Ilja Rukober
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 10, 1993 (age 33)
- Birthplace
- 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
Photos
Filmography
Royal Rumble 2026
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
AEW WrestleDream 2026
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
AEW Full Gear 2026
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
WWE Best of Raw 2024 Special
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
NXT Vengeance Day 2024
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2024
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Spring Breakin' 2024 - Week 1
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
WWE Speed
TV · as Ilja Dragunov · 1 ep
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2023
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
NXT Battleground 2023
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
NXT The Great American Bash 2023
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
NXT No Mercy 2023
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 – Night 2
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
All Elite Wrestling: Collision
TV · as Ilja Dragunov · 1 ep
NXT Halloween Havoc 2022
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
NXT TakeOver 36
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
WWE Worlds Collide
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
The Best of WWE: 10 Best Matches of 2020
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
PROGRESS Chapter 103: Beer Snake City
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
PROGRESS Chapter 83: Remove Child Before Ironing
Movie · as Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 1
Movie · as Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 2
Movie · as Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 88: Super Strong Style 16 - Day 3
Movie · as Himself
NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff
Movie
PROGRESS Chapter 99: With A Flake, Please
Movie
PROGRESS Chapter 89: 26th May 1988
Movie · as Davey American
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
TV · as Ilja Dragunov · 3 eps
wXw Superstars Of Wrestling 2018
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
wXw True Colors 2018
Movie
PROGRESS Chapter 76: Hello Wembley
Movie · as Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 80: Gods and Monsters
Movie · as Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 81: Pour Some PROGRESS On Me
Movie · as Himself
PROGRESS Chapter 78: 24 Hour PROGRESS People
Movie · as Himself
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage One
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage Two
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
WXW Fans Appreciation Nite 2016
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
wXw Broken Rules XVI
Movie · as Ilja Dragunov
WWE Main Event
TV · as Ilja Dragunov · 2 eps
WWE NXT
TV · as Ilja Dragonov, Ilja Dragunov · 1 ep
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
TV · as Ilja Dragunov · 22 eps
Raw
TV · as Ilja Dragunov · 7 eps