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Clear Sign Triple H Will Never Push Ex-Champion As The “Top Guy” In WWE

By Gaurav Singh • Published Jun 06, 2026 05:56 EDT
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Triple H is the current Chief Content Officer of WWE - Source: WWE.com

WWE CCO, Triple H might never push a former United States Champion as a top star, according to the latest speculation. The ex-champion in question is Ilja Dragunov.

Ilja Dragunov has been with WWE since 2019 and started in developmental, where he held the NXT and NXT UK titles once during his tenure. In 2024, The Mad Dragon was called up to the main roster. He also had an amazing United States title reign during his time on SmackDown.

Dragunov last competed in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal in April. As of now, there is no announcement regarding his return date.

Triple H and WWE apparently don’t see the ex-champion as a “top guy”

Speaking on the Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer speculated that the ex-US Champion, Ilja Dragunov is seen as an interchangeable mid-card guy by Triple H and WWE creative:

I just think that they’ve got other guys that they got storylines now for and, you know, I mean, it’s like you add some people and some people get lost in the shuffle. He’s, to them, he, you know, yeah, he’s a unique character, but he is an interchangeable mid card guy. And, you know, I mean, you can do something with him and you can bring him back, but they got a lot of guys like that.”

Meltzer also noted that WWE doesn’t see Ilja as a top guy because of his lack of promo abilities:

They don’t see him as a top guy. They just don’t. He’s never really had the opportunity to be anything more than the guy who, you know, gives you really, really great matches. He’s got a level of intensity that no one else has, which is his calling card. But I think that maybe they feel that, you know, the promos aren’t great, you know, as long-term order promos that the guys that they favor.”

Meltzer concluded by deeming Ilja Dragunov “unique”:

He’s very unique, and I think that the fact that he can go out there and bring something out of the crowd because no one else works like that in AEW or WWE, that could be a calling card because he could be memorable and different. It could be the guy where he comes out and you’re going like, okay, we’re going to see an intensity that we don’t get anybody else’s matches because that is what he potentially can bring.”            [H/T Ringside News]

Only time will tell when Ilja Dragunov will be back on TV.