Ilja Dragunov did not mince words about why he chose AEW over staying in WWE. The newest All Elite signee — introduced at WrestleDream 2026 — told the press conference he needed “new, fresh air” after feeling stuck in his old environment.
(Credits: Fightful / AEW)
“I need to breathe”
Asked by Behind The Ropes about his decision to join AEW, Dragunov — who departed WWE in August after not wrestling since April — gave an unusually candid answer:
“I’ve been doing this for almost 14 years, and I’ve been through a lot of phases when it comes down to my indie career and pro wrestling career in general. I’ve never had the chance where I didn’t feel like I can’t bet on myself. If I feel that this chance is limited, then it gets more limited. Then, I feel like I’m getting stuck somewhere… because I have this urge to fight. I love to fight and I want to compete and I want to step up. If I feel that the air in a certain environment gets thinner for me, I need to breathe.”
A hunger for competition
Dragunov framed the move as pure competitive hunger: “If I need a place to breathe new, fresh air, see a new landscape, and see what the world can offer me to satisfy this hunger for competition.”
It is a pointed read on his final months in WWE — a talent with an urge to fight who went months without a match. Now he gets his stage: his AEW in-ring debut is set for the October 21 Dynamite. The fresh air is about to get very thin for AEW’s roster.
Also Read: Ilja Dragunov’s AEW In-Ring Debut Set for October 21 Dynamite in Coral Gables
Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
