Wrestler Profile

Ilja Dragunov

Ilja Dragunov is wrestling's unbreakable czar — the Russian-born, German-trained intensity machine whose every match plays like a war documentary. His NXT UK classics with WALTER — among the most violent championship matches WWE has ever aired — made his reputation before America met him.

As NXT Champion, he dethroned Carmelo Hayes and defended with Torpedo Moscow recklessness; his main-roster arrival maintained the standard against Gunther-tier competition. Every H-Bomb forearm lands like a mortgage payment on his own body.

Dragunov's style invoices his future for his present — and audiences cannot look away from the exchange rate. WrestleRanks voters rank him on commitment: unbesiegbar, as advertised.

Promotions

Ilja Dragunov is associated with WWE (2025–2026).

PWI rankings history

Ilja Dragunov has been ranked in the PWI 500 6 times, first at No. 113 in 2018 and most recently at No. 30 in 2024. The highest placement is No. 30, reached in 2024.

Placements by year: 2018 (No. 113), 2020 (No. 125), 2021 (No. 175), 2022 (No. 72), 2023 (No. 151), 2024 (No. 30).

Compiled from the annual rankings published by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. See the 2024 edition.

Ilja Dragunov in the WrestleRanks rankings

Ilja Dragunov is tracked as a professional wrestler on WrestleRanks. WrestleRanks standings are decided one week at a time, from fan voting and editor input. Read more about how our rankings work, or see the live, interactive profile with weekly rank history and voting on the Ilja Dragunov ranking page.

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