Ilja Dragunov Reflects On Final Stretch Of WWE Run, Decision To Join AEW

After weeks of rumors and reports, Ilja Dragunov is officially "All Elite." The former WWE Superstar made his AEW debut at the WrestleDream pay-per-view on October 17, and has already had a successful in-ring debut against "Speedball" Mike Bailey on "AEW Dynamite." His move to AEW comes after a seven year run with WWE that did see the "Mad Dragon" see success, but according to the man himself, could have ended a lot better.

Dragunov recently spoke to The Takedown on Sports Illustrated, and admitted that he needed to breathe new air after his return from injury in October of last year.

"It has been a very complicated time for me because, you see, I came back from an ACL tear that happened in the most unexciting way possible. I worked myself through rehab and was training very hard, and was very dedicated. I came back, and I won the United States Championship basically on my return, which was an awesome, memorable moment. But then certain times, like after I dropped the belt and I was going through my next performances, I felt like I felt in my gut things are different. And I don't blame anybody. I'm a gentleman and I have way too much respect for the last seven years that I the most of my 20s that I spent with the company. But I felt like it is fine for me and reasonable to ask myself, 'Is there more? Is there a new air I can breathe?'" 

Dragunov has been open about his departure from WWE since his arrival in AEW, stating that he didn't feel that WWE's renewed contract offer was enough for him to commit his future there, and decided to take his talents elsewhere. It's not yet known the length of his AEW contract, though AEW fans will be hoping he sticks around for many years to come.

Please credit "The Takedown" when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.