Tag: WWE

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.

WWE NXT Preview 8/18/2026

WWE NXT tonight on the CW at 8/7c.

  •  AAA World Cruiserweight Championship #1 Contenders Match: EK Prosper vs. La Parka vs. Tristan Angels vs. Romeo Moreno
  • WWE Men’s Speed Championship Match: Lexis King (c) vs. Lucien Price
  • Myles Borne vs. Jackson Drake
  • If Drake wins, Vanity Project gets NXT North American Title and NXT Tag Team Title matches at NXT Heatwave.
  • Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan & Kali Armstrong
  • Thea Hail vs. Nattie
  • Cruz Montana calls out Zilla Fatu

WWE Raw Preview 8/17/2026

WWE /raw live tonight at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT. on Netflix from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

  • World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contender Tournament Match: Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
  • World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contender Tournament Match: Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Chad Gable (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
  • Jey Uso to deliver Solo Siko to roman Reigns

Hiromu Takahashi Revealed As Shinsuke Nakamura’s Mystery Partner In WWE Digital Exclusive

WWE has seemingly revealed the identity of Shinsuke Nakamura’s mystery partner, and the reveal points to another major international signing joining the SmackDown roster.

After making his first WWE appearance since May during a pre-recorded backstage segment last week, Nakamura promised that he had found an ally to help him take the fight to Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, collectively known as The MFT’s.

Nakamura Sends Warning To New WWE Tag Team Champions

Friday night’s edition of SmackDown saw Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga capture the WWE Tag Team Championship, defeating Damian Priest, R-Truth, and AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders in a triple threat match.

Following the show, WWE released a digital exclusive featuring Nakamura addressing the new champions.

“Congratulations MFT’s. You are now the champions. Are you savoring the feeling, knowing it will be gone soon? Was the victory as sweet, knowing what’s coming next? Me, my partner, your destruction.”

As the promo continued, WWE showed brief glimpses of Nakamura’s mystery partner while teasing his arrival on SmackDown.

“My partner is what you all pretend to be. Experienced, vicious, deadly. He is chaos. He is a ticking time bomb. Take cover.”

Hiromu Takahashi Appears WWE-Bound

The phrase “Ticking Time Bomb” immediately caught the attention of New Japan Pro-Wrestling fans, as it has long been associated with Hiromu Takahashi.

Takahashi, one of NJPW’s most accomplished junior heavyweight stars, departed the promotion earlier this year after a 15-year run.

In February, NJPW officially announced his departure following discussions with company management.

During his career, Takahashi became one of the most recognizable stars in Japanese wrestling and competed for several major promotions, including:

  • New Japan Pro-Wrestling
  • AEW
  • Ring of Honor
  • CMLL
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH

The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has been heavily linked to WWE since becoming a free agent, and Nakamura’s latest promo strongly suggests that he will soon arrive on SmackDown.

WWE Continues Adding Free Agents

Reports earlier this year indicated that Takahashi was among several notable free agents believed to be WWE-bound.

Since then, a number of those names have already debuted, including:

  • Big Cass
  • Baron Corbin
  • Cruz Montana
  • Zilla Fatu

If the tease proves accurate, Takahashi would become the latest high-profile addition to WWE’s growing roster.

When Will Takahashi Debut?

As of now, WWE has not officially announced a debut date for Takahashi.

However, with Nakamura openly teasing his arrival and positioning him as a key ally against the newly crowned WWE Tag Team Champions, it appears only a matter of time before the former NJPW star makes his first appearance on Friday Night SmackDown.

Should Takahashi arrive as expected, WWE fans could soon see one of Japan’s most decorated wrestlers join forces with Nakamura in a battle against The MFT’s and the WWE Tag Team Champions.

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/14/2026

WWE /smackDown live tonight at 8/7c on the USA Network and Netflix internationally from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

  • WWE Tag Team Championship: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. The War Raiders vs. The MFTs
  • WWE United States Championship: Baron Corbin (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • WWE Women’s United States Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jacy Jayne
  • Will Cody Rhodes finally get his hands on Randy Orton?
  • What will happen between CM Punk and Kevin Owens before their Undisputed WWE Title Match in Toronto?

Rey Mysterio’s Daughter Aalyah Reportedly Added To WWE Internal Roster

The Mysterio family’s legacy in WWE could soon be expanding.

According to a report from PWInsider, Aalyah Gutierrez, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, has been added to WWE’s internal roster after recently reporting to the WWE Performance Center for training.

The report notes that Aalyah is currently listed under her real name rather than the famous Mysterio surname.

Aalyah Continues WWE Training

While Aalyah has never competed in a WWE match, she has become a familiar face to fans over the years through her appearances alongside her father and brother, Dominik Mysterio.

Most notably, she was involved in a storyline during 2020 that centered around a romantic relationship with then-WWE star Buddy Murphy. The angle became a major part of the feud between Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins, and Murphy at the time.

However, Aalyah’s previous appearances were limited to acting roles rather than in-ring competition.

Over the last year, that has reportedly changed.

Full-Time Wrestling Career In The Works

Aalyah first visited the WWE Performance Center last fall, where she participated in basic in-ring drills while Rey Mysterio was preparing for his own WWE return.

