2 Reasons Tony Khan should sign Ilja Dragunov to AEW and 2 reasons he should avoid doing so

Tony Khan is known for signing top talent to AEW, and recent ex-WWE star Ilja Dragunov could be a prospect. Earlier today, PWInsider reported that The Mad Dragon’s WWE contract was already up and he had departed the company.

The Mad Dragon rose to prominence as one of the hard-hitting wrestlers of this generation. He signed with WWE in 2019 and had a remarkable run in NXT UK and then in NXT, which led to his call-up to the main roster in 2024. After a good start on RAW, Dragunov was sidelined with a torn ACL injury for a year. He returned to WWE on the October 17, 2025 episode of SmackDown, and won the United States title from Sami Zayn in his first match back in the Stamford-based promotion.

He had begun his resurgence; however, Dragunov was not seen on WWE television after April 2026. Due to his contract expiring, Dragunov is a free agent and could head to rival company AEW. At the same time, Tony Khan signing Dragunov might not be such a great idea.

So, here are two reasons Khan should sign him and two reasons he should not make this move:

#1. Should Sign – Potential for multiple exciting matches

There is no denying the exceptional in-ring acumen of Ilja Dragunov, which he proved time and time again during his run in WWE. The former WWE United States Champion produced stellar in-ring showdowns against top names like Gunther, Sami Zayn, Carmelo Hayes and more. He could bring his hard-hitting style to All Elite Wrestling if they sign him and deliver amazing matches against the talents there.

One of them could be the rising star, Kyle Fletcher. The Protostar and The Mad Dragon had squared off in their sole singles match at PROGRESS Chapter 100 in 2019, and Fletcher hinted at one more dance and Dragunov’s arrival to AEW right after the news of his WWE departure broke. Another top showdown could be against AEW top star MJF, who recently fired shots at him on social media.

Apart from them, Ilja Dragunov could test his mettle against legendary superstars currently signed to Tony Khan’s company. These could be names like Adam Copeland and Chris Jericho, who are still at the top of their game and could deliver highly exhilarating matches against the recently departed WWE star.

#2. Should not sign – Ilja Dragunov has not proven to be good at cutting promos

Ilja Dragunov has proven his worth as an in-ring competitor in WWE. However, the same could not be said when it comes to an important aspect that makes a wrestler a top attraction in the Sports Entertainment business: promo delivery. As seen during the majority of The Mad Dragon’s run, he was hardly given time on the microphone, and whenever he did get it, Dragunov’s promo skills failed to reach the same level as his in-ring talent. This led to his failure to become a major name, and the same could happen if he signs with AEW, which is a big reason Tony Khan should not bring him on board.

#3. Should sign – Capitalize on potential wasted by WWE

Ilja Dragunov has been credited by many as a ‘star in the making’ during his run in WWE after impressive stints in NXT UK, NXT, and SmackDown. However, WWE failed to capitalize on his immense potential because of lackluster booking and months off television. Tony Khan could succeed where his competitor failed and bring Dragunov to his roster to build him up as a top star, much like ex-WWE stars such as Swerve Strickland and Toni Storm, both of whom had less-than-impressive WWE runs and later became marquee names for the Jacksonville-based company.

#4. Should not sign – Stacked roster

While Ilja Dragunov is a top prospect for Tony Khan to sign to All Elite Wrestling, a major roadblock could be their current stacked roster. The AEW head honcho has signed a lot of talent over the years, and many of them have been lost in the shuffle. In fact, multiple wrestlers are still signed with the promotion, not being featured on television and still being paid by Khan. According to a recent report by Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez, Khan does not cut talent from his roster, like WWE does every year. Alvarez also added that he was given the impression that several AEW wrestlers would not be released, but the promotion would just let their contracts expire.

“I’ve been given the impression that there are a lot of AEW contracts he’s not gonna cut, but they are just going to quietly expire, probably like a lot of people.” – H/T Ringside News

The same could happen with a talent like Ilja Dragunov. If he signs with AEW, he could be used well for a while, but then be sidelined on the bench due to limited TV spots or poor creative booking and eventually released from the company.