Ilja Dragunov's Future Speculated Amid WWE Departure

The wrestling community was surprised last week by the announcement of Ilja Dragunov's departure from WWE following the expiration of his contract. As soon as Dragunov became a free agent, discussions began regarding his future, with wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer offering insights on a possible transition to AEW.

Meltzer noted that AEW owner Tony Khan has expressed significant admiration for Dragunov in recent interviews, leading him to anticipate that Dragunov may soon join AEW. With Dragunov's contract ending on August 18, he is eligible to sign with another promotion and can make immediate appearances on television.

If Dragunov does sign with AEW, he could potentially debut during upcoming events such as AEW Dynamite or AEW Collision in Glasgow, Scotland, or even at AEW All In at Wembley Stadium. Speculation also suggests he might be a surprise entrant in the Men's Casino Gauntlet match, which features only two confirmed participants so far.