Latest On Plans For Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Return

Ilja Dragunov has been off of WWE TV for a little while, and a new report says that he may be on his way back. Dragunov has bene off of TV since April, most recently competing in the Andre The Giant Memorial 2026 Battle Royal on the Smackdown before WrestleMania 42. F4W Online’s Bryan Alvarez says that according to sources in the company, Dragunov is expected to be back “sooner than later.”

It is not known why Dragunov has been off TV at this time. The report notes that he has continued to train, specifically noting that he and his partner Leigh Laurel (aka Jin Tala) have been training at Nattie & TJ Wilson’s The Dungeon 2.0. They were at the facility as recently as June 17th. It was reported earlier this month that officials in WWE don’t necessarily see Dragunov as a “top guy” in the company.

Ilja Dragunov is a former WWE United States Champion, having held the title from October 17th, 2025 until he lost it to Carmelo Hayes two months later on December 19th. Trick Williams, who Dragunov feuded with in NXT, is the current champion.

As of this writing, there is no word on a specific return date set for Dragunov.