A rumour surrounding Ilja Dragunov‘s lengthy absence from WWE television has been shut down.
Ilja Dragunov has not competed for WWE in several months, leading to increased speculation among fans about the reason behind his disappearance from programming.
One fan recently claimed on X that the former NXT Champion had been removed from television after refusing to sign a contract extension with WWE.
However, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp dismissed the claim and questioned why the allegation was being spread without any evidence to support it.
There has been no credible indication that Dragunov has rejected a new WWE contract or that a contract dispute is responsible for his absence.
The exact reason for Dragunov’s continued absence from television remains unclear.
When Did Ilja Dragunov Last Wrestle For WWE?
Ilja Dragunov’s most recent WWE match came in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the April 17 episode of SmackDown, which was ultimately won by Royce Keys. Dragunov’s last victory inside a WWE ring came several months earlier on the January 30 episode of SmackDown, where he defeated The Miz.
The 32-year-old moved to WWE’s main roster following WrestleMania 40 in 2024 after establishing himself as one of NXT’s leading stars.
Dragunov enjoyed considerable success during his time in WWE’s developmental system, including reigns as both NXT Champion and NXT UK Champion.
He later added main roster championship gold to his résumé by capturing the WWE United States Championship.
Despite his extended absence, there has been no official announcement from WWE regarding Dragunov’s status or when he could return to television.
For now, speculation that his absence is connected to him rejecting a WWE contract extension appears to be unfounded.
