Backstage Update on Ilja Dragunov’s Departure From WWE

As noted before, Ilja Dragunov’s contract with WWE recently expired and has departed from the company.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Dragunov’s contract had officially expired on August 20th and confirmed that he is a free agent.

In regards to Dragunov’s abscense from WWE since this past April, Meltzer reported that those spoken to within WWE gave several different answers when asked over the past several months about his status.

Meltzer reported that the only answer that he got when asked was that Dragunov was not injured but WWE creative was not using him. Meltzer also reported that some of those spoken to stated that WWE creative simply had nothing for him for plans while others spoken to stated that they were specifically told that he was unavailable to be used.

In regards to Dragunov’s expired contract, Meltzer reported that Dragunov had been initially signed to what was described as a very good contract that was coming due but talks between him and WWE were far enough apart that WWE officials made the decision this past April to not use him anymore.

Meltzer reported that due to Dragnov’s contract had expired and was not released, he is currently free to work anywhere he wants due to him not being under a non-compete clause.