Ilja Dragunov WWE Contract Expires Aug 20, 2026

Ilja Dragunov has left World Wrestling Entertainment after his contract with the company expired, a departure confirmed on August 20, 2026. The 32-year-old's profile was moved to the alumni section of WWE's official website, signaling the end of a seven-year tenure that began in 2019.

The news, first reported by PWInsider, prompted significant reaction from fans, many of whom expressed frustration over the perceived mishandling of a top talent. Dragunov, known as "The Mad Dragon," had been a prominent fixture on the SmackDown brand in late 2025, where he enjoyed a notable run as United States Champion. He won the title from Sami Zayn on October 17, 2025, and successfully defended it eight times before losing it to Carmelo Hayes on December 26, 2025.

Despite his acclaimed in-ring style and championship successes, which also included the NXT Championship and the NXT UK Championship, Dragunov's television presence diminished significantly in early 2026. He was eliminated from the Royal Rumble match by Brock Lesnar in January and later competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 17, 2026, which was his final appearance on WWE programming. His last singles match on...