Tommaso Ciampa will defend his AEW National Championship against Ilja Dragunov at AEW Full Gear 2026 this Saturday, with the challenge issued immediately after Ciampa’s successful title defense against Mike Bailey on the November 11 combined episode of AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision, broadcast from West Valley City, Utah.
Ciampa defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey to notch his first successful defense of the AEW National Championship since winning the title. According to Wrestling Headlines, the victory represented Ciampa’s initial title defense since capturing the belt, underscoring the significance of the moment for his young reign.
The celebration, however, was short-lived. Per F4W Online, the arena lights went out shortly after the Bailey match concluded, and Dragunov’s metronome prop appeared on the entranceway as the lights came back up, signaling his arrival. Dragunov then made his way to the ring to confirm he will be the next man to challenge for the AEW National Championship, with the bout set for this Saturday’s AEW Full Gear.
The addition gives Full Gear another championship match on an already stacked card, with Wrestling Headlines noting that an additional title bout was also confirmed for the event. For Ciampa, the challenge from Dragunov arrives with almost no time to prepare, forcing him to defend the National Championship for a second time in a matter of days after having just turned back Bailey’s challenge.
Dragunov’s arrival adds a new dynamic to the National Championship picture. Known for his physical, hard-hitting style, Dragunov now steps into immediate title contention just days after Ciampa’s win over Bailey, setting up a quick turnaround test for the champion on one of AEW’s marquee pay-per-view stages.
Further details on the Full Gear 2026 card, including additional matches and championship bouts, are expected to be announced as AEW continues to build toward the event.
