Rey Mysterio Endorses Dragon Lee: A Passing of the Lucha Torch in WWE:
In the illustrious realm of WWE, Rey Mysterio stands as a living legend, boasting a remarkable 34-year career that has left an indelible mark on the wrestling landscape. Now, the Master of the 619 is not just basking in the glory of his own legacy but actively endorsing a rising superstar who is carving his own path to the zenith of the company.
Dragon Lee, a second-generation pro wrestler, made his debut in the world of professional wrestling on January 1, 2014, and swiftly ascended to success with stints in renowned promotions such as CMLL, AAA, NJPW, and ROH, among others. After a brief appearance in AEW in August 2022, WWE secured the talents of this emerging star by the end of the same year. His journey with the Stamford-based promotion began in January, marked by a heated feud with Dominik Mysterio, culminating in the capture of the NXT North American Championship from Dirty Dom on December 9 at Deadline.
The synergy between Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio first unfolded in a backstage SmackDown segment in July, a moment that foreshadowed a deeper connection between the two. Rey Mysterio, the Hall of Famer, played a pivotal role by standing in Dragon Lee’s corner during his first title shot against Dominik, an encounter that saw the Judgment Day member retain in August. The emotional celebration between the legendary Mysterio and the newly crowned Lee after his title win at Deadline was a poignant testament to the bond they had forged.
Rey Mysterio’s recent appearance on Bakers Bantering further solidified the mentor-mentee relationship, as he showered Dragon Lee with effusive praise. The legendary Mysterio’s words carry weight, especially in light of previous reports hinting at significant push plans for Lee, with the added allure of Rey’s coveted endorsement.
Despite the recent setback of losing the North American Title to Oba Femi, Dragon Lee’s journey continues with resilience. While he maintains his presence on NXT, the fast-track elevation to SmackDown in October underscores WWE’s recognition of his immense potential. The masked marvel has even been hailed as “the next Rey Mysterio” by some within the WWE, a title that signifies not just a comparison in style but a passing of the Lucha torch from one generation to the next.
As the WWE Universe witnesses the ascension of Dragon Lee and embraces the endorsement from a living legend like Rey Mysterio, the emotional and fiery undertones of this evolving narrative add depth to the ongoing saga, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next chapters in the story of these two Lucha luminaries.
he legendary Mysterio recently appeared on Bakers Bantering and heaped major praise on Lee.
“I see a lot of a young me in Dragon Lee. He is very unique with his style. Of course, he carries a tradition of lucha libre, which is the mask. The mask represents something way beyond just putting on a mask. It transforms you. It gives you a certain power of representation to our culture, representation to our sport. Overall, he has the heart and determination to go in the ring and put it all on the line. I’ve seen that every time he steps in the ring.”
“I endorse, myself, Dragon Lee, to be the next superstar within WWE that’s a luchador. It’s been quite a while. We’ve had several luchadors in WWE that have been given opportunities, but Dragon Lee is captivating and taking full advantage of this opportunity. He already beat Dominik for the North American Title. You can already see he’s going very big,” Mysterio said. [H/T Fightful]
