Tony Khan admitted that Ilja Dragunov‘s surprise debut at WrestleDream 2026 nearly did not happen. The AEW president revealed at the post-show press conference that he did not know the newest signee would be cleared to appear until this past Wednesday — all because of visa paperwork.
(Credits: Fightful / AEW)
The visa race
“Thanks to the process, it can be an unpredictable process of acquiring a visa,” Khan said. “It’s something that I wasn’t sure until this Wednesday night, during a live broadcast, that I would be able to bring you. It’s a great surprise, and it’s something that I was so pleased that we were able to do tonight.”
Dragunov was introduced live by Renee Paquette as the newest AEW signee, days after a teaser vignette aired on Dynamite. The fact that Khan was unsure about the debut right up to the Dynamite taping explains why the announcement felt so tightly guarded — there was real jeopardy behind the scenes.
Debut week officially underway
With the visa sorted and the reveal done, Dragunov is on a fast track: his in-ring debut is locked for the October 21 Dynamite in Coral Gables. A debut that was uncertain four days ago is now headlining AEW’s week — a hell of a turnaround.
Also Read: Ilja Dragunov’s AEW In-Ring Debut Set for October 21 Dynamite in Coral Gables
Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
