Ilja Dragunov made his AEW debut on the October 22, 2026 episode of Dynamite, appearing in a match as part of a broadcast that also featured a notable result for The Young Bucks and continued build toward the promotion’s upcoming Blood and Guts match, according to reports from POST Wrestling and ProWrestling.net.
The headline moment of the night, per both outlets, came when Mark Davis and Jake Doyle defeated the Young Bucks. ProWrestling.net’s Jason Powell described the result in his Dynamite Hit List as a “squashing” of Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson, a characterization that signals a decisive and lopsided outcome for Davis and Doyle rather than a competitive back-and-forth contest. The result is notable given the Young Bucks’ standing as one of AEW’s most accomplished and historically dominant tag teams, making any clean loss of this nature a point of discussion among fans and analysts.
Dragunov’s arrival in AEW was the other marquee story of the broadcast. POST Wrestling’s John Kleinchester covered the debut as part of a wider news roundup that also touched on continued uncertainty surrounding AEW’s plans in Saudi Arabia and the ongoing process of finalizing the teams for the men’s Blood and Guts match. While the available reporting confirms that Dragunov appeared in a debut match on the show, specific details of his opponent and the finish were not included in the supplied summaries.
Both outlets tied the night’s developments to the larger picture heading toward Blood and Guts, with Powell’s column specifically addressing how the broadcast fit into that build. Blood and Guts, one of AEW’s signature gimmick matches, traditionally features two competing factions battling inside a modified steel cage structure, and finalizing the men’s teams has been an active storyline point leading into the event.
The combination of a high-profile debut and a surprising tag team result made for a significant go-home stretch of programming as AEW continues shaping its roster and build toward Blood and Guts. Further details on Dragunov’s in-ring presentation, the broader implications of the Davis and Doyle win for the Young Bucks, and the resolution of AEW’s reported Saudi Arabia plans are expected to develop in the promotion’s subsequent programming.
