All articles tagged with #ilja dragunov
Ilja Dragunov has exited WWE after his contract expired, with reports that WWE hoped to re-sign him after negotiations as recently as June; Dragunov hasn’t wrestled for WWE since April 2026.
Wrestling Observer reports that several WWE main roster contracts are due to expire in October, following Ilja Dragunov’s departure after his contract expired. Bryan Alvarez says there are other contracts also expiring in October, whose names haven’t been publicly revealed and aren’t currently on TV, with negotiations having been active earlier this year.
Ilja Dragunov's WWE contract has expired and he has been moved to the alumni section, signaling his departure; the former NXT UK Champion and United States Champion has not wrestled since April, with further details expected as reports develop.
Ilja Dragunov’s WWE contract has expired and he is reportedly leaving WWE, with his bio moved to the WWE Alumni section; his last appearance was the April 17, 2026 Battle Royal on SmackDown, following a March 20, 2026 US title loss to Carmelo Hayes, and he previously held the U.S., NXT, and NXT UK championships.
PWInsider reports Ilja Dragunov will answer Carmelo Hayes’s United States Championship Open Challenge on the March 20 SmackDown, solving the mystery behind the challenger; the show’s card also features Randy Orton explaining his Cody Rhodes attack and other matches.
WWE has announced that United States Champion Ilja Dragunov will defend his title in an open challenge on tonight's SmackDown, adding excitement to the show with potential new matchups, as Dragunov aims to continue the tradition of open challenges.
Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre engaged in a chaotic brawl at WWE SmackDown, while other matches saw Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair defend their titles, Ilja Dragunov win the US Title from Sami Zayn, and The Motor City Machine Guns celebrate their anniversary with a win. The event featured intense confrontations and title changes, highlighting the ongoing storylines in WWE.
Ilja Dragunov retained the NXT Championship by defeating Trick Williams at Vengeance Day, where Carmelo Hayes turned on Williams, ending their friendship. The betrayal came after Williams' loss to Dragunov, marking the culmination of a longstanding rivalry between the two.
WWE wrestler Ridge Holland apologizes for injuring Ilja Dragunov in a controversial injury angle on NXT, which stirred up emotions due to its similarity to a real-life incident where Holland accidentally broke Big E's neck. Holland's apology on social media raises questions about his character and the future of the storyline, with fans divided on whether such angles are appropriate or not.
Ridge Holland apologizes to Ilja Dragunov after putting him on a stretcher during their match on WWE NXT, stating that it is not who he is. Fans were shocked by the incident, and Dragunov's status as NXT Champion is uncertain. WWE's internal reaction to the stretcher spot was also revealed, and it remains to be seen when Dragunov will return to NXT television.
WWE star Ilja Dragunov suffered a potentially serious injury during a match against Ridge Holland, prompting Holland to issue an apology. Dragunov was seen shaking and unable to move after a big move from Holland, leading to the match being called off and Dragunov being stretchered out. This incident is part of a controversial storyline, with Holland previously being involved in injuries to other wrestlers. The future of the storyline and fan reaction remain uncertain.
WWE NXT aired a carefully crafted storyline involving Ilja Dragunov being stretchered out, which caused concern among viewers. However, it was revealed to be a pre-recorded segment centered around Ridge Holland's connection to Big E's injury. Despite the controversy surrounding the concept, the performance and camera work received positive feedback from NXT sources and producers. WWE producers were aware that most of the live audience understood it was staged, as they promptly announced the next show. The cameras followed Dragunov to the ambulance, highlighting the attention to detail in creating a compelling storyline.
Ilja Dragunov seemingly suffered an injury during a match with Ridge Holland on the December 19 episode of WWE NXT. After Holland slammed Dragunov, officials checked on him as he could barely move. Dragunov was then stretchered out of the arena. However, it has been reported that the injury was part of a storyline.
In the latest episode of WWE NXT, Fallon Henley defeated Tiffany Stratton in a physical match, setting up a grudge match in the future. Ridge Holland interrupted Ilja Dragunov and challenged him to a non-title match. In the Men's Breakout Tournament, Lexis King defeated Dion Lennox to advance. Kiana James and Izzi Dame defeated Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail. Dragon Lee successfully defended his North American Championship against Charlie Dempsey and Joe Coffey. Tavion Heights and Nikkita Lyons also picked up wins. The show received a low grade due to rushed matches and a messy angle in the main event.
Ridge Holland returns to WWE NXT on December 19 and interrupts NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov, expressing his desire to redeem himself and rewrite his story. Dragunov accepts Holland's challenge, but their match is abruptly stopped when Dragunov appears to suffer an injury, which is later revealed to be a storyline.