Ilja Dragunov is headed to AEW, but nobody seems to know exactly when he’ll appear on television. The latest update says AEW has materials ready for the former WWE star, while visa details are still being worked out.
Fightful Select reported that even top AEW talent it spoke with didn’t know when Dragunov would make his on-screen debut. The outlet’s update said:
“Even top stars we’ve spoken to don’t know exactly when Ilja will be joining AEW on screen. He is coming to AEW, and they had materials prepared for him, but they had been working through visa details.”
That leaves the arrival itself looking set, while the timing remains up in the air. Dave Meltzer previously reported that Dragunov had signed with AEW and was expected to start “very soon,” as Ringside News covered earlier.
AEW had already been linked to Dragunov after his WWE contract expired in August. Tony Khan also praised him as a “tremendous professional wrestler” following his exit, though Khan did not confirm negotiations at the time, as Ringside News reported.
A debut at AEW’s October 6 Grand Slam: France event in Paris had been floated as a possibility, but there’s no confirmation that Dragunov will appear there. The new update points to visa details as the issue being handled, and AEW’s prepared materials suggest the company is getting ready for his arrival.
Dragunov’s first AEW appearance remains a mystery, even as the move itself appears to be happening. When do you think he’ll make his debut, and where should AEW bring him in? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
