Report: Ilja Dragunov Has Signed With AEW, Debut Expected Very Soon

Ilja Dragunov’s next chapter may be closer than many fans expected.

After weeks of speculation following his WWE departure, a new report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter claims that Dragunov has already signed with AEW and could be making his debut in the near future.

The report follows a recent update from Fightful Select, which stated that the former WWE United States Champion was expected to join AEW barring any unforeseen circumstances. Meltzer’s latest report goes a step further, indicating that an agreement has already been reached.

According to Meltzer, Dragunov should be starting with the company “very soon.”

Many fans had anticipated seeing the “Mad Dragon” appear at AEW All In: London 2026, particularly as the event featured the high-profile debuts of Austin Creed and Kofi as part of The New Level. However, Meltzer noted that contract negotiations and finalizing agreements can often take longer than expected, which may explain why Dragunov did not appear at Wembley Stadium.

With All In now in the rearview mirror, attention turns to where Dragunov could make his first appearance for the promotion.

One possibility is AEW All Out 2026, which takes place next weekend and has already sold out. AEW will also head to France for AEW Grand Slam France in October, a market familiar to Dragunov from his years competing across the European independent wrestling scene.

Beyond his eventual debut, the report also touched on how Dragunov could fit into an already crowded AEW roster. Meltzer noted that while Dragunov is widely regarded as one of the top in-ring performers in wrestling, AEW continues to add talent, creating increased competition for television time.

For now, AEW has not officially announced the signing. However, if the report is accurate, fans may not have to wait much longer to see Dragunov make his debut for the company.