Ilja Dragunov Tease Airs On AEW Dynamite/Collision

Ilja Dragunov is on his way to All Elite Wrestling, with the first tease for the former WWE United States Champion airing before the main event of the three-hour block of AEW Dynamite and Collision on Wednesday, October 14.

The vignette showed the arms of a conductor waving back and forth as they stood in a European city as a metronome ticked, which was interspersed with a wrestler running the ropes. A choir repeating Dragunov's nickname could also be heard during the vignette, suggesting the tease is for the 33-year-old.

Ilja Dragunov had been a part of WWE but he departed the company on August 20 after allowing his contract to expire, with Dragunov having been off WWE TV since the SmackDown before WrestleMania 42. WWE and Dragunov were reportedly far apart on a new deal, with WWE concluding that Dragunov was a great worker but not a numbers mover.

It appeared Dragunov would be AEW-bound shortly after his WWE exit, with AEW CEO Tony Khan heaping praise upon the former NXT Champion. It was noted in September that Dragunov was set to join AEW barring any unforeseen circumstances.