Ilja Dragunov’s first match in AEW is already scheduled. He will make his in-ring debut on the October 21 episode of Dynamite from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
AEW revealed Dragunov’s signing at the 2026 WrestleDream pay-per-view. Afterward, he joined Renee Paquette and AEW President Tony Khan for the WrestleDream post-event media scrum.
During that session, Khan and Dragunov agreed that Dragunov would work his first match on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
No opponent has been announced yet. In the scrum, Dragunov named Jon Moxley, Samoa Joe and Kyle Fletcher among the people he wants to face, and said he is “starving for competition.” Fletcher had already said he is excited about a reunion with his old friend.
The signing follows weeks of reports. Fightful Select had said Dragunov was expected to sign with AEW, and Tony Khan said afterward that he didn’t know Dragunov would be ready for WrestleDream until Wednesday.
