Ilja Dragunov’s arrival in All Elite Wrestling has immediately added a major new dimension to the company’s singles roster, and the former NXT Champion has made clear that watching familiar faces find renewed energy in AEW played a meaningful part in opening his eyes to the opportunity.
Dragunov debuted for AEW at WrestleDream, arriving only two months after his departure from WWE. His first match for the promotion came in the main event of the October 21 edition of AEW Dynamite, where he defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey. While Dragunov did not leave that first bout with championship gold, being positioned in a Dynamite main event at the outset of his run was a significant statement about the role AEW sees for him.
The intensity of that presentation fits Dragunov’s established identity. Throughout his rise in WWE and NXT, Dragunov became known for an unrelenting, physical style and for treating every major match as a personal test of endurance and will. His move to AEW now gives him a new group of opponents, a new audience, and a chance to build on that reputation in a different environment.
The New Level’s momentum stood out to Dragunov
Before Dragunov made the jump, Kofi and Austin Creed had already made an impact following their own move from WWE to AEW. Competing together as The New Level, the duo made an immediate splash at All In, teaming with Swerve Strickland to win the Trios Championship on their first night in the company.
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The championship reign did not extend beyond WrestleDream, where The New Level and Strickland lost the titles. Even so, their fast start and their visible enthusiasm in a new setting caught the attention of Dragunov, who had shared time with both men during his WWE tenure.
Speaking about whether The New Level’s early AEW success made the promotion more appealing, Dragunov did not downplay its effect.
“I mean, it would be a lie if it wouldn’t, right?” Dragunov said. “You see people perform in a way that they didn’t perform in a while anymore. I can tell, hopefully, or just feel, or can try to imagine a certain happiness if I watch them, what they’re doing, and just reconnecting with these people that you shared some time with. You can just tell that it’s definitely a new place and something they appreciate [being] a part of.”
Dragunov’s comments are notable not simply because he acknowledged the influence of other former WWE talent, but because he focused on the way they were performing. His description was not centered only on titles or television time. Instead, he pointed to the feeling that Kofi and Creed were operating with a fresh sense of enjoyment and purpose.
That can be an important consideration for any wrestler evaluating a career change. A promotion’s championship structure, schedule, roster depth, and financial terms all matter, but performers also pay attention to how their peers are presented and whether they appear energized by the work. For Dragunov, seeing two people he already knew embrace their new situation provided a personal point of reference.
A rapid start for AEW’s newest acquisition
Dragunov’s own first weeks in AEW have reflected the kind of opportunity he saw The New Level receive. Debuting at WrestleDream put him on one of the company’s biggest stages. Following that appearance with a televised main event against Bailey ensured that his in-ring introduction was not treated as a minor attraction.
Bailey was a particularly fitting opponent for Dragunov’s first AEW match. Both wrestlers have reputations for high-impact, high-output performances, and both are capable of turning a singles contest into a showcase for toughness, urgency, and athletic creativity. Dragunov’s victory established him as a credible force immediately while also giving viewers a clear look at the kind of bouts he can bring to the AEW ring.
There is still a great deal to be determined about his direction. Dragunov has not yet won a championship in AEW, and one victory does not define a full run. However, the choice to place him in the Dynamite main event so early suggests the company intends to present him as more than a new signing who needs months to settle into the roster.
AEW has a deep collection of potential opponents for Dragunov across its championship divisions. Whether he ultimately pursues singles gold, becomes involved in one of the promotion’s more personal rivalries, or crosses paths with allies and rivals from his past, his style gives him a natural fit in a company built around major in-ring confrontations.
From familiar connections to a new chapter
Dragunov’s remarks also underline the human side of roster movement in professional wrestling. Wrestlers do not make career decisions in isolation. They talk to peers, observe what happens after other talent changes promotions, and measure whether a different locker room might offer possibilities that suit them better at a particular moment.
Kofi and Creed were not abstract examples for Dragunov. They were colleagues with whom he had existing connections. Seeing them reconnect, perform differently, and appear to appreciate their AEW roles made the prospect more tangible than simply watching from a distance.
The New Level’s title loss at WrestleDream does not erase the impact of their arrival. Winning the Trios Championship alongside Strickland at All In immediately placed them in a major position, and their continued presence gives AEW another established tandem with a history of success and a clear identity. Their next move after the WrestleDream defeat will be important, particularly with Dragunov now also occupying space in the same promotion.
There is no indication that Dragunov’s AEW decision was based on a single factor. His comments instead paint a picture of a wrestler who saw colleagues thriving and recognized a setting in which he could pursue his own next chapter. The fact that he has already been entrusted with a featured match supports the belief that AEW can offer him a platform commensurate with his reputation.
Contract talk remains unconfirmed
Dragunov’s arrival and The New Level’s move have also been surrounded by discussion regarding the circumstances of their WWE exits. There have been rumors that both departures were connected to contract issues. In The New Level’s case, it has been reported that the team was asked to accept a pay reduction of more than 50 percent.
Those details remain reported and rumored rather than confirmed by the wrestlers in the comments at hand. Dragunov did not use his remarks about Kofi and Creed to lay out contract negotiations or provide a detailed account of why he left WWE. His focus was on their AEW performances and the happiness he believed he could see in their work.
That distinction matters. The available information supports that Dragunov was influenced by observing people he knew find a new spark after arriving in AEW. It does not establish every factor behind his departure, nor does it confirm the specifics of the contract reports that have circulated around the moves.
Dragunov now has the chance to make his own statement
For now, the clearest story is happening in the ring. Dragunov has entered AEW with the attention that follows a former NXT Champion and has backed up that attention with a main-event win over Mike Bailey. The New Level’s experience offered him evidence that a change of scenery could lead to something meaningful. Now he has the opportunity to show what that change can mean for his own career.
His debut stretch has created immediate expectations. AEW audiences have seen him arrive at WrestleDream and then prevail in a demanding Dynamite main event. The next challenge will be maintaining that momentum as the roster responds to his presence and as he identifies the championship or rivalry that will define the first major phase of his run.
Dragunov’s assessment of Kofi and Creed was ultimately simple: he saw performers who looked revived by their surroundings. After one high-profile victory of his own, he appears to be entering AEW with a similarly clear sense of possibility.
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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.