WWE News Roundup before SmackDown Tonight: Ilja Dragunov's exit; injury update on Sami Zayn; Tag Team division & more
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The Mad Dragon last appeared on SmackDown in April.
According to a report from PWInsider, Ilja Dragunov’s contract with WWE has expired, and he has been moved to the alumni section. The former United States Champion has been absent from programming since April, when he partook in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
On the other hand, False Finish provided more updates on Ilja’s exit. The outlet reported that WWE was keen to reach a new agreement with Dragunov before his contract expired this month.
Additionally, according to F4WOnline’s Bryan Alvarez, WWE and Dragunov were still “strongly negotiating a return” as recently as June. Alvarez also revealed that “a few other main roster contracts” belonging to WWE Superstars who haven’t appeared on TV much are set to expire in October.
Sami Zayn’s injury update
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Sami Zayn is dealing with a legitimate injury, which is the reason behind the former Undisputed Champion not participating in matches after SummerSlam.
Zayn revealed during a backstage segment on the August 7 episode of SmackDown that he had suffered a broken bone in his hand. Now, a new report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider confirmed that the injury is legitimate and not part of a storyline.
“I have a broken bone in my hand, but if I didn’t…
Understand this, Punk. If I didn’t, I would break your face right now.” Zayn said to Punk in the segment also featuring Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae.
Tag Team refresh & Lola Vice’s main roster debut
The tag team division on the Blue brand is poised for a refresh, according to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, which reports that Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiromu Takahashi are expected to be positioned as top challengers on the SmackDown brand. Fraxiom is also in line for increased television time.
Meanwhile, on WWE Raw, the team of Ethan Page and Rusev is expected to take on a more prominent role. Notably, despite recently returning on Main Event, The Creed Brothers have not been discussed as potential challengers to The Vision.
Regarding Lola Vice, TRNBCKL Gold, WWE has already produced Lola Vice’s first main roster vignette, suggesting her NXT call-up could be made official very soon. The vignette is expected to make a strong first impression. Vice is expected to join the SmackDown roster, but there is no confirmation of that.
Has Ilja Dragunov left WWE?
Yes, multiple reports have confirmed Dragunov’s exit from WWE.
Is Sami Zayn legitimately injured?
Yes, PWInsider has confirmed that Zayn is dealing with a legitimate injury, which is why he has not wrestled since SummerSlam.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.