She later returned to the facility in February for a more extensive training session.

Following that visit, Rey revealed that his daughter had committed to pursuing professional wrestling on a full-time basis with WWE.

Her continued training appears to be progressing, as she was recently featured in a photo alongside fellow WWE Performance Center trainee Marie Malenko and NXT stars Uriah Connors, Lexis King, and Brooks Jensen.

Another Generation Of The Mysterio Family

Should Aalyah eventually make her WWE debut, she would become the latest member of the Mysterio family to compete for the company.

Rey Mysterio made his WWE main roster debut in 2002 and went on to become one of the most decorated stars in company history, earning a place in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Dominik Mysterio followed in his father’s footsteps, making his WWE in-ring debut in 2020 and becoming a former Intercontinental Champion. He currently remains one of the top stars on the Raw roster.

While WWE has not officially announced any plans for Aalyah’s debut, her addition to the company’s internal roster suggests that her journey toward becoming a WWE Superstar is continuing to move forward.

Report Reveals When WWE SmackDown Could Return To Three-Hour Format

WWE SmackDown may not remain a two-hour show for much longer.

According to a new report from WrestleVotes via Fightful Select, sources at USA Network expect SmackDown to return to a three-hour format beginning in January 2027.

SmackDown Expected To Expand Back To Three Hours

The report states that the tentative date for the change is the January 8, 2027 episode of SmackDown, though WWE has not officially confirmed the move.

The expected adjustment is reportedly tied to USA Network’s programming plans for the new year and would mark another shift in the blue brand’s broadcast length.

SmackDown returned to a two-hour format in July 2026 after previously airing as a three-hour program. At the time, reports indicated that the shortened runtime could remain in place through the end of the year.

WWE Expected To Alternate Formats

Since WWE’s television rights agreement with USA Network began in 2024, reports have suggested that SmackDown could alternate between two-hour and three-hour formats throughout the duration of the five-year deal.

If the latest report proves accurate, January’s return to three hours would be the latest example of that strategy.

Neither WWE nor USA Network has publicly commented on the reported change.

Timing Coincides With WWE’s European Tour

WWE has not yet announced a location for the January 8 episode of SmackDown.

The show is scheduled to take place one week before WWE kicks off its annual European tour on January 15.

The tour will begin in Brussels, Belgium, before SmackDown heads to Manchester, England. Meanwhile, Raw is scheduled to visit Glasgow, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland as part of the international run.

For now, SmackDown remains a two-hour broadcast, but according to the report, fans may see the blue brand return to a three-hour format shortly after the start of 2027.

Zilla Fatu Makes WWE Debut, Attacks NXT Title Contenders During Main Event

A major new name has arrived in WWE.

Zilla Fatu made his long-awaited WWE debut during Tuesday night’s episode of NXT, interrupting a No. 1 Contender’s Match and immediately inserting himself into the NXT Championship picture.

The surprise appearance came during the show’s main event, which featured Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller battling for the right to challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship at Heatwave on August 30.

Zilla Fatu Appears During NXT Main Event

Prior to the broadcast, False Finish reported that Fatu had been spotted at the WWE Performance Center, with speculation growing that he had officially signed with the company. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp had previously reported that discussions between WWE and Fatu had been ongoing since June.

Those reports appeared to be confirmed when Fatu emerged from the crowd during the closing moments of the match.

Montana and Waller had been engaged in a competitive back-and-forth contest, with both men coming close to securing a title opportunity. Montana appeared poised for victory after connecting with his Spin the Block finisher.

Before he could make the cover, however, Fatu stormed the ring and attacked both competitors.

Main Event Ends In Chaos

The interference resulted in the match being ruled a no contest.

Fatu laid out both Montana and Waller as the broadcast came to a close, making it clear that he has his sights set on the NXT Championship.

The attack leaves the title picture in question heading into Heatwave.

What Happens At Heatwave?

With the No. 1 Contender’s Match ending without a winner, it remains unclear who will challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship on August 30.

WWE has not yet announced whether Montana and Waller will receive another opportunity to determine a challenger or if Fatu’s actions have earned him a place in the title match.

Given the way Tuesday’s episode ended, a multi-man championship match now appears to be a possibility.

Regardless of the final decision, Zilla Fatu made an immediate impact in his first WWE appearance and has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in NXT.

WWE NXT Preview 8/11/2026

WWE NXT tonight on The CW at 8/7c.

  • NXT Championship #1 Contenders Match: Grayson Waller vs. Cruz Montana
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Zaria (c) vs. Wren Sinclair
  • Izzi Dame & Niko Vance vs. Lizzy Rain & Shawn Spears
  • Lucien Price vs. Lexis King
  • Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shugar

WWE Raw Preview 8/10/2026

WWE Raw live tonight at 8/7c on Netflix from the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

  • First-Round Match to determine Roman Reigns’ challenger for the World Heavyweight Title in Mexico City: Penta vs. Laredo Kid
  • The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez) vs. Sol Ruca and a partner of her choosing
  • Austin Theory vs. Akira Tozawa
  • Becky Lynch and Stephanie Vaquer to appear