Three must see Dragon Lee matches before he hits WWE

Dragon Lee has a catalog of amazing matches and these three stand out as worthwhile reference content before he lands in WWE NXT.

Dragon Lee is a talented performer and these are three matches to see his greatness before he reports to WWE NXT.

2023 is shaping up to be a major year in professional wrestling. WWE is looking to rebuild its roster with talented, young performers as it builds toward the future. Dragon Lee is an individual that fits right into that space. Many fans were excited by the news that he signed with WWE, while some were skeptical. One thing that can’t be denied is the talent that Lee has shown throughout his career. These are three matches that both big fans of Dragon Lee and casual viewers should rewatch before he reports to WWE NXT.

Dragon Lee vs Will Ospreay

New Japan Pro Wrestling – June 9, 2019

Will Ospreay is widely considered one of the top wrestlers in the industry today. Many would tag him as the best in the business. Even though he doesn’t perform for WWE or isn’t an AEW-signed talent, Ospreay consistently puts on some of the highest-rated matches, and he does it almost every time he steps into the ring. That trend was also present in 2019 when he and Dragon Lee faced off during an episode of NJPW Dominion.

Heading into this match, Lee was the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. He held that title for 64 days, winning it at ROH/NJPW Supercard and defending it once again Taiji Ishimori. Ospreay brought that championship run to an end at this event. The two men battled for 20 minutes in what was an insanely paced match. The two men brought a perfect mix of strikes, ground wrestling, and top-rope antics that stole the show. This is a must-see for anyone with access to the New Japan World streaming service.

Dragon Lee vs Bandido

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla – September 22, 2019

Bandido was another top prospect that was on the market in 2022. AEW snatched him up after an appearance on Dynamite, but there were rumors that WWE was interested in his services as well. The match that he and Dragon Lee had during the Battle of Los Angeles Tournament in 2019 highlights exactly why any company would want both men signed to full-time deals.

The two men started out showing respect, but it wasn’t long before they put the full set of their Lucha skills on display. That included a beautiful moonsault from the top to the outside by Bandido and Lee blasting Bandido with strikes. The finishing sequence included an X-Plex from the top rope, but that wouldn’t stop Bandido from hitting an impressive series of German Suplexes to pick up the win and move onto the finals.

Dragon Lee vs Shingo Takagi

New Japan Pro Wrestling – May 23, 2019

Shingo Takagi is a name that fans recognize from the heavyweight scene in NJPW, but before then he was a power junior heavyweight. Part of that run included matches against Dragon Lee and their battle during the Best of the Super Junior Tournament in 2019 is another that both old and new fans should relive.

This is another example of a junior heavyweight match that wasn’t only about top rope techniques but featured the hard-hitting style that is commonplace in NJPW. The two men played off each other well, mixing in techniques while changing up things to give the fans something new to see. After 17 minutes, Takagi picked up a big win that helped elevate him to the status that fans see today.

Dragon Lee is a big signing for the WWE and fans should go back to watch his earlier performances to get a strong understanding of why he’s such a coveted wrestler.