WWE Rumors on Mike Santana's Contract, Gunther vs. Nick Aldis and Ilja Dragunov's Return

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Reported Details on Santana's TNA, WWE Future

After dropping the TNA World Championship to Nic Nemeth at Slammiversary over the weekend, Mike Santana is reportedly believed to be WWE-bound.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t Geno Mrosko of Cageside Seats), Santana finished his run with TNA at at Slammiversary, and he will not take part in the company's TV tapings this week, as his contract is set to expire "in the coming days."

Santana is reportedly expected to sign with WWE once he is free and clear to do so.

Santana wrestled in TNA from 2017 to 2019 before enjoying a run in AEW from 2019 to 2024, primarily in a tag team with Ortiz.

He returned to TNA in 2024 and proceeded to have the most successful singles run of his career by far, holding the TNA World Championship twice.

During his time in TNA, Santana also made a handful of appearances for WWE in NXT thanks to the working relationship between the two promotions.

Most notably, Santana faced Trick Williams in a TNA World Championship match that was won by Trick.

Given that he is already familiar to the NXT audience, it would perhaps make the most sense for Santana to start in NXT before getting called up to Raw or SmackDown.

He would provide a huge boost to a men's division that has been ravaged by main roster call-ups in recent months such as Williams, Oba Femi, Je'Von Evans, Ethan Page and Ricky Saints.

Santana would be an instant NXT Championship contender and a candidate to compete in NXT premium live events immediately.

Gunther vs. Aldis Reportedly Planned for SummerSlam

On the heels of their backstage confrontation after Night of Champions, Gunther and SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis are reportedly slated to settle their differences in the ring.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Mrosko), WWE is planning to present 13 or 14 matches over the course of the two-night SummerSlam premium live event on Aug. 1 and 2, and one of them is expected to be Gunther vs. Aldis.

Gunther vied for the WWE Championship at Night of Champions in a Triple Threat against Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn.

Zayn shockingly won the title by pinning Rhodes, meaning Gunther technically lost the match without being pinned or submitted.

He previously fell to Rhodes in a singles match at Clash in Italy, but it happened under controversial circumstances, as his foot was under the rope during the pinfall.

Gunther was granted a rematch on SmackDown as a result, and he chose Zayn to be the special guest referee, but Zayn ruined the match by getting physical with Gunther.

All of that led to mounting frustration for The Ring General, and it exploded after Night of Champions when he and Aldis got into a shoving match.

On Raw, it was announced that Aldis was placed on administrative leave, which suggested that WWE was moving forward with the Gunther vs. Aldis storyline.

While Aldis has not wrestled a match in WWE since joining the company in 2023, he is an accomplished in-ring performer, having held both the TNA world title and NWA world title.

Gunther figures to be the overwhelming favorite at SummerSlam, but Aldis will have the opportunity to prove he can still go even after a few years away from in-ring competition.

Dragunov Reportedly Expected Back on WWE TV Soon

Ilja Dragunov has not been seen on WWE programming since April, but his absence reportedly may soon come to an end.

According to Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t Mrosko), Dragunov is expected back in the fold "sooner rather than later."

After missing over a year due to a knee injury, Dragunov returned to action in October 2025, answering Sam Zayn's United States Championship open challenge and beating him for the title.

Dragunov was a regular presence on SmackDown in the weeks and months that followed, but he dropped the U.S. title to Carmelo Hayes in December.

He also fell short in rematches against Hayes in January and March, which essentially spelled the end of his prominence on the blue brand.

Dragunov was last seen participating in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal the night before WrestleMania 42 in April.

Trick Williams is the current United States champion, and given that they had a long-running and highly entertaining rivalry in NXT, it could make sense for Dragunov to target him once he returns.

Regardless of what the plans are for Dragunov, the product is typically better when he is involved due to his intense in-ring style.