Is “The Mad Dragon” on his way to AEW? After weeks of reports and speculation about Ilja Dragunov's much-awaited AEW debut, it now seems that the time has finally come. Dragunov parted ways with WWE a couple of months ago when he decided to not renew his contract.

Soon after rejecting a contract extension, Dragunov immediately became a free agent upon its expiry. Rumors soon emerged about him signing an AEW deal and joining the promotion. While fans waited weeks for signs of his arrival, AEW decided to keep silent.

Now, after months of speculation, AEW has finally dropped Dragunov's first television tease. On the recent Oct. 14, 2026, episode of AEW Dynamite and Collision, before AEW WrestleDream 2026, a mysterious vignette aired.

Running for about 25 seconds, the vignette features multiple shots of a metronome as well as a person conducting music with their hands. The video package also shows a person walking down a set of steps and running across a training ring. The video teased the arrival of a new AEW star. While it did not confirm or specify Ilja Dragunov's name, fans were certain of his arrival on the internet.

Once the signing is made official, Dragunov will join The New Level and Motor City Machine Guns as former WWE talents joining AEW in the last few months. Dragunov is a former WWE United States Champion, NXT Champion, and NXT UK Champion. He was with WWE since 2019 before not renewing his contract in 2026. The 33-year-old's last match dates back to the 2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal before WWE WrestleMania 42.

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