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WWE has moved Ilja Dragunov to its alumni roster after the wrestler’s contract with the company expired, according to reporting by PW Insider. The departure marks the end of the 32-year-old’s tenure with the sports entertainment giant, which began in February 2019 following stints with Progress Wrestling and various European promotions.
Dragunov achieved considerable success during his WWE career, capturing titles across multiple brands. He won the NXT UK Championship early in his tenure before eventually claiming the NXT Championship in September 2023, becoming the first wrestler in company history to win both championships. He also captured the WWE United States Championship in October 2025 after defeating Sami Zayn, successfully defending the title multiple times before losing it to Carmelo Hayes.
A torn ACL sustained after his April 2024 promotion to the Raw brand following WrestleMania 40 sidelined the wrestler for approximately a year. Dragunov made limited appearances upon his return, participating in the Royal Rumble earlier this year and competing in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal during the “Friday Night SmackDown” broadcast preceding WrestleMania 42.
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