver 36, ending his record reign at 870 days.
After reigning for almost a year, Dragunov suffered a leg injury and was forced to vacate the title. When he returned to WWE, it was on the US version of NXT. The star also became a top star in NXT, where he held the top title for over 200 days and defended it against the likes of Baron Corbin, Carmelo Hayes, and Dominik Mysterio before losing it to Trick Williams in April 2024.
After the loss, Dragunov moved up to the main roster, but soon suffered a torn ACL that left him out of action for a year. When he returned, he captured the United States Title from Sami Zayn, holding it for 63 days.
When Did Ilja Dragunov Last Wrestle In WWE?
After only making sporadic appearances in 2026, Ilja Dragunov made his last WWE appearance on the April 17th edition of SmackDown, competing in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He was unsuccessful in the bout, being eliminated by Aleister Black.
