3 Reasons why Ilja Dragunov is leaving WWE

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That said, in this listicle, we will look at three possible reasons why Ilja Dragunov is leaving WWE.

#3. He wasn’t getting opportunities in WWE

Ilja Dragunov’s WWE return initially looked very promising. After missing more than a year due to injury, he came back and immediately defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship in October 2025.

The problem was what happened afterward. Carmelo Hayes ended his reign after 70 days. Dragunov then got a few more chances to regain the title, but he came up short against Hayes in January and March.

His position on the roster slowly changed after that. Dragunov was eventually moved out of the United States Championship picture and was no longer involved in a major storyline. His last match came in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 17, after which he disappeared from television.

For a wrestler with Dragunov’s talent, that is a difficult situation. He had returned as a major player but ended up without a clear direction. If WWE could not offer him another meaningful singles push, The Mad Dragon may have decided that moving on was the better option.

#2. WWE reportedly didn’t view him as a top star

A few months ago, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE did not see Ilja Dragunov as a top guy. He added that Dragunov was perceived as an “interchangeable mid-card guy” and noted that other wrestlers already had active storylines, which left the Russian star out of the picture.

If Dragunov was aware that WWE did not see him as a potential main-event star, he could have decided that staying with the company would not change much. A fresh start could give him a chance to build himself back up and prove that he belongs in the main-event picture.

#1. Ilja Dragunov can thrive outside WWE

Ilja Dragunov still has plenty of time to build a major career. He is only 32 and has already shown what he can do in the ring. His WWE run did not reach the level many fans expected. However, leaving the company could give him a clean slate. A promotion like AEW or NJPW could give The Mad Dragon a different group of opponents and potentially a bigger role.

He could become a regular part of the main-event picture instead of trying to move back up the WWE midcard. A fresh start could be exactly what the Russian star needs to rebuild his momentum and show what he can do outside WWE.