WWE hoped to keep Ilja Dragunov under contract, but he had decided to leave, according to False Finish.
The report states the company wanted Dragunov to remain even before his deal ran out, and that the decision to go was his.
Dragunov last wrestled during WrestleMania 42 weekend and then came off television with no injury update or on-screen explanation. He trained at the Hart Dungeon during the months WWE went without using him. Earlier reporting said his name rarely came up backstage, and that his light merchandise sales worked against him as the company leaned further into analytics.
WWE moved the former United States Champion to the Alumni section of its website once the contract expired.