On December 28th it was confirmed that Dragon Lee had signed a deal to join WWE in January 2023.
The 27-year-old star made the announcement just minutes after winning the AAA Tag Team Titles from FTR alongside his brother Dralistico. Immediately after the victory, the pair vacated their newly won titles with Lee revealing he was heading to WWE.
It was believed that Lee would be working in NXT from January, but as of February 6th, he is yet to make his debut.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has now revealed that this isn’t through a lack of trying on WWE’s part. Meltzer reported that the company wanted Lee to make his debut at NXT Vengeance Day on February 4th, but was prevented from appearing due to visa issues.
“I’m sure they wanted to introduce Dragon Lee [at NXT Vengeance Day} but he’s having visa issues so he’s not there yet.”
Dragon Lee made his debut with CMLL in January 2014 before making his Ring of Honor debut two years later. The second-generation star also found success in New Japan Pro Wrestling where he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. More recently, Lee appeared on AEW Dynamite, teaming with his other brother RUSH and Andrade El Idolo in defeat to The Elite in the AEW World Trios Title Tournament.
WWE NXT Stars Heading Out Onto The Independent Circuit?
Meltzer also expanded on reports that NXT will be working with independent promotions in the future. Ivy Nile is set to appear with Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion, and speaking after Vengeance Day, Shawn Michaels said that it will be a “one-time thing.”
However, Meltzer claimed that “several other companies” have been talked to, but any further partnerships are dependent on the deal with Reality of Wrestling working out.
“From what I understand, as far as the Reality of Wrestling goes, they expect that they will be able to get some NXT stars from time to time.
There are several other companies that have been talked to with the idea that they may be able to get NXT stars but the Booker T thing has to go well. And if it goes well there are other companies. And I think that they’re targeting companies that have a good relationship with AEW and see what they can do, that’s part of it, of course, too.”
H/t to f4wonline