Backstage News On RAW Wrestler’s Absence

By AG

Posted on June 12, 2025

• Backstage News On RAW Wrestler’s Absence

Ilja Dragunov continues to recover from injury, with no confirmed return date yet, though he’s been putting in heavy work at the WWE Performance Center. Back in January, Corey Brennan first reported that Dragunov was seen at the Performance Center. Later, on March 31, PWN noted that September was the tentative target for his in-ring return. More recently, WrestleVotes shared that Dragunov was still at the Performance Center as of six weeks ago, although it’s unclear if he has resumed any in-ring work.

Sources have since told Cory Hays that Dragunov has been rehabbing intensely—multiple times per day—in an effort to return as quickly as possible. However, as of now, no firm date for his return has been finalized.

• WWE’s New Plan For The Draft

WWE usually holds the Draft after WrestleMania, but that isn’t the case this year. According to Bodyslam, WWE is currently aiming to hold this year’s Draft sometime in September, following major events like SummerSlam or Clash In Paris. This timing would match up with WWE’s usual pattern of launching new “Season Premieres” for RAW and SmackDown around that period.

With several recent NXT call-ups already adjusting the roster, there appears to be little urgency for an earlier shake-up. As of now, no exact date has been confirmed.

• WWE Officials Praised NXT Star Last Night

This week’s NXT kicked off with WWE LFG season 1 winner Jasper Troy attacking NXT Champion Oba Femi in the parking lot. Jasper slammed Oba onto a car windshield.

Later in the main event, Femi managed to defeated Troy to retain the NXT Championship.

According to Cory Hays, WWE officials praised Troy’s performance in this match.