WWE news: Former NXT UK Champion AEW-bound after shocking exit

In a matter of weeks after Ilja Dragunov left WWE, the former NXT and NXT UK Champion has found a new home in Tony Khan's AEW .

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp (via Sports Illustrated) reports that Dragunov is expected to sign a free agent deal with AEW. He would not be the only WWE-released star to jump ship, joining the New Level (formerly the New Day) and the Motor City Machine Guns.

According to Ross Sapp, this has been the plan for a while. However, Dragunov and AEW had to clear some "hurdles" regarding his visa, something other WWE departures have dealt with, before making the deal official.

Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

When will ex-WWE star Ilja Dragunov make AEW debut?

When Dragunov will make his AEW debut is unknown. The company's next PPV event is All Out on Saturday, Sep. 26. It will be held in former star CM Punk's hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Perhaps AEW will try to steal headlines from WWE by debuting its latest signee.

Otherwise, WrestleDream and Full Gear are coming up in October and November, respectively. Those are other options for Dragunov to make his big debut.

Dragunov had spent the last seven years with WWE, initially joining NXT UK. He beat Walter (who now goes by Gunther) to win the NXT UK Championship, ending his 870-day reign. Dragunov would then hold the title for over 300 days before vacating it due to a leg injury he suffered.

In 2022, he would jump to NXT, and he would defeat Carmelo Hayes at No Mercy in September 2023 to win the NXT Championship for the first time. His reign would last 206 days before he lost it to Trick Williams.

After losing the NXT Championship to Williams, Dragunov made his main roster debut on the Monday Night RAW after WrestleMania 40 in April 2024. During his main roster career, he would win the United States Championship once, beating Sami Zayn, before losing it to Hayes a couple of months later.