Ilja Dragunov’s WWE run is over, but the latest update on his departure suggests the door had not been closed on a return until fairly recently. The former United States Champion and WWE were reportedly still working on plans for his return to television two months ago, before those discussions eventually went nowhere.
Dragunov’s contract expired on August 20, 2026, and he decided against signing a new deal. WWE had reportedly hoped to keep the 32-year-old, but he ultimately allowed his contract to run out, bringing his seven-year stint with the company to an end.
Bryan Alvarez of “the Wrestling Observer” provided more insight into the situation after news of Dragunov’s exit surfaced. According to Alvarez, the two sides were still having serious discussions about getting “The Mad Dragon” back on television as recently as June.
“Not sure what ended up happening but Ilja and WWE were said to be strongly negotiating a return as recently as June.”
That makes the timing of his exit particularly interesting. Dragunov was not simply a wrestler whose contract expired after months of complete inactivity with no interest from WWE. There had apparently been an effort to find a way to bring him back, although the plans never reached television.
Dragunov’s final WWE match took place on April 17, when he entered the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on SmackDown. His last singles match took place several weeks earlier, when he challenged Carmelo Hayes for the United States Championship on the March 20 episode from Raleigh, North Carolina.
He had previously held the United States Championship from October to December 2025. “The Mad Dragon” first joined WWE in 2019 through NXT UK, later becoming NXT Champion before moving to the main roster in 2024.
Another Report Backs Bryan Alvarez’s Update on Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Return Talks
“False Finish HQ” has backed Alvarez’s report, noting that WWE had planned to bring Ilja Dragunov back to television after the SummerSlam Premium Live Event.
Those plans clearly did not come together. Dragunov remained off WWE programming, and his contract eventually expired without a return to television.
There has been no explanation of what changed between the reported June negotiations and his eventual departure. The available reports establish that WWE wanted to retain Dragunov and had discussed bringing him back, while the 32-year-old star ultimately chose to move on.
His exit also leaves him in an unusual position. Since “The Mad Dragon” left WWE through the expiration of his contract rather than a release, he is not bound by the company’s standard 90-day non-compete clause. He is therefore free to appear for another promotion immediately.
At 32, Dragunov still has plenty of time to build the next chapter of his career. It will be interesting to see which promotion he joins next.
