Tag: Ilja Dragunov

AEW WrestleDream 2026 Results – Ilja Dragunov Is All Elite

AEW WrestleDream 2026 featured multiple championship matches, a new arrival, and a dramatic Clockwork Carnage main event. Will Ospreay survived a field of seven challengers to retain the AEW Men’s World Championship, while Brodido defeated Shane Strickland and New Level to capture the AEW World Trios Championship.

The Young Bucks also retained the AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship, Mercedes Moné successfully defended the AEW Women’s World Championship against Thekla, and Jon Moxley kept the AEW Continental Championship after a brutal battle with Mark Davis. Ilja Dragunov also made his AEW debut.

AEW WrestleDream 2026 Match Results

Tailgate Brawl Pre-Show

  • Six-Woman Tag Team Match: Divine Dominion (Lena Kross and Megan Bayne) def. Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart and Skye Blue).
  • Six-Man Tag Team Match: Don Callis Family (Jake Doyle, Josh Alexander and Wardlow) def. Alex Breeze, Papi D and Rhys Maddox.
  • Ten-Man Tag Team Match: Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, Gabe Kidd and Wheeler YUTA) and The Dogs (Clark Connors and David Finlay) def. Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn and Jay White) and The Conglomeration (Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong).
  • Best-of-Five Series — Match 1: Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) def. FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The match began during the pre-show and concluded on the main card.

Main Card

  • AEW Women’s World Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) def. Thekla via pinfall with the Money Maker to retain the title.
  • Singles Match: Nick Wayne def. Chris Jericho via pinfall with a small package.
  • AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) (c) def. Don Callis Family (Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher) via pinfall to retain the titles.
  • AEW TBS Championship — Four-Way Match: Persephone (c) def. Dani Luna, Hyan and Queen Aminata via pinfall with a diving moonsault to retain the title.
  • AEW National Championship: Andrade el Idolo (c) def. Tommaso Ciampa via pinfall with the DM to retain the title.
  • AEW World Trios Championship — Two-out-of-Three Falls Match: The Good, the Bad, and el Guapo (Adam Page, Bandido and Brody King) def. Shane Strickland and New Level (Austin Creed and Kofi) 2-1 to win the titles.
  • AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) def. Mark Davis via referee stoppage with a bodyscissors sleeper hold to retain the title.
  • AEW Men’s World Championship — Clockwork Carnage Match: Will Ospreay (c) def. Adam Copeland, Darby Allin, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, Mike Bailey, Ricochet and Samoa Joe to retain the title.

Mercedes Moné Retains Against Thekla

Mercedes Moné successfully defended the AEW Women’s World Championship against Thekla in a hard-fought opening contest.

Thekla pushed the champion throughout the match, using her agility and striking ability to create several opportunities. She connected with a Spider Suplex, a diving double stomp and a spear, but Moné continued to survive.

The challenger came close to victory after hitting a sunset flip powerbomb into the turnbuckles and later applying a grounded octopus hold. Moné escaped and used her protective facemask to gain an opening before Thekla nearly caught her with a bridging pin.

Moné ultimately countered Thekla’s Blackout attempt and connected with the Money Maker to secure the pinfall and retain her championship.

Nick Wayne Defeats Chris Jericho

Nick Wayne picked up another victory over Chris Jericho, winning their match with a small package.

The two traded strikes and high-impact offense throughout the contest. Wayne hit an Orihara moonsault on the outside and later connected with a 450 splash, but Jericho continued fighting.

Jericho answered with a Codebreaker and locked in the Walls of Jericho, only for Wayne to reach the ropes. The match became increasingly chaotic as both men attempted to gain an advantage through underhanded tactics.

After Jericho shrugged off a low blow, Wayne found an opening and rolled him up for the three-count.

Following the match, Wayne grabbed a microphone and pointed out that he had now beaten Jericho twice, correcting Justin Roberts’ introduction before celebrating as pyro went off.

The Young Bucks Retain the Tag Team Championship

The Young Bucks successfully defended the AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship against Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher of the Don Callis Family.

Knight and Fletcher isolated Nick Jackson for stretches of the match, using double-team offense to keep the champions from building momentum. The Bucks eventually rallied, with Matt Jackson taking control after a hot tag and hitting a series of signature moves.

The challengers came close to winning after Fletcher connected with a turnbuckle brainbuster and Knight followed with the UFO Splash, but Nick broke up the pin.

Late in the match, Fletcher accidentally took Knight out with a dive. The Bucks capitalized, hitting the BTE Trigger on Knight before turning their attention back to Fletcher. They then connected with the BTE Trigger on Knight once more to secure the victory and retain the titles.

Persephone Retains the TBS Championship

Persephone successfully defended the AEW TBS Championship in a four-way match against Dani Luna, Hyan and Queen Aminata.

The contest featured fast-paced action and several near-falls as all four competitors fought for an opportunity to win the title. Luna used her power to overwhelm her opponents, while Aminata and Hyan each came close to securing the victory.

