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WWE

Ilja Dragunov

News, match intelligence, career data and WAW coverage.

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/ ABOUT ILJA DRAGUNOV

Former NXT United Kingdom and NXT Champion, "The Mad Dragon" built his reputation on a foundation of suffocating intensity — most notably through two Wrestling Observer Newsletter five-plus-star matches against WALTER for the NXT UK Championship, the second of which Dragunov won at NXT TakeOver 36. He also won the 2017 16 Carat Gold tournament and the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship against WALTER, cementing a transatlantic legacy built on stiff strikes, unyielding resilience, and elite storytelling.

After a torn ACL kept him out for a year, Dragunov returned on the October 17, 2025 episode of SmackDown, defeating Sami Zayn to capture the United States Championship. He lost the title to Carmelo Hayes on December 26, 2025, ending a 63-day reign. He entered the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026 as the 17th entrant before being eliminated by Brock Lesnar. Since then, Dragunov has been absent from WWE television, reportedly training at Nattie Neidhart and TJ Wilson's Dungeon, with things described as "quiet" regarding his future creative direction.

Career Record

17 Wins
23 Losses
43% Win Rate
2 Win Streak
Singles Matches 15W 15L

Last 5 Matches

  • W vs Shinsuke Nakamura
  • W vs Ricochet
  • L vs Jey Uso
  • L vs Ricochet
  • L vs Bron Breakker

Record based on 40 matches in the WAW database.

WAW DATA

Match Intelligence

WAW database · 40 recorded matches
Recent Form W W L L L
Avg Timed Match — timing data building
Most Faced GUNTHER 5 singles meetings
Primary Promotion OTHER 17W · 23L · 40 matches

Promotion Record

OTHER 17W · 23L

Win Methods

Pinfall 13Unknown 2DQ 2

Derived from match results stored in the WAW database. Timing and source-ID coverage will improve automatically as recent cards are rechecked.

/ LATEST ILJA DRAGUNOV NEWS

MORE →
AEWFightful Kyle Fletcher: For Me Personally And Selfishly, I Would Very Much Love To See Ilja Dragunov In AEW 2 HOURS AGO Kyle Fletcher: For Me Personally And Selfishly, I Would Very Much Love To See Ilja Dragunov In AEW → AEWPWMania Backstage Update On Ilja Dragunov Potentially Joining AEW AUG 29 → AEWWrestling Inc Kyle Fletcher Comments On Possibility Of Facing Ilja Dragunov In AEW AUG 28 Kyle Fletcher Comments On Possibility Of Facing Ilja Dragunov In AEW → AEWWhatCulture WWE Ilja Dragunov To AEW Rumours Intensify – WWE NOT Interested In Resigning Him (AEW News) AUG 28 Ilja Dragunov To AEW Rumours Intensify – WWE NOT Interested In Resigning Him (AEW News) → AEWWrestleZone AEW Expected To Pursue Ilja Dragunov Following WWE Departure — Report AUG 27 AEW Expected To Pursue Ilja Dragunov Following WWE Departure — Report → AEWeWrestlingNews Ilja Dragunov Left WWE On His Own Terms, AEW Move Looms AUG 27 → AEWFightful Update On Ilja Dragunov Potentially Joining AEW AUG 27 Update On Ilja Dragunov Potentially Joining AEW → WWEWrestling Inc AJ Styles Doesn’t Get Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Exit: ‘Very Sad’ AUG 26 AJ Styles Doesn’t Get Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Exit: ‘Very Sad’ →