Ilja Dragunov explains his AEW signing.
The Mad Dragon was welcomed on the WrestleDream post-show after making his debut for AEW during the PPV. The former WWE star was asked about the choices he had and what decisions and factors led to his signing with the company.
Ilja Dragunov explained that he needs to make a move when he feels like he is getting stuck somewhere and AEW is a place that can satisfy his hunger for competition:
My decisions and factors? I’ve been doing this right now almost since 14 years. And I’ve been through a lot of phases when it comes down to my indie wrestling career, professional wrestling career in general. I have travelled to places. I’ve been under contract. I never had the chance where I didn’t feel like I can’t bet on myself. And if I feel that this chance is limited and it gets more limited, and I feel like I’m getting stuck somewhere.
Not because of external factors, just feeling stuck in general because I have this urge to fight. I really love to fight, and I want to compete and I want to step up. And if I feel that the air in a certain environment gets thinner for me, I need to breathe. That’s what I did today here. If I need a place to breathe new fresh air, see a new landscape and see what the world can offer to me to satisfy this hunger for competition. And that is basically the easiest answer I can give you to that question.
Tony Khan later also revealed that originally, he wasn’t sure they would be able to sort out the visa situation with Dragunov this soon. He had initially planned to start airing the mystery vignette signalling his arrival at the WrestleDream PPV, before they got confirmation of his arrival.