Aminata connected with Off With Her Head on Persephone, but Hyan broke up the pin. Hyan then nearly finished the match with a Falcon Arrow, only for Persephone to intervene again.

In the closing moments, Persephone climbed to the top rope and connected with a diving moonsault on Hyan to score the pinfall and retain her championship.

Andrade Retains the National Championship Against Tommaso Ciampa

Andrade el Idolo retained the AEW National Championship after defeating Tommaso Ciampa in a competitive singles match.

Both men traded counters and heavy strikes throughout the contest, with Andrade using his agility to stay ahead of Ciampa’s power offense. The champion connected with a Three Amigos sequence on the floor and a split-legged moonsault, while Ciampa responded with a series of knees and suplexes.

Ciampa came close to victory with a running knee, but Andrade kicked out. The challenger later attempted to use the championship belt and a steel chair, but referee Aubrey Edwards prevented him from bringing either weapon into play.

Andrade took advantage of the distraction, hitting a DDT on the title belt before finishing Ciampa with the DM to retain the championship.

The Good, the Bad, and el Guapo Wins the World Trios Championship

Adam Page, Bandido and Brody King, collectively known as The Good, the Bad, and el Guapo, defeated Shane Strickland and New Level’s Austin Creed and Kofi in a two-out-of-three falls match to win the AEW World Trios Championship.

The champions took the opening fall after Kofi pinned Bandido. Page and his teammates responded in the second fall, with Brodido combining for a monkey flip splash on Creed to even the match at one fall apiece.

The deciding fall featured a chaotic series of high-impact moves, with all six wrestlers trading offense around the ring and at ringside. King used his power to take the champions out, while Page and Bandido continued to create openings for their team.

Late in the match, Bandido hit a 21-Plex on Strickland, but the champion landed on his feet. Strickland attempted to capitalize with Big Pressure, only for Bandido to counter into a victory roll and secure the decisive pinfall.

Brodido and Page celebrated their championship win after the match. Strickland initially refused to hand over the title belts, but Creed and Kofi ultimately gave the championships to the new titleholders.

Jon Moxley Retains the Continental Championship

Jon Moxley retained the AEW Continental Championship after a brutal encounter with Mark Davis ended in referee stoppage.

Davis targeted Moxley’s head and repeatedly struck the champion, opening a wound above his eye. Moxley continued fighting despite the blood loss, answering with heavy elbows, chops and strikes of his own.

Davis came close to victory with a Karelin lift and several powerful elbows. He also trapped Moxley in a sleeper hold with bodyscissors, but the champion managed to escape and turn the hold around.

Both men continued trading offense, with Davis surviving Moxley’s attempts to finish the match. In the closing sequence, Moxley secured a bodyscissors sleeper hold and tightened his grip as Davis struggled to escape.

Davis eventually faded, forcing referee Paul Turner to stop the match and award Moxley the victory.

Ilja Dragunov Joins AEW

AEW introduced Ilja Dragunov as the company’s newest signing during WrestleDream.

Renee Paquette welcomed Dragunov to the stage, with a metronome ticking before his entrance music played. The former WWE star then made his way to the ring, conducting his music from the turnbuckles as pyro went off.

The appearance marked a major addition to AEW’s roster, although no match was announced for Dragunov during the event.

Will Ospreay Retains the AEW Men’s World Championship

Will Ospreay retained the AEW Men’s World Championship in the Clockwork Carnage main event, defeating Adam Copeland, Darby Allin, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, Mike Bailey, Ricochet and Samoa Joe.

The match began with Ospreay and Takeshita before additional competitors entered at timed intervals. Mike Bailey was the first wrestler eliminated after Takeshita hit Raging Fire. Takeshita was later eliminated by Okada’s Rainmaker.

Once the match reached its Iron Man phase, the competitors began scoring points through pinfalls and submissions. Joe scored two points with a Muscle Buster on Allin and a Coquina Clutch submission over Ospreay. Ricochet and Okada also scored points, while Allin and Copeland picked up multiple falls during the chaotic contest.

Copeland gained momentum late with spears on Joe and Ricochet, putting himself in contention as the clock wound down. Ospreay answered by hitting a Hidden Blade on Copeland to earn a crucial point.

With only seconds remaining, Okada attempted to stop Ospreay, but the champion survived the exchange and connected with another Hidden Blade on Copeland. The pinfall gave Ospreay a total of three points, enough to win the match and retain the AEW Men’s World Championship.

After the bell, Copeland initially shoved Ospreay before composing himself and offering the champion a handshake. Ospreay accepted, and Copeland left the ring to allow the champion to celebrate.

WrestleDream ended with Ospreay still holding the AEW Men’s World Championship after surviving one of the most demanding title defenses of his reign.

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.

Report: Ilja Dragunov Expected To Join AEW Following WWE Exit

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.

Report: Ilja Dragunov Departing WWE As Contract Expires

Former WWE United States Champion and NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov is reportedly no longer with WWE.

