ILJA DRAGUNOV DEPARTS WWE AFTER CONTRACT EXPIRES

Ilja Dragunov has left WWE following the expiry of his contract, according to reports. The 32-year-old wrestler, who joined the company in 2019, held the titles of NXT UK Champion, NXT Champion and WWE United States Champion during his tenure. Dragunov lost the United States Championship to Carmelo Hayes on the December 26th edition of SmackDown and subsequently competed in the 2026 Royal Rumble, where he was eliminated by Brock Lesnar. His last televised appearance came on the April 17th episode of SmackDown during the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Dragunov had appeared regularly on SmackDown in the latter part of 2025, frequently defending the United States Title via open challenge. His wrestling style drew recognition from sections of the fanbase, with some expecting him to progress to main event programming after losing his championship. Following the Royal Rumble, his television appearances declined noticeably. WWE moved him to the 'Alumni' section of its official website shortly before his departure was confirmed.

The news has generated negative reaction on social media, with fans criticising the company's creative direction. Some commentators on social platforms described his exit as a significant misstep by WWE management. AEW top star MJF made remarks directed at Dragunov following confirmation of his departure, though the specific content of those remarks was not detailed in available reports.