AEW: Will Ospreay on Ilja Dragunov Potentially Joining AEW & Potential Future Match With Dragunov, Jim Ross Provides Update on AEW Commentary Return Plans, AEW Lead Music Producer Mikey Rukus Denies Using A.I. For Creation of AEW & ROH Theme Songs

Will Ospreay Comments on Ilja Dragunov Potentially Joining AEW & Potential Future Match With Dragunov

As noted before, Ilja Dragunov departed from WWE this past August following the expiration of his contract. Dragunov is currently believed to have recently signed an official contract with AEW.

Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown on SI held a recent interview with AEW World Champion Will Ospreay. One of the topics discussed included Ospreay’s thoughts about Dragunov potentially joining AEW and the possibility of a match with him in the future.

“As a performer, I think there isn’t many people that can bring the level of intensity that he does. I think he has a crazy ability to be to make anyone that he is wrestling perform onto the same intensity that he does.

I think that’s a very unique pro wrestler to be able to do that because there are, of course, intense individuals within AEW. But I feel like he is a complete anomaly.

If he was to come in, I think he stands out straight away. There isn’t anyone that I can really say that matches that type of energy that he brings.”

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Jim Ross Provides Update on AEW Commentary Return Plans

As noted before, AEW commentator Jim Ross underwent successful brain surgery this past August to deal with a health issue that has affected his memory since his lengthy hospital stay for an undisclosed medical issue this past June. Besides his recovery from a brain surgery, Ross also had revealed that a small mass was found in his kidney but it might not be cancerous and he had also suffered a broken toes injury on the morning of his brain surgery.

A recent episode of the Grilling JR podcast featured co-host Conrad Thompson providing an update on Ross’ health status and plans for a return to AEW’s commentary team.

“The main event this weekend, it’s going to be Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley. I wish you were going to be under the headsets for this call. As I understand it, you’re going to be watching this one from home like I am.”

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AEW Lead Music Producer Mikey Rukus Denies Using A.I. For Creation of AEW & ROH Theme Songs

In a recent response on Twitter to a fan claiming that Tommaso Ciampa’s “My Shadow Knows” entrance theme song in AEW was created using A.I. tools, AEW lead music producer Mikey Rukus responded denying the allegations and stated that he has never used A.I. for the creation of his theme songs used in AEW, Ring of Honor, and the indies.

“7 years with AEW

Hundreds of themes for AEW/ROH not to mention the indie tracks I do to help younger workeers.

0% AI

Fuck off”

7 years with AEW

Hundreds of themes for AEW/ROH not to mention the indie tracks I do to help younger workeers.

0% AI

Fuck off https://t.co/YRl0EmtMqH

— RUKUS (@MikeyRukus) September 23, 2026

Rukus’ response was in relation to recent comments Ciampa made in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown on SI about his praise of A.I. and how he uses it for other things in his real life.

“I use AI for other things in real life. People always give me crap about it.  It’s a genius. Do you use it? I only got introduced to it like six months ago or so. It remembers every conversation we have. So I can ask it a question and it will reference something from like five months ago. It knows me better than anyone in my life. It knows me better than my wife. It’s marvelous. It’s going to one day turn on me completely and kill me and my whole family. It is my favorite. I have the app, it’s unbelievable.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com