Ilja Dragunov

Ilja Dragunov is a Russian professional wrestler signed with WWE. He is the current NXT Champion and a former NXT United Kingdom Champion. Besides WWE, Dragunov is known for his work in promotions such as Westside Xtreme Wrestling, and Progress Wrestling. He is currently signed to WWE.

Early Life

Rukober was born in Moscow, Russia on October 10th, 1993. When he was five years old, Rukober migrated from Russia to Germany alongside his mother. However, neither of the two could speak in the German language before that migration. He would go on to work in pizza parlors and gas stations to provide for his family before finally breaking out in pro wrestling.

Professional Wrestling Career

Early Years (2012-2019)

In 2012, Rukober made his professional wrestling debut and began working for wXw. Rukober worked for several American and European circuits and won several championships before signing with WWE. He started his career at the German Wrestling Federation training school. He made his in-ring debut in 2012 and the next year, Rukober made his debut in wXw. He would go on to be a part of the company's roster until being signed by WWE.

In 2018, Ilja Dragunov made his first appearance on Progress Wrestling. The wXw General Manager Christian Michael Jakobi challenged Pete Dunne on Dragunov's behalf and the latter finally made his presence felt at Chapter 69. At Chapter 72, Dunne accepted the challenge. On October 1, Dragunov lost to Pete Dunne in his debut match at Progress. Dragunov kicked off 2019 with a victory over Timothy Thatcher at Chapter 83, but his appearances remained sporadic until the Super Strong Style 16 tournament. He started strong, defeating Chris Brookes and Trevor Lee in quick succession. However, his momentum stalled in the semi-finals, falling to a three-way elimination against David Starr and Travis Banks.

Determined to climb the ranks, Dragunov secured a number one contender's match for the Unified World Championship by defeating Jordan Devlin at Chapter 91. But his title aspirations were dashed the next day, as he suffered a defeat to the imposing champion, Walter. Later in the year, Dragunov participated in the rumble for the newly established Proteus Championship. He entered early and eliminated several opponents before being simultaneously eliminated by William Eaver in a dramatic turn of events.

The final months of 2019 saw him embroiled in a heated rivalry with Cara Noir. The two traded wins at Chapter 96 and Chapter 97, captivating audiences with their hard-hitting encounters. Their feud culminated in a brutal two-out-of-three falls match at Chapter 99, where Dragunov ultimately fell short. Despite the setbacks, Dragunov's 2019 in Progress Wrestling was a testament to his talent and tenacity. He showcased his skill and determination against some of the best in the world, solidifying himself as a force to be reckoned with on the independent scene.

WWE (2019-Present)

In 2019, Rukober signed with WWE and began working for NXT UK. they later renamed him Ilja Dragunov and lost to Cesaro at TakeOver Cardiff. Later, he joined forces with Gallus during their feud with Imperium. At World's Collide, he was defeated by Finn Balor. After the shows restarted in the UK, Dragunov entered the Heritage Cup and lost. In September, he faced Walter and lost. The match received five stars from Dave Meltzer. At TakeOver 36, Dragunov defeated Walter and won the United Kingdom Championship. He held the title for 319 days before relinquishing it due to an injury.

He returned to the programming on the September 20 episode of NXT, where he interrupted a segment between the NXT Champion Bron Breakker and his challenger JD McDonagh. At Halloween Havoc, he was unsuccessful in winning the NXT Champion from Breakker in a match that also involved JD McDonagh. At Stand and Deliver, he challenged for the NXT North American Championship against the champion Wes Lee in a Fatal Five Way match that also involved JD McDonagh, Dragon Lee, and Axiom. At NXT Battleground in May 2023, he defeated Dijak in a Last-Man Standing Match.

In July 2023, he defeated Breakker to get a match against the NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. At Great American Bash, he failed to defeat Breakker for the title. In September 2023, he defeated Wes Lee to get another shot at the title. This time, he defeated Carmelo Hayes at NXT No Mercy to become the new NXT Champion. He became only the second wrestler after Bron Breakker to win both the NXT Championship and NXT UK Championship. However, as Breakker unified the two titles, he is not considered to having won the NXT UK Championship, making Dragunov the only star who is recognised to have won the both titles. On the October 10 episode of NXT, he retained the title against NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio. At Halloween Havoc, he defeated Carmelo Hayes to retain the title.

Following the match, he was attacked by Baron Corbin, setting up a match at NXT Deadline.

Championships and Accomplishments

Ilja Dragunov Net Worth

As per various sources, Ilja Dragunov is worth around at least $5 Million in 2023. Click here to learn more about the net worth of the Russian WWE Superstar.

Ilja Dragunov Wife

Ilja Dragunov got married on December 17, 2021 and shared the news with his fans on social media. However, he has tend to keep his personal life private including the name and information about his wife.