Ilja Dragunov Leaves WWE After Contract Expires Ilja Dragunov has officially parted ways with WWE following the expiration of his contract, marking the end of a seven-year tenure with the company. The former Men’s United States Champion, who had not appeared on WWE programming since competing in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the SmackDown episode preceding WrestleMania 42, is now a free agent. Multiple sources, including PWInsider’s Mike Johnson and Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, confirmed the news, with Dragunov’s name being moved to WWE’s alumni roster page—a clear indication of his departure. Dragunov’s time with WWE began with his debut on the main roster during the episode of Monday Night Raw following WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia. His first match saw him defeat Shinsuke Nakamura, launching him into the 2024 King of the Ring tournament. Over the summer, he competed for the Men’s Intercontinental Championship against Sami Zayn and Bron Breakker before sustaining a torn ACL during a match against Gunther, a former World Heavyweight Champion. The injury sidelined him for over a year, significantly impacting his career trajectory. Dragunov made a triumphant return in October 2024, defeating Sami Zayn to win the Men’s United States Title. He continued to dominate the roster, carrying on the legacy of the United States Open Challenge with high-profile matches against Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and Carmelo Hayes. His reign as United States Champion ended when he lost the title to Carmelo Hayes, after which he gradually faded from the main event scene. Despite competing in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dragunov only wrestled four more times afterward, including a rematch with Hayes for the U.S. Title.#wwe #bron_breakker #sami_zayn #ilja_dragunov #shinsuke_nakamura
