WWE Planned Ilja Dragunov's Return After SummerSlam

Ilja Dragunov has departed from WWE after his contract expired. Reports indicate that WWE had plans to reintegrate him into their programming after the 2026 SummerSlam event.

Journalist Bryan Alvarez provided insights into Dragunov's final months with WWE, mentioning that discussions about his return were ongoing as recently as June. However, the plans ultimately did not materialize. False Finish HQ corroborated this, stating that WWE officials were specifically targeting a return for Dragunov post-SummerSlam.

Dragunov was last seen competing in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 17 during an episode of WWE SmackDown. His previous reign as United States Champion lasted from October to December 2025, before the title changed hands at SummerSlam.