At this point, it feels like Ilja Dragunov ending up in AEW is only a matter of time. Jim Cornette likes the move—but he’s not convinced AEW is the place that will get the best out of him.
Reports over the past week have painted a pretty clear picture. Multiple outlets have said the Mad Dragon is AEW-bound, with the company preparing internal materials for his arrival while sorting out his visa.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cornette admitted he’s always been a fan of Dragunov, especially the wars he had with Gunther. That’s also why he’s worried about what happens once Dragunov steps into an AEW ring.
“I loved him and Gunther. I wish we’d have seen more of that. You know, I’d like to be excited for him, but I’m just wondering, how is this guy who was so serious and worked so hard and what an underdog babyface type, how is he going to translate to the… you know, his size is not unique there. It’s the land of Lilliput.”
Cornette made it clear the issue isn’t Dragunov himself. He thinks the bigger question is whether AEW has enough wrestlers who can work the kind of matches that made Dragunov stand out everywhere else.
“But the question is, can anybody work with him to expose his advantages and not him just be doing your floor exercises with the rest of them?”
Later in the discussion, Cornette addressed Kyle Fletcher getting excited about the reported signing. He actually defended Fletcher, saying Dragunov shouldn’t be lumped in with the stereotype of another WWE wrestler showing up in AEW.
“Ilja is not your normal WWE wrestler.”
Cornette pointed out that Dragunov made his name long before WWE. He said Dragunov’s background on the European independent scene is exactly why he fits a wrestling-heavy promotion like AEW.
“He obviously didn’t start at the Performance Center. He wrestled in his native lands before. And I’m sure he knows Kyle there from those independent travels in foreign lands.”
Even after saying that, Cornette came back to the same concern. He believes Dragunov will be fine, but only if AEW gives him opponents who wrestle with the same intensity instead of turning every match into a spot fest.
“Yes, Ilja fits in terms of a more in-ring-centric wrestling promotion with younger guys and probably a faster pace of work. The only problem is, is I just question whether anybody else is serious enough or accomplished enough to hang with him doing that type of thing.”
Cornette did mention one name he thinks could make it work. He said Kyle Fletcher has the ability to have a great match with Dragunov—as long as they focus on making it feel like a fight instead of a video game.
“Kyle would be one of the, possibly the short list who, if they don’t again go so far that they think they’re a video game instead of trying to have a hard competitive wrestling match… They’d probably be very good.”
To Cornette, Fletcher wasn’t just hyping another former WWE name. He was talking about someone he knows personally and someone whose style has always been different.
“He’s talking about a guy that he knows that doesn’t really fit that mold. So I’d cut him some slack on this.”
Dragunov still hasn’t officially debuted, but it feels like that announcement is getting closer by the day. The bigger question now isn’t whether he’ll show up—it’s whether AEW can put him in the kind of matches that made fans fall in love with him in the first place.
Do you agree with Cornette, or do you think Ilja Dragunov will thrive in AEW no matter who he’s in the ring with? Let us know in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
