Ilja Dragunov Offically Unveiled As All Elite At WrestleDream

Following reports of him signing with the company, and on the back of teases which suggested that his arrival was imminent, Ilja Dragunov was officially unveiled as All Elite and the newest member of the AEW roster at the WrestleDream 2026 PPV. He made his entrance in front of a hot crowd, before heading to the back. 

Dragunov appeared on the WrestleDream 2026 post-show press conference, explaining the reasons for him signing with AEW.

“It’s a landscape of limitless opportunities that I see in front of my eyes because if we say that AEW is where the best wrestle, how couldn’t I belong here?” 

He went on to note that opportunities get slimmer as time goes on, and feeling the air getting thinner elsewhere required him to make a change. Dragunov named the likes of Jon Moxley, Kyle Fletcher and Samoa Joe as some of the opponents he wanted to face in AEW. Dragunov parted ways with WWE throughout the summer, opting against renewing his contract after negotiations had been reportedly ongoing between the two sides. Shortly after the expiration of his deal, rumours began spreading of AEW’s interest in signing him.