Ilja Rukober
Acting
- Born:
- 1993-10-10
- Place of birth:
- Moscow, Russia
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
AEW WrestleDream 2026
Royal Rumble 2026
WWE Best of Raw 2024 Special
WWE NXT Spring Breakin' 2024 - Week 1
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2024
WWE Speed
NXT Vengeance Day 2024
NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 – Night 2
NXT No Mercy 2023
NXT The Great American Bash 2023
NXT Battleground 2023
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2023
NXT Halloween Havoc 2022
NXT TakeOver 36
The Best of WWE: 10 Best Matches of 2020
PROGRESS Chapter 103: Beer Snake City
WWE Worlds Collide
PROGRESS Chapter 99: With A Flake, Please
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff
PROGRESS Chapter 89: 26th May 1988
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 3
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 2
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 1
PROGRESS Chapter 83: Remove Child Before Ironing
PROGRESS Chapter 81: Pour Some PROGRESS On Me
PROGRESS Chapter 80: Gods and Monsters
PROGRESS Chapter 78: 24 Hour PROGRESS People
PROGRESS Chapter 76: Hello Wembley
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage Two
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage One
wXw Superstars Of Wrestling 2018
wXw True Colors 2018
wXw Broken Rules XVI
WXW Fans Appreciation Nite 2016
WWE Main Event
WWE NXT
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
Raw