More Details On Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Exit

Ilja Dragunov has exited WWE, and a new report has some additional details on his departure from the company. As noted, the former WWE United States and NXT Champion departed WWE and has been removed from the roster. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that his contract expired yesterday, and he is officially a free agent. That means he is free to wrestle anywhere immediately.

According to the outlet, sources over the past few months had only indicated that Dragunov was not injured but not being used by creative. The responses indicated that either creative had nothing for him, or he was specifically designated as being unable to be used.

The site goes on to note that Dragunov had been in discussions about a new deal, and the two sides were far enough apart that WWE decided in April not to use him anymore. His deal was said to be a “very good” one, and it was eventually decided that he was a good worker but not someone who moved numbers, which you would need to be for the money he was asking and already getting.

The report nots that this is another indicator that WWE is leaning more into the approach of taking someone off TV when they believe that they are not going to sign and letting their contract run out.

No word as of yet on when or where Dragunov may next be seen.