Latest on Where Ilja Dragunov Is Expected To Wind Up

During today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed Ilja Dragunov leaving WWE and what it would mean for the former NXT and United States Champion’s wrestling future. Meltzer speculated that Dragunov might end up in AEW due to Khan’s recent praise of the wrestler.

As previously noted, during a recent ROH media scrum, when asked about Dragunov, Khan said he was unsure about Dragunov’s contractual status, but he thinks he’s a “tremendous” talent. He said last weekend, “I’m not sure about the contractual status, but that’s a tremendous, tremendous professional wrestler, absolutely. I don’t know exactly what the contractual status is of people that don’t work here; I can’t keep track of those things, and there is no way for me to know that, but one thing I do is that’s a great wrestler.”

Meltzer said on Dragunov, “The question is what’s going to happen with him next, and Tony Khan, in several interviews, has just been effusive with praise of Ilja Dragunov, to the point where I am pretty much expecting that he’s winding up in AEW. I mean, just talking over and over about how he is this great, incredible wrestler, which he is, but I just don’t see him being — and saying like, ‘We don’t know what his contractual situation is,’ so which may be — I don’t know.”

Meltzer also stated that Dragunov’s WWE contract expired on August 20, so he’s currently an unrestricted free agent. He continued, “Put it this way, based on what he is saying, I am certain there will be a big offer for Ilja Dragunov. And he’s a free agent already; his deal expired on August 20. So he’s been a free agent for several days now.”

There is still no word yet on what’s next for Dragunov.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.