Sports · Other Sports · 5 hrs ago
Ilja Dragunov says visa process delayed his AEW debut by about a month
Ilja Dragunov made his AEW debut at WrestleDream 2026 after waiting for his US visa to be renewed.
The wrestler said he had applied for US visas before, so the process was familiar to him.
The visa process took about a month, which felt long to him but was quick in perspective.
Dragunov said AEW helped him throughout the process and that it went smoothly.
He learned his visa was ready while he was in Germany, where he checked his email and saw his passport was set.
He arranged travel quickly and flew back to the US within seven hours of contacting the company.
His account explains why his debut happened when it did; no further steps were described.
Ilja Dragunov said the process to renew his US visa delayed his AEW debut by about a month.
He said AEW helped him through the process and described it as smooth.
Dragunov learned his visa was ready while he was in Germany, then arranged to return to the United States.
He said he was on a flight back to the United States within about seven hours.
Dragunov made his AEW debut at WrestleDream 2026 this past weekend.
- Who
- Ilja Dragunov, professional wrestler.
- What
- He said a visa renewal process delayed his AEW debut by about a month.
- When
- He debuted at WrestleDream 2026 this past weekend. He discussed the delay on Tuesday afternoon.
- Where
- He learned his visa was ready while in Germany and flew back to the United States.
- Why
- His US visa needed to be renewed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dragunov's visa process delayed his AEW debut.
Dragunov learned by email that his visa was ready.
Dragunov boarded a flight back to the United States.
Dragunov made his AEW debut at WrestleDream 2026.
- Visa process
- About one month
- Flight booking and departure
- Within about seven hours
- Visa-ready notification
- Middle of the night in Germany
- Debut event
- AEW WrestleDream 2026
- Debut timing
- This past weekend
What people are saying
It took around, I guess, around a month, which was still too long for me, but...if put in perspective, very fast.
So it was absolutely smooth.