Former WWE wrestler’s AEW debut teased before Wrestledream 2026
Is “The Mad Dragon” on his way to AEW? After weeks of reports and speculation about Ilja Dragunov’s much-awaited AEW debut, it now seems that the time has finally come. Dragunov parted ways with WWE a couple of months ago when he decided to not renew his contract. Soon after rejecting a contract extension, Dragunov immediately became a free agent […] The post Former WWE wrestler’s AEW debut…
AEW has officially teased Ilja Dragunov's debut before their WrestleDream 2026 event, igniting excitement among wrestling fans. The former WWE wrestler parted ways with the promotion recently after deciding not to renew his contract. Following his exit, rumors circulated about Dragunov joining AEW, but the promotion maintained its silence.
However, on Oct. 14, 2026, AEW finally dropped a 25-second vignette during their Dynamite and Collision episodes, teasing the arrival of a new star. The video featured a metronome, a person conducting music, someone walking down steps, and running across a training ring. These visuals alluded to the impending arrival of a prominent AEW talent.
Although the video did not explicitly name Dragunov, fans quickly identified him as the mystery figure. Once the official signing is confirmed, Dragunov will join The New Level and Motor City Machine Guns, as other former WWE talents have recently joined AEW. A veteran in WWE, Dragunov holds multiple championships, including the WWE United States Championship, NXT Championship, and NXT UK Championship.
He has been with WWE since 2019, and his last match was the 2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal before WrestleMania 42.
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