Bandido has no shortage of major names on his list of potential All Elite Wrestling opponents, but two stand above the rest for the masked star: Kenny Omega and newly signed AEW talent Ilja Dragunov.
Speaking in a recent interview with Good Karma Wrestling, Bandido was asked to name his top dream matches within AEW. He immediately pointed to Omega, one of the defining performers of the company’s history, before also naming Dragunov. Bandido and Dragunov have shared time together before through Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Bandido made clear that he would welcome the opportunity to revisit that connection on a much larger stage.
“Well, I always say Kenny Omega will be one of my biggest top names,” Bandido said. “But now I share a time with the new guy who came to the company in the past in PWG. His name is Ilja Dragunov. So probably that would be good for me to have singles with him. Yeah, I would love to have singles with him too.”
Omega remains a major target for Bandido
Bandido naming Omega comes as little surprise. Omega has long been viewed as a benchmark-level opponent for wrestlers who want to test themselves against the very best in a high-profile singles setting. His body of work has made him an aspirational matchup for talent across multiple promotions and styles, and Bandido’s comments place him among those eager to share the ring with the former world champion.
For more background on this topic, read Bandido Explains Why His Chemistry With Brody King Has Made Brodido So Effective.
A singles match between Bandido and Omega would bring together two wrestlers known for creativity, explosive athleticism, and a willingness to build matches around momentum swings. Bandido has established himself as a standout lucha libre performer whose power-based offense is as notable as his aerial ability. Omega, meanwhile, has built a reputation on delivering matches that blend technical wrestling, speed, drama, and escalating physicality.
It is also a matchup that carries clear appeal beyond the moves each man could bring to it. Bandido’s career has been defined by his ability to make audiences quickly invest in his underdog spirit and remarkable bursts of offense. Omega is a wrestler who often forces opponents to raise their game, particularly when a match is presented as a meaningful competitive encounter rather than simply a showcase. That contrast could make their potential meeting feel significant from the opening bell.
Bandido has already faced prominent competition since joining AEW, including MJF and Andrade El Idolo. Those bouts reflect the level of talent he has been able to stand across the ring from during his time with the company. Adding Omega to that list would represent another major singles opportunity and a chance for Bandido to measure himself against a performer he plainly regards as one of AEW’s biggest names.
A prior PWG connection with Ilja Dragunov
Dragunov’s arrival in AEW has also immediately created fresh possibilities for the roster, and Bandido sees a singles match with him as one of them. Rather than naming Dragunov solely because of the excitement surrounding a new signing, Bandido pointed to their prior shared time in PWG. That history gives the proposed encounter an added layer that is distinct from a first-time dream match.
Bandido did not provide details about a particular prior match or rivalry with Dragunov. Still, his reference to PWG indicates familiarity with Dragunov as a performer and an appreciation for what a one-on-one contest could offer. For fans who followed both wrestlers before their respective AEW tenures, the prospect of seeing them meet in singles competition would carry the sense of two internationally established talents finally being positioned within the same major company environment.
On paper, the styles offer a compelling contrast. Bandido’s offense can be sudden, inventive, and spectacular, with strength that frequently catches opponents off guard. Dragunov is widely associated with an intense, punishing approach and an all-or-nothing level of physical commitment. A match between them could naturally revolve around whether Bandido’s speed and unpredictability can keep Dragunov from imposing his relentless pace, or whether Dragunov can turn the contest into the type of rugged fight that limits Bandido’s ability to take flight.
There is also an important difference in what the two named opponents represent. Omega is the established marquee dream opponent, the kind of match that can be promoted as a clash between two elite-level performers from different wrestling backgrounds. Dragunov represents a newer chapter for AEW, and a match with Bandido could help introduce the possibilities created by Dragunov entering a roster already filled with stylistic variety.
Bandido’s place in AEW’s deep singles landscape
Bandido’s comments underline just how many potential directions remain available to him in AEW. The company’s roster includes wrestlers with backgrounds across lucha libre, independent wrestling, international competition, and major American promotions. Bandido has shown that he can fit comfortably into a variety of match structures, whether the assignment calls for a high-speed showcase, a character-driven encounter, or a hard-hitting bout with a top opponent.
That versatility matters when considering either Omega or Dragunov. The Omega match could lean into ambition and athletic one-upmanship, with Bandido trying to prove that he belongs alongside one of the promotion’s most decorated names. The Dragunov match could be driven by shared history and the challenge of adapting to Dragunov’s intensity. Neither needs an elaborate premise to be interesting, although either could be elevated by the right stakes if AEW chooses to pursue it.
For Bandido, the goal appears straightforward: he wants meaningful singles opportunities against wrestlers he respects. His wording about Omega identifies him as a long-standing top name in Bandido’s mind. His comments about Dragunov carry a different kind of enthusiasm, rooted in the fact that their careers have already crossed paths in PWG and can now potentially intersect again in AEW.
Dream-match conversations can sometimes be treated as little more than fantasy booking, but they also reveal how wrestlers view their own paths. Bandido’s choices suggest he is looking in two directions at once. He wants to face an established AEW standard-bearer in Omega, while also welcoming a fresh matchup with Dragunov following the latter’s arrival in the promotion. Both choices are logical for a wrestler who has already been in the ring with names such as MJF and Andrade El Idolo and continues to seek new ways to stand out.
Two possible showcase matches for AEW
There is no indication that either Bandido vs. Omega or Bandido vs. Dragunov has been scheduled. Bandido was answering a question about opponents he would like to face, not announcing an upcoming program. Even so, the matches are easy to understand as potential attractions should AEW decide to move in either direction.
Omega against Bandido would be built around prestige, pace, and the possibility of a dynamic athletic contest. Dragunov against Bandido would offer a more unusual collision of styles, enhanced by their previous proximity in PWG and Dragunov’s status as a new AEW signing. Both could provide Bandido with a major platform, while giving AEW two distinctly different singles matchups to explore.
For now, Bandido has made his preferences known. Kenny Omega remains one of his biggest desired opponents, while Ilja Dragunov has quickly joined that list as a wrestler Bandido would “love” to face in singles competition. With both names now attached to Bandido’s AEW wish list, the question is whether either dream match eventually becomes reality.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.