WWE Reports Ilja Dragunov Nears Return After Yearlong ACL Recovery

Ilja Dragunov is nearing a full recovery from his torn ACL and is expected to return to WWE's Monday Night Raw roster soon, potentially reigniting his storied rivalry with Gunther. WWE tends to avoid featuring injured talent in on-screen roles during their recovery due to contractual reasons; specifically, their contracts typically freeze during injury periods, allowing WWE to extend contracts accordingly. However, if injured wrestlers appear regularly on television, the contract freeze does not apply, which has led WWE to be selective in using injured performers on-screen. This approach also aligns with WWE's strategy to maximize the impact of a wrestler's return by debuting them only once fully cleared. Additionally, WWE has several talented superstars like Zelina Vega and Jacob Fatu who are seen as needing better storylines and pushes, highlighting ongoing creative decisions amid injuries and roster management. These insights reflect WWE's balancing act between talent utilization, contractual management, and storyline development.