Acting
Ilja Rukober
EN, DE cinema · 33 credits
Born
10 October 1993 (age 33)
Birthplace
Moscow, Russia
Also known as Ilja Dragunov · Davey American
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
Royal Rumble 2026
as Ilja Dragunov
AEW WrestleDream 2026
as Ilja Dragunov
WWE Best of Raw 2024 Special
as Ilja Dragunov
NXT Vengeance Day 2024
as Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2024
as Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Spring Breakin' 2024 - Week 1
as Ilja Dragunov
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2023
as Ilja Dragunov
NXT Battleground 2023
as Ilja Dragunov
NXT The Great American Bash 2023
as Ilja Dragunov
NXT No Mercy 2023
as Ilja Dragunov
NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 – Night 2
as Ilja Dragunov
NXT Halloween Havoc 2022
as Ilja Dragunov
NXT TakeOver 36
as Ilja Dragunov
WWE Worlds Collide
as Ilja Dragunov
The Best of WWE: 10 Best Matches of 2020
as Ilja Dragunov
PROGRESS Chapter 103: Beer Snake City
2020
PROGRESS Chapter 103: Beer Snake City
as Ilja Dragunov
PROGRESS Chapter 89: 26th May 1988
as Davey American
wXw Superstars Of Wrestling 2018
2018
wXw Superstars Of Wrestling 2018
as Ilja Dragunov
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage One
as Ilja Dragunov
PWG: 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage Two
as Ilja Dragunov
WXW Fans Appreciation Nite 2016
2016
WXW Fans Appreciation Nite 2016
as Ilja Dragunov
wXw Broken Rules XVI
as Ilja Dragunov