Ilja Dragunov’s arrival in AEW has immediately opened the door to a number of high-profile first-time and renewed rivalries. One matchup that has already drawn attention is a possible rematch with Kyle Fletcher, a wrestler Dragunov knew well before either man reached his current stage on the international scene.
Dragunov made his AEW debut appearance at WrestleDream, where he was introduced to the audience but did not compete. His first match for the promotion is scheduled for the October 21 edition of AEW Dynamite, when he will face Speedball Mike Bailey. While that bout represents the first major test of Dragunov’s AEW run, the former WWE and wXw standout has also addressed the possibility of revisiting a past encounter with Fletcher.
For Dragunov, the appeal is not merely that Fletcher has become one of AEW’s prominent performers. It is the fact that both wrestlers have changed substantially since they spent time working around the German independent wrestling circuit.
“Because he’s simply just an entirely progressed version of the last time that I’ve seen him,” Dragunov said. “We spend a lot of time on the German indies because in times where he wasn’t in the tag team as the Aussie Open. They spent some time in Germany. I spent my time there with wXw as well. We were touring together. It was like years ago, and then when our way split it up and I signed, he signed, he did his thing.”
For more background on this topic, read Ilja Dragunov Calls Bandido ‘Straight Out Of A Video Game’ Ahead Of AEW Dynamite Debut.
A shared foundation in Germany
Before their paths took them to larger promotions and more visible platforms, Dragunov and Fletcher crossed paths during an important formative period for both men. Dragunov was heavily associated with wXw and the German scene, where his intense, physical style helped build the reputation that would eventually carry him to WWE. Fletcher, meanwhile, spent time in Germany during stretches away from his work as part of Aussie Open.
That history gives a potential rematch an element that many prospective AEW pairings do not have. The two competitors are not strangers being matched for the first time because of rankings, faction conflict, or a passing verbal confrontation. They have familiarity with each other’s earlier work, their previous environments, and the versions of themselves that existed before their respective careers accelerated.
Fletcher has continued to establish himself as a major singles presence in AEW after gaining broad recognition as one half of Aussie Open. Dragunov, in turn, arrives with a reputation built on relentless physicality, emotional urgency, and an ability to turn major matches into deeply personal contests. Their previous association gives any future meeting a natural story: two wrestlers who have already seen one another at an earlier stage now measuring how far each has come.
Dragunov made clear that his interest is rooted in Fletcher’s development as much as his own. He pointed to the difference between the wrestler he knew on the German independents and the performer Fletcher has become after following his own route through the industry.
“Like to see from the person that he was to the person that he has become, it’s like incredible,” Dragunov said. “Like he definitely made the most out of everything that he got, and I did the same thing. I grew. I’m a different performer than I have been.”
Why the matchup has changed
Rematches in professional wrestling can often lean on a simple question of unfinished business. Dragunov’s comments suggest something more layered in this case. He is not presenting a match with Fletcher as a chance to merely recreate their earlier work. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity to find out what happens when two wrestlers with common history meet again after developing in different directions.
Fletcher’s rise has included a transition from acclaimed tag-team competitor to a featured individual wrestler, with his confidence and presence becoming increasingly central to his presentation. Dragunov’s own evolution has taken place under the pressure of high-stakes competition and major-event expectations. Both men have spent years refining their identities, and both have built reputations around delivering with force and intensity.
That is what makes the proposed rematch compelling from Dragunov’s perspective. The past provides context, but it does not dictate what the match would look like now. Their earlier experiences together were shaped by a different point in each man’s career. A new meeting would bring the added weight of their growth, their accumulated accomplishments, and the expectations that come with competing on a national and international television platform.
“To see what happens when these two performers will go at it one more time, another time, it’s intriguing,” Dragunov said.
There is no announced date for a Dragunov vs. Fletcher rematch, and there is no indication that the match is immediately planned. Still, Fletcher’s name is a notable one for Dragunov to raise as he begins his AEW tenure. It signals that Dragunov is looking beyond the novelty of his debut and toward the kind of opponent-driven matches that can define his place in the company.
Dragunov’s AEW debut begins with Speedball Mike Bailey
Before any renewed clash with Fletcher can become a reality, Dragunov faces a challenging in-ring introduction against Speedball Mike Bailey on Dynamite. Bailey’s speed, striking, and unpredictable pace make him a demanding opponent for any debuting talent, particularly a wrestler attempting to make an immediate impression in a new environment.
The Bailey match also offers a useful first look at how Dragunov’s style translates within AEW. Dragunov is known for approaching matches with exceptional urgency, whether he is absorbing punishment, escalating a striking exchange, or pushing toward a decisive finish. Bailey presents a contrast in movement and tempo, which could make the encounter an effective showcase for both wrestlers’ strengths.
More importantly, the bout places Dragunov directly into active competition rather than allowing his debut to remain solely an entrance or announcement. WrestleDream introduced him to the AEW audience. The match against Bailey begins the process of establishing where he fits in the company’s competitive landscape.
That process will naturally invite speculation about the opponents and rivalries that could follow. Fletcher is an obvious candidate because of their shared history, but Dragunov’s comments did not frame the possibility as a demand or a guaranteed next step. He described it as an intriguing collision between two performers whose careers have progressed significantly since their days touring German independent events.
A future collision with built-in stakes
In a roster filled with potential dream matches, a Fletcher rematch stands apart for Dragunov because it carries a personal professional timeline. Both wrestlers have firsthand knowledge of the other’s earlier potential. Neither is evaluating the other solely through recent television appearances or championship pursuits. They were present, in different capacities, during a period when both were still building toward bigger opportunities.
That shared past can give a future match a strong foundation without requiring either wrestler to rely on nostalgia. The central question would be current tense: who are Dragunov and Fletcher now, and what happens when those current versions finally meet? Dragunov’s answer is that the unknown is precisely what makes it worth exploring.
For now, Dragunov’s focus turns to Mike Bailey and his official AEW in-ring debut. But his words on Fletcher have already added another possible destination to his new chapter. Should AEW bring the former German independent-scene contemporaries together again, it would be a rematch defined not by repetition, but by transformation.
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.