More on Dragon Lee Signing with WWE

As noted before, Dragon Lee announced during this past Wednesday’s Lucha Libre AAA’s Noche de Campeones 2022 event that he had signed an official contract with WWE.

Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that his sources stated that Lee had signed a deal with WWE several weeks ago but both sides kept it quiet until AAA’s recent event as part of the terms of the deal. Meltzer reported that AEW CEO Tony Khan had been made aware beforehand of Lee’s signing with WWE and AAA officials’ decision to have him be the person to pin FTR to win the AAA World Tag Team Championship.

Meltzer speculated that due to AAA co-owner Dorian Roldan publicly praising Lee on his signing on social media, AAA might be looking at forming a working partnership with WWE in the future. In a follow-up, Meltzer responded to LuchaBlog on Twitter stating that he did not mean to imply that AAA’s current working relationship with AEW is now over but the dynamics of their partnership has now changed due to AAA’s rumored openness to WWE.

Lee’s decision to sign with WWE reportedly was based on him feeling that it was time to make a new move for his career both for momentary reasons and his current situation in Mexico. Lee reportedly wanted to work more in New Japan Pro Wrestling but that was no longer an option due to issues regarding NJPW’s partnership with CMLL and him working for CMLL’s rival.

Meltzer also confirmed LuchaBlog’s report about WWE had became interested in signing Lee once they learned that he was not under contract when he made his appearance on an AEW Dynamite show this past August.

In regards to Lee’s contract with WWE, Meltzer reported that his sources stated that it was for NXT type money and not main roster type money.

Fightful Select provided more details reporting that their sources stated that NJPW being very loyal to their partnership with CMLL was the reason why they decided against signing a new deal with him. Those spoken to reportedly also stated that Lee had asked others if he should go to AEW or WWE and was told by most of them that WWE would be a better fit. Those spoken to reportedly also stated that Lee’s NXT deal will be paying him more than he was typically making in Mexico.

In regards to the reaction within WWE over Lee’s signing, WrestleVotes reported that their sources stated that WWE officials are currently hopeful that Lee’s signing with be the start of them signing more high quality “standout” talents in early 2023.