Dragon Lee’s WWE contract may be winding down, but don’t expect the company to let him walk without a fight. A new update suggests WWE sees Lee as far too valuable to lose, especially with its growing relationship with AAA.
During a WrestleVotes Q&A, JoeyVotes and TC were asked about Dragon Lee’s reported contract situation and whether WWE is worried about keeping him. Their answer was pretty straightforward—WWE wants him to stay, and now it’s all about whether both sides can agree on the money.
JoeyVotes pointed to the way WWE has booked Lee over the last several months as proof that the company views him as an important part of the roster. Between teaming with AJ Styles, wrestling at WrestleMania and consistently getting opportunities on television, he believes WWE has already shown how highly it values him.
“WWE’d want to keep him. The role he’s been on in the last couple of months—they put him in a tag team with AJ Styles to raise his stock. It worked. He’s been on WrestleMania, and he’s had great matches. They’re in the business of keeping this guy.”
TC agreed but said the real deciding factor will be contract negotiations. According to him, WWE will make Dragon Lee an offer, and the ball will ultimately be in Lee’s court if he feels it doesn’t reflect his value.
“They’re gonna give him an offer, and if Lee feels it’s not up to what he deserves, then that’s where they part. That’s the playbook WWE and TKO are gonna be running.”
He also argued that Dragon Lee has become even more valuable because of WWE’s ownership of AAA. In TC’s opinion, Lee brings a unique combination of in-ring ability, presentation and crossover appeal that makes him someone WWE should be trying hard to keep.
“Dragon Lee has value. He has more value than Ilja Dragunov. He’s got a gimmick, a look, and lucha ability where you can use him in the AAA setting. With the AAA ownership, that’s not a guy you want to lose.”
TC stated that WWE does not want to move on from Lee at all. As far as he’s concerned, the only question is whether the two sides can agree on a number before his current deal expires.
“So it comes down to what number is in front of him. If he doesn’t accept, that’s when the decision is made. He’s someone they want to have and not someone they’re gonna say, ‘No thanks’ to.”
This comes after recent reports that both Dragon Lee and his brother Dralistico are nearing the end of their current contracts, with the brothers also trademarking the name “Hermanos Lee.” While that led to speculation about what could be next, this report paints a picture of WWE doing everything it can to make sure Dragon Lee doesn’t go anywhere.
With Dragon Lee continuing to receive meaningful television time and WWE placing a greater emphasis on AAA, the company appears to have plenty of reasons to keep him around. Now it all comes down to whether both sides can reach an agreement before his current contract runs out.
If Dragon Lee does hit free agency, where do you think he’d have the biggest impact—staying with WWE or testing the market? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
