Ilja Dragunov Departs WWE After Notable Tenure

Ilja Dragunov, known for his achievements in WWE, has left the company. The wrestler’s profile was moved to the alumni section on Thursday.

Dragunov’s contract with WWE concluded, as reported by PW Insider. The 32-year-old has been recognized as one of the industry’s premier performers. He joined WWE in February 2019 after establishing a reputation with Progress Wrestling and other European promotions. Dragunov quickly became a formidable competitor, eventually securing the NXT UK Championship.

During his participation in NXT UK, Dragunov suffered a leg injury. He returned to the brand in September 2022 and transitioned to NXT, competing in high-profile matches against Bron Breakker, JD McDonagh, Wes Lee, Carmelo Hayes, and others. However, he did not capture a championship in these bouts.

In September 2023, Dragunov defeated Carmelo Hayes to win the NXT Championship, becoming the first wrestler to have won both the NXT and NXT UK titles. His NXT Championship reign ended in April 2024 when he lost to Trick Williams. Following WrestleMania 40, Dragunov was moved to the Raw brand. Unfortunately, a torn ACL sidelined him for a year.

Upon his return, Dragunov entered the United States Championship scene and defeated Sami Zayn for the title in October 2025. He successfully defended the title multiple times before eventually losing it to Hayes. Dragunov’s final WWE appearances included participating in the Royal Rumble and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal during ‘Friday Night SmackDown’ preceding WrestleMania 42.

The article was authored by Ryan Gaydos, a senior editor for Fox News Digital.