Ilja Dragunov’s Current WWE Return Status After Being Sidelined for Nearly a Year with Injury

It’s been almost a full year since WWE fans last saw Ilja Dragunov in action, but it sounds like his return is finally being talked about inside the company.

The former NXT Champion moved to Raw in the 2024 WWE Draft and quickly found himself in some big matches, including a run in the 2024 King of the Ring Tournament. His momentum came to a screeching halt in September 2024 when he tore his ACL during a live event match with Gunther.

Since then, speculation about his comeback has been constant, and now Cory Hays of Bodyslam has hinted that the wait may be ending. Hays first shared a gif of Ilja with the caption: “The time draws near.”

He followed it up with more details, saying that Ilja’s name was mentioned internally this week. While it’s not an immediate return, it’s the strongest sign yet that WWE is looking ahead to bringing him back.

“How soon? We’ll see. Not expecting it in the next few weeks. I wouldn’t say ‘soon’ but his name was brought up this week.”

Back in March 2025, reports indicated that Dragunov’s recovery was taking longer than initially expected. Ilja was targeting a return to the Monday Night Raw roster in September, meaning fans were told they’d have to wait at least five more months to see the Mad Dragon again. At the time, he had been training at the WWE Performance Center and was spotted without any support gear on his knee, which was seen as a positive sign. Originally, doctors had estimated six to nine months of recovery, but the updated timeline suggested the injury was more severe than first thought.

Ilja Dragunov has been sidelined far longer than anyone expected, but if WWE is starting to talk about him again, the Mad Dragon could be breathing fire on Raw before we know it. Whether he storms back in to reclaim his spot or has to fight his way up from the bottom, one thing’s certain — Dragunov’s return is going to be violent, intense, and must-see.

Do you think Ilja Dragunov will return to the same dominant form he had before his injury, or will it take time for him to climb back to the top? Share your thoughts in the comments.