Ilja Dragunov Reveals Why He Let WWE Contract Expire
“It's been a very complicated time for me. But you see, I came back from my ACL tear...[which] that happened in the most unexciting way possible. I worked my way through three rehabs, and was training very hard and was very dedicated. I came back, and I won the United States Championship, basically on my return, which was an awesome, memorable moment. But then, at certain times after I dropped the belt and I was going through my next performances, I felt...just like, in my gut, things are different. And I don't blame anybody.— Ilja Dragunov
Ilja Dragunov has begun his AEW tenure with strong performances. He made a notable debut at AEW WrestleDream and followed up by defeating Mike Bailey on AEW Dynamite a few days later. In a recent interview Dragunov discussed his decision to let his WWE contract expire.
He revealed that he had contemplated a career change for some time before the contract ended. Dragunov described the period as complicated and recalled returning from an ACL tear that occurred in an unexciting manner. He completed three rehabs while training hard and dedicated himself fully to the process.
Upon his return he won the United States Championship in a memorable moment. After dropping the title and continuing with subsequent performances he sensed in his gut that things felt different. Dragunov stated he does not blame anyone and holds too much respect for the seven years he spent with the company during most of his 20s.
He explained it felt reasonable to ask himself if there was more and if a new era existed where he could breathe. Since walking through the curtain at WrestleDream Dragunov has described feeling freedom and expressed satisfaction with how his AEW debut has unfolded.
Source: Wrestling Inc
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