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The wrestling world has been left stunned after Ilja Dragunov officially departed WWE following seven years with the company, bringing an unexpected end to a journey that saw the hard-hitting superstar become a champion and one of WWE’s most respected in-ring performers.
According to the report provided by Metro, Dragunov’s WWE contract has expired, and the 32-year-old has now been moved to the company’s alumni section. His departure has immediately sparked a bigger conversation among fans: Did WWE fail to maximize one of the most talented wrestlers on its roster?
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From Europe to WWE
Dragunov, known by nicknames including “The Mad Dragon,” “Unbesiegbar” and “The Czar,” built his reputation wrestling across the United Kingdom and Europe before joining WWE in 2019.
He quickly established himself as a different kind of performer.
Dragunov’s matches were rarely about simply winning or losing. His style was physical, emotional and intense. Every strike looked meaningful, every comeback felt desperate and every major match seemed to tell a story through sheer punishment.
That style helped turn him into one of the standout performers of the NXT UK era.
A Champion Who Delivered
During his WWE career, Dragunov captured several major championships, including the NXT United Kingdom Championship, NXT Championship and United States Championship.
His achievements weren’t limited to collecting championship belts.
In 2023, he was named Male Superstar of the Year in the NXT Year-End Awards, while his match against Carmelo Hayes at NXT No Mercy was voted Match of the Year.
Those accomplishments demonstrated something important: WWE clearly recognized Dragunov’s ability.
The bigger question is whether the company ever fully translated that recognition into a sustained main-roster run.
The United States Championship Run That Changed Everything
One of the most promising moments came in October 2025.
After missing more than a year because of injury, Dragunov returned to SmackDown and immediately made an impact by defeating Sami Zayn for the United States Championship.
It looked like the beginning of something special.
Dragunov reportedly went on to make eight successful title defences before eventually losing the championship to Carmelo Hayes on December 19.
For many fans, this period served as a reminder of exactly what Dragunov could bring when WWE gave him meaningful opportunities.
His matches were competitive, physical and memorable.
Yet, rather than becoming the foundation of a bigger push toward the top of the card, his momentum eventually faded.
The Match Fans Never Got
Perhaps the biggest criticism surrounding Dragunov’s WWE career is the match that never happened on WWE’s main roster: Ilja Dragunov vs. GUNTHER.
For wrestling fans who followed their careers in Europe and NXT UK, the rivalry was already legendary.
Dragunov and GUNTHER had the kind of chemistry that made their encounters feel bigger than ordinary matches. Their physicality, contrasting personalities and ability to tell stories inside the ring made them natural rivals.
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Yet despite both eventually becoming major WWE stars, fans never received the main-roster showdown many believed was inevitable.
And that is why the word “fumble” has become so prominent following Dragunov’s departure.
It wasn’t necessarily that WWE did nothing with him.
It did.
The argument is that WWE could have done much more.
Why Fans Feel WWE Fumbled Dragunov
Dragunov had many of the qualities WWE looks for in a top performer.
He had:
- A distinctive character
- An instantly recognizable wrestling style
- Strong crowd reactions
- Championship credibility
- International experience
- Excellent match quality
- A compelling physical presence
- A history with other major WWE stars
Most importantly, he had something that cannot simply be manufactured:
Believability.
When Dragunov walked into a match, fans believed he was fighting for something.
That made him different.
His brutal wrestling style wasn’t simply about violence. It became part of his identity and storytelling.
As Dragunov previously explained, he felt there was a particular way he needed to compete and express himself in wrestling. That commitment became one of the defining characteristics of his career.
A Career That Could Have Been Even Bigger
It would be unfair to describe Dragunov’s WWE career as a failure.
Far from it.
He became a champion multiple times, earned awards, produced critically acclaimed matches and established himself as one of the company’s most respected wrestlers.
But wrestling careers are often judged not only by what happened, but also by what could have happened.
And that is where the frustration comes from.
Imagine Dragunov entering a major rivalry with GUNTHER on the main roster.
Imagine the build.
Two wrestlers with history.
Two completely different personalities.
Two men who understand exactly how dangerous the other one is.
The promos could have been intense.
The matches could have been brutal.
And the audience already had years of history invested in the rivalry.
Instead, that chapter was never written on WWE’s biggest stage.
What Happens Next for Ilja Dragunov?
Now that Dragunov is officially outside WWE, speculation will naturally turn toward his next move.
His reputation means he should have plenty of options.
At only 32, Dragunov still has significant years ahead of him as a professional wrestler. More importantly, he leaves WWE with something extremely valuable: a proven reputation.
He doesn’t need to convince fans that he can wrestle.
He already has.
The question now is where he chooses to continue his career.
Could he return to the independent scene?
Could another major wrestling promotion make a serious attempt to sign him?
Could he eventually return to WWE?
At this point, those possibilities remain open.
WWE’s Loss Could Become Someone Else’s Gain
Perhaps the most interesting part of Dragunov’s departure isn’t simply that WWE has lost a former champion.
It’s that another promotion could gain a ready-made star.
Dragunov doesn’t need years of development.
He doesn’t need a complete character overhaul.
He doesn’t need to prove that he can deliver in big matches.
He simply needs the right platform and the right creative direction.
And that could make his post-WWE career extremely interesting to watch.
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