Ilja Dragunov don officially join AEW after im arrive for AEW WrestleDream 2026 for Orlando, Florida. Di former WWE star show face for di pay-per-view, and di crowd welcome am with one massive reaction.
Before im debut, AEW build di arrival with one mysterious vignette on di October 14 Dynamite and Collision three-hour special. Di figure dey conduct music with one metronome. Many fans believe say na teaser for Dragunov, and a second video on social media talk say di person go debut for WrestleDream 2026.
For di event, Renee Paquette come out on stage, then dem show one huge metronome and di lights go off. Na so Dragunov come out to loud pop from di sold-out crowd in Orlando. He wear blue tailored suit and come to di ring with di intensity wey people know am for. Commentary talk about im reputation wey start for Europe, while im entrance use orchestral theme similar to wetin he get for WWE and di independent scene. A big pyro display follow im entrance music.
Dem call am ‘The Mad Dragon.’ Dragunov be former WWE United States Champion, NXT Champion and NXT UK Champion. For im near seven-year stint with WWE, im hard-hitting style produce big matches against GUNTHER, JD McDonagh, Sami Zayn and Carmelo Hayes.
Now wey im land for AEW, fans dey look forward to more matches against di men’s division, from Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley to MJF and Kenny Omega. But e never clear wetin im first match in AEW go be.
For di WrestleDream post-show media scrum, AEW President and CEO Tony Khan talk say di visa process fit unpredictable. Khan say, ‘Thanks to the process, it can be an unpredictable process of acquiring a visa.’ He explain say e no sure until Wednesday night during live broadcast say e go fit bring Dragunov out. Khan call am great surprise and say dem film di vignette just in case visa no land, so dem go fit start di build for when Dragunov arrive. He add say dem get message for live broadcast say Dragunov go fit collect di visa next day, and di arrival happen ahead of schedule.