According to PWInsider, a report that has since been confirmed by Fightful Select, Dragunov’s contract with WWE has expired. While the exact expiration date has not been disclosed, multiple signs point to his departure from the company.

Dragunov Removed From WWE Roster

The reports note that Dragunov was removed from WWE’s internal roster this week. In addition, WWE has moved “The Mad Dragon” to the alumni section of its official website, further indicating that his tenure with the company has come to an end.

Dragunov had most recently been featured on SmackDown following his return from a lengthy absence due to an ACL sprain.

One of the biggest moments of that comeback came in October 2025 when he defeated Sami Zayn to capture the United States Championship in his first match back from injury.

Future Remains Unclear

As of now, there is no word on whether Dragunov’s expired contract includes a non-compete clause that would prevent him from immediately signing elsewhere.

That uncertainty has already led to speculation regarding his next destination.

With AEW All In: London scheduled for August 30, some fans have wondered whether Dragunov could potentially appear for AEW. However, there is currently no indication that such a move is imminent, nor has AEW publicly expressed interest.

Final WWE Matches

Dragunov’s final WWE appearance came in the 2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the SmackDown episode preceding WrestleMania 42.

The match was ultimately won by Royce Keys.

His final singles match took place on March 30, where he was defeated by then-United States Champion Carmelo Hayes.

Accomplished WWE Career

Dragunov first joined NXT UK in February 2019 and made his televised debut later that year.

He quickly became one of the brand’s standout performers, earning widespread praise for his hard-hitting matches and intense rivalry with GUNTHER.

In 2022, Dragunov transitioned to NXT in Orlando, where he entered a memorable feud with Carmelo Hayes over the NXT Championship.

His performances eventually earned him a main roster call-up during the 2024 WWE Draft, leading to a successful run that included capturing the United States Championship.

While WWE has yet to officially comment on Dragunov’s departure, reports indicate that his contract has expired, bringing an end to his run with the company. The next chapter of his career remains one of the biggest questions in professional wrestling.

Ilja Dragunov Returns and Stuns Sami Zayn to Capture the U.S. Title on WWE SmackDown

After more than a year away from the ring, Ilja Dragunov stormed back into WWE in a big way—by taking the United States Championship from Sami Zayn on SmackDown.

Dragunov, who hadn’t competed since last September, became the seventh challenger to answer Zayn’s weekly open challenge. The “Mad Dragon” made the most of his shot, going toe-to-toe with the resilient champion in a hard-hitting clash that lived up to both men’s reputations.

The bout was physical from the opening bell, packed with punishing strikes and near-falls. Zayn looked to have things under control late in the match, lining up for his trademark Helluva Kick—but Solo Sikoa chose that moment to make his presence felt. The Bloodline powerhouse appeared at ringside, briefly distracting Zayn and giving Dragunov just enough time to recover.

Sensing an opening, Dragunov exploded with the Torpedo Moscow, flooring Zayn before sealing the deal with a thunderous H-Bomb elbow drop. The three-count ended Zayn’s 50-day reign and crowned Dragunov as the new United States Champion—his first title since joining the main roster. The victory adds to Dragunov’s already impressive résumé, which includes reigns as both NXT and NXT UK Champion.

However, Dragunov’s celebration was short-lived. Moments after the match, Sikoa and his MFT allies launched a brutal attack on both Dragunov and Zayn. Standing tall over the fallen Superstars, Sikoa declared that he would “bring gold back to his family.” But before The Bloodline could further their assault, the Wyatt Sicks emerged, creating a tense standoff that closed the show.

With Dragunov now holding the red, white, and blue gold, and Sikoa vowing vengeance, the United States Title picture just became one of the most volatile storylines on SmackDown.

WWE Says Ilja Dragunov Suffered Torn ACL At House Show, Will Miss Six To Nine Months

WWE dropped some unfortunate news regarding a former NXT Champion on Monday’s episode of “WWE Raw” before a promo segment featuring World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. Commentary informed the audience at home that Ilja Dragunov suffered a suspected torn ACL and will be out of action for around six to nine months. Dragunov was injured wrestling GUNTHER for a shot at the championship during a live event in Columbus, Georgia over the weekend. In a video WWE posted to social media as well as airing on the broadcast, Dragunov was seen leaving the ring on his own volition following the injury, though he hobbled up the ramp without putting weight on his right leg.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1840938600906608994

Dragunov’s most recent television match was a loss to Jey Uso in a fatal four-way match also featuring Braun Strowman and Pete Dunne for a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship on the September 9 episode of “Raw.” Before the IC Title tournament, Dragunov had been working with GUNTHER on house shows in Germany before Bash in Berlin. Dragunov was called up from “WWE NXT” to the main roster’s red brand at the end of April in the fourth round of the 2024 WWE Draft, following his NXT Championship loss to Trick Williams at “NXT” Spring Breakin’.

Source: Wrestling Inc.