AEW Collision tonight LIVE NATIONWIDE at 8e/5p on TNT and HBO Max from Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia.
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.
Dani Luna could be the latest free agent to land in AEW.
According to Fightful Select‘s Sean Ross Sapp, AEW has expressed interest in the former TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion. Sources within the company reportedly indicated that Luna is a talent who has “the interest” of AEW, with some believing a deal could be completed soon if one has not already been finalized.
While there is no confirmation that Luna has signed with the promotion, the report notes that several people within AEW expected her to eventually join the company.
Luna became a free agent in March after requesting and receiving her release from TNA. Reports at the time indicated there was no animosity between the two sides following her departure.
During her time in TNA, Luna found success as one-half of Spitfire alongside Jody Threat. The duo captured the Knockouts Tag Team Championship and became one of the division’s most prominent teams. Following the end of their title reign and eventual split, Luna turned heel and entered into a feud with Indi Hartwell.
Before joining TNA, Luna also spent time in WWE as part of the NXT UK roster, competing for the brand from 2019 until its closure in 2021.
The report adds that there was internal speculation ahead of AEW’s recent European tour that Luna could debut during one of those events. Ultimately, that did not happen, but the expectation among some sources was that she would eventually arrive in the company.
For now, Luna’s status remains unconfirmed, and there is no indication of when an AEW debut could take place. However, if the reported interest leads to a deal, the former TNA standout could soon have a new home in All Elite Wrestling.
AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8:00 pm ET on TBS and HBO Max from the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
Nearly a month after leaving WWE, Ilja Dragunov’s next destination may finally be coming into focus.
According to Fightful Select, Dragunov is expected to join AEW in the near future, barring any unforeseen complications. While it remains unclear whether he has officially signed with the promotion, sources reportedly expect him to land there once outstanding issues are resolved.
That move may not happen immediately.
The report states that Dragunov is among several recently departed WWE talents from outside the United States who are currently dealing with visa-related hurdles following their exits from the company. Those issues have reportedly delayed potential appearances elsewhere, and there is no word on when they may be resolved.
Dragunov’s decision not to renew his WWE contract surprised many throughout the wrestling industry, leading to widespread speculation about where the former United States Champion would end up next.
Another question surrounding his future involves his ring name.
Because Ilja is his real first name, he would have no issue continuing to use it. The status of the “Dragunov” surname, however, is less certain. WWE filed a trademark application for “Ilja Dragunov” in 2020 during his NXT UK run, but publicly available records reportedly show no updates after October 2020, when the filing was listed as live and pending.
As a result, it remains unclear whether WWE ultimately secured rights to the name or if Dragunov will be able to continue using the identity he has competed under since 2012.
For now, the expectation is that Dragunov’s next chapter will begin once his visa situation is sorted out, though an official announcement has yet to be made.
AEW Collision live tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.
A Tribute to Andy “The Butcher” Williams, AEW will remember and celebrate the life and the legacy of “The Butcher” Andy Williams.
AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite airs live tonight at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on TBS and HBO Max from the Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia.
Tonight’s Dynamite is a special episode to support Rebel who battling ALS, help raise money towards finding a cure and raise more awareness about the disease.
Former WWE star Kairi Sane could soon be headed to a new promotion, as a new report indicates that multiple companies are interested in bringing her in following her WWE departure earlier this year.
According to Fightful Select, several promotions have expressed interest in the former Women’s Champion, with AEW reportedly among the companies that have held discussions with Sane about a potential deal.
While talks between AEW and Kairi have reportedly taken place, no agreement has been finalized at this time.
Speculation surrounding Kairi’s future intensified in recent weeks, with some fans believing she could appear at AEW All In: London. However, the report notes that a debut at the event was never realistically in the cards, as she was not expected to be signed in time and was reportedly never included in the company’s creative plans for the show.
Interest in Kairi reportedly extends beyond North America as well. Despite that, sources familiar with the situation indicated that she is not expected to join Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold promotion.
The report did not provide any update regarding a potential return to STARDOM, where Kairi enjoyed two successful runs during her career. She competed for the promotion from 2011 to 2017 before returning from 2022 to 2023. During her time there, she captured the World of Stardom Championship and established herself as one of the company’s top stars.
Kairi’s most recent WWE run began in 2023 and came to an end earlier this year. Her final appearance for the company saw her team with Asuka in a loss to Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky on Raw. Four days later, WWE released her from her contract.
Prior to that stint, Kairi spent five years with WWE between 2016 and 2021, winning multiple championships and becoming one of the company’s most popular international stars.
Back in July, reports surfaced that several promotions had shown interest in booking Kairi for non-contracted appearances, further fueling speculation about her next move.
Another notable detail is that Kairi is represented by veteran agent Barry Bloom, whose client list includes several top AEW names such as Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Chris Jericho, Will Ospreay, Josh Alexander, and Jim Ross.
For now, Kairi remains a free agent, but with interest reportedly coming from multiple promotions around the world, it appears only a matter of time before the former WWE star decides on the next chapter of her career.
The wrestling and music worlds are mourning the reported loss of Andy Williams, known to AEW fans as The Butcher, who has died at the age of 48.
According to TMZ, Williams suffered a medical emergency following a match at an Enjoy Wrestling event in Millvale, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Williams was teaming with longtime tag team partner Braxton Sutter, known to wrestling fans as The Blade, when he reportedly collapsed after the bout.
Medical personnel immediately attended to Williams and performed CPR before he was transported from the venue by ambulance. The remainder of the event was canceled, and fans were asked to leave the building. Details regarding the medical emergency have not been publicly disclosed.
Before becoming known to wrestling audiences around the world, Williams built a successful career in music. His original aspirations of becoming a professional wrestler were delayed after a knee injury during training. That setback ultimately led him to help form the metalcore band Every Time I Die in 1998, where he served as bassist and became a prominent figure in the heavy music scene.
Williams eventually returned to his wrestling ambitions in the 2010s, training under former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett. His connection with Barnett led to appearances at Bloodsport events, where his hard-hitting style quickly gained attention.
In 2017, Williams teamed with Braxton Sutter to form The Butcher & The Blade, a pairing that became a regular fixture on the independent wrestling circuit. Alongside Sutter’s wife Allie, known as The Bunny, the trio developed a unique presentation that helped them stand out wherever they performed.
The group made its surprise debut in All Elite Wrestling in November 2019 and soon became a recognizable part of the company’s tag team division. During their AEW run, The Butcher & The Blade shared the ring with many of the promotion’s top teams and were involved in rivalries with acts including The Lucha Bros.
Following Allie’s departure from AEW in 2023 and Sutter’s recovery from back surgery, the team became less active in the promotion. While there had been speculation about a potential return, Williams and Sutter ultimately departed AEW when their contracts expired in June 2026.
Williams leaves behind a legacy that extended far beyond professional wrestling. Whether performing on stage with Every Time I Die or competing inside the ring as The Butcher, he built a devoted following through his passion, intensity, and unmistakable presence.
AEW Dynamite live tonight on at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Credit Union of Texas Events Center in Allen, Texas
