Ilja Rukober
Ilja Rukober is a Russian-German professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ilja Dragunov. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), making his debut at WrestleDream in October 2026 after a seven-year run with WWE. During his time in WWE, Dragunov established himself as one of the company’s most intense and accomplished competitors, becoming NXT Champion, NXT United Kingdom Champion, and WWE United States Champion. His acclaimed rivalry with Walter spanned multiple promotions, with Dragunov eventually ending Walter’s historic NXT United Kingdom Championship reign in 2021.
Prior to WWE, Dragunov became a standout on the European independent circuit, particularly in Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), where he won the 16 Carat Gold tournament and became the first wrestler to complete the wXw Triple Crown, holding the Unified World Wrestling Championship, World Tag Team Championship three times, and Shotgun Championship twice. His rise continued internationally, and in 2024 he was ranked No. 30 in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500.
Photos
Movies (33)
AEW WrestleDream 2026
2026 · Ilja Dragunov
Royal Rumble 2026
2026 · Ilja Dragunov
WWE Best of Raw 2024 Special
2025 · Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Spring Breakin' 2024 - Week 1
2024 · Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2024
2024 · Ilja Dragunov
NXT Vengeance Day 2024
2024 · Ilja Dragunov
NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 – Night 2
2023 · Ilja Dragunov
NXT No Mercy 2023
2023 · Ilja Dragunov
NXT The Great American Bash 2023
2023 · Ilja Dragunov
NXT Battleground 2023
2023 · Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2023
2023 · Ilja Dragunov
NXT Halloween Havoc 2022
2022 · Ilja Dragunov
NXT TakeOver 36
2021 · Ilja Dragunov
The Best of WWE: 10 Best Matches of 2020
2020 · Ilja Dragunov
PROGRESS Chapter 103: Beer Snake City
2020 · Ilja Dragunov
WWE Worlds Collide
2020 · Ilja Dragunov
PROGRESS Chapter 99: With A Flake, Please
2019
NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff
2019
PROGRESS Chapter 89: 26th May 1988
2019 · Davey American
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 3
2019 · Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 2
2019 · Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 1
2019 · Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 83: Remove Child Before Ironing
2019 · Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 81: Pour Some PROGRESS On Me
2018 · Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 80: Gods and Monsters
2018 · Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 78: 24 Hour PROGRESS People
2018 · Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 76: Hello Wembley
2018 · Himself
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage Two
2018 · Ilja Dragunov
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage One
2018 · Ilja Dragunov
wXw Superstars Of Wrestling 2018
2018 · Ilja Dragunov
wXw True Colors 2018
2018
wXw Broken Rules XVI
2016 · Ilja Dragunov
WXW Fans Appreciation Nite 2016
2016 · Ilja Dragunov
