Ilja Dragunov’s time with WWE is reportedly coming to an end, with a new report stating that the former NXT Champion is no longer under contract with the company.

According to PWInsider, Dragunov’s WWE deal has expired. Neither WWE nor Dragunov has publicly addressed his status at the time of writing, although another notable development has added weight to the report, with his profile now appearing in the alumni section of WWE.com.

Dragunov has been absent from WWE television since April. His final match took place in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the April 17 edition of SmackDown during WrestleMania 42 weekend. His last televised victory came several months earlier when he defeated The Miz on the January 30 episode of SmackDown.

Questions surrounding Dragunov’s future had been circulating for some time due to his lengthy absence. Back in July, Bryan Alvarez reported that the expectation was for Dragunov to return sooner rather than later, although no details were given regarding possible creative plans.

During his time away from WWE programming, Dragunov has reportedly continued training, including spending time at the famous Hart Dungeon in Canada.

There was also considerable speculation surrounding his contractual situation earlier this month.

On August 14, an account on X claimed Dragunov had rejected a WWE contract extension and had subsequently been removed from television, with the suggestion that he would become available before the 2027 Royal Rumble.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp publicly challenged the claim and questioned why it had been presented without supporting evidence. The account responsible later acknowledged that it did not have sourcing for the story and described the original post as opinion.

The latest report from PWInsider is therefore separate from those earlier claims and specifically states that Dragunov’s WWE contract has now expired.

Dragunov joined WWE in 2019 after establishing himself as one of Europe’s most highly regarded wrestlers. He initially became a major part of NXT UK, eventually capturing the NXT United Kingdom Championship.

His WWE career later took him to NXT in the United States, where he became a two-time NXT Champion and developed a reputation for producing intensely physical matches. His encounters with the likes of Bron Breakker helped cement his standing as one of the brand’s most distinctive performers.

Following WrestleMania 40 in 2024, Dragunov made the move to WWE’s main roster. He later defeated Sami Zayn to capture the United States Championship in October 2025, adding another major accolade to his WWE résumé.

However, injuries and extended periods away from television prevented Dragunov from building consistent momentum during portions of his main roster run.

His extremely physical approach has long been one of the defining characteristics of his career. Dragunov became known for hard-hitting strikes, forearms and explosive offence, creating a style that frequently made his matches stand out. He has also previously discussed the physical toll that comes with wrestling in that fashion.

Born in Russia before moving to Germany as a child, Dragunov developed his career on the German independent wrestling scene. He became particularly synonymous with wXw, capturing the promotion’s Unified World Wrestling Championship three times before eventually signing with WWE.

Should his WWE departure be confirmed, Dragunov would become another significant name to leave the company during 2026 following a mixture of releases and expiring contracts.

Sheamus previously revealed that he rejected a restructured WWE contract on reduced terms, while Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have also departed. Jeff Cobb was released earlier this year following a WWE run lasting less than 12 months.

Attention will now inevitably turn towards Dragunov’s next move.

AEW would represent an obvious possibility should Dragunov wish to remain with a major wrestling promotion in the United States, while a move to NJPW could provide an intriguing opportunity in Japan. TNA and MLW could also emerge as potential destinations if Dragunov decides to explore the wider wrestling landscape.

For now, however, neither Dragunov nor WWE has issued a public statement confirming the circumstances surrounding his reported departure.