During the 2026 AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view event on Saturday, Ilja Dragunov made his official debut with the company, receiving a huge reaction from the live audience. Nigel McGuinness described him as one of the most violent and dangerous men on the planet as The Mad Dragon entered the ring and soaked in the appreciation from fans.
Shortly after his appearance, AEW announced on their Twitter (X) account that Dragunov is now officially All Elite. According to Fightful Select, Dragunov signed a deal with AEW after resolving his visa issues. It remains to be seen who he will face in his first AEW match.
Dragunov, a former WWE United States Champion, left the company in August 2026 after discussions about a new contract fell through. In the lead-up to WrestleDream, AEW aired several vignettes to hype the arrival of a “mystery man,” who turned out to be Dragunov.
