Ilja Dragunov has been adored by fans for a long time. He is a former NXT Champion, United States Champion, and NXT UK Champion. Many fans think he is a main event star. But, WWE officials don think the same way.

WWE higher-ups that that Ilja Dragunov as an interchangeable mid card guy talent rather then a big star like fans think. According to the Wrestling Observer the company doesn’t think Ilja as a main event star.

Dragunov has been lost in a the shuffle recently in WWE. He didn’t compete in WrestleMania and due to the many stars WWE has already it seems like they don’t know what to do with Ilja since the lost the United States Championship to Carmelo Hayes last year.

Dragunov’s last match he competed in was the 2026 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal which he lost.