Report: Ilja Dragunov Being Discussed Within WWE Ahead Of Return

Ilja Dragunov may not be too far away from returning to WWE programming after close to a year out of action.

The former WWE NXT Champion has not wrestled for WWE since September 28, 2024 when he unsuccessfully challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at a house show in Columbus, Georgia. Dragunov sustained a torn ACL that month, and he has been on the shelf ever since.

Dragunov's return is seemingly close, however, as Cory Hays of BodySlam has reported that while Dragunov was not expected to be back on WWE TV in the next few weeks, his name had been brought up within the company.

Dragunov has been preparing for his return for much of 2025 at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. A return at some point in September has been the target for WWE and the 31-year-old.

Ilja Dragunov has been a part of WWE since 2019. He began his time in the company as part of NXT UK, holding the NXT UK Title from August 2021 until July 2022. Dragunov then moved to WWE NXT in 2022 after NXT UK was shuttered and he had one reign as NXT Champion before heading to the main roster following 2024's WrestleMania XL.

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