Dragon Lee (wrestler): Difference between revisions

|caption=Dragon Lee in February 2017

|birthname=Muñoz Parmar González (first name not revealed)

'''Dragon Lee''' (born May 15, 1995) is a Mexican ''[[Lucha libre|luchador]] [[wrestling mask|enmascarado]]'', or masked [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler.]] He is currently signed to [[WWE]], where he performs on the [[SmackDownRaw (WWE brand)|SmackDownRaw]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]] and is a member of the [[Latino World Order]]. Dragon Lee's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.<ref name=Mondo>{{cite book | author= Madigan, Dan | title= Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling | publisher= HarperCollins Publishers | year= 2007 | chapter = Okay... what is Lucha Libre? | pages = 29–40| isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}}</ref>

The man known under the [[ring name]] Dragon Lee was born on May 15, 1995, in [[Tala, Jalisco|Tala]], in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Jalisco]], son of professional wrestler [[Toro Blanco|Arturo Muñoz]], who had worked as Toro Blanco, Poder Boriqua, Poder Mexico, and Comandante Pierroth over the years.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://Superluchas.com/rush-habla-despues-de-ganar-el-campeonato-mundial-semicompleto-del-cmll/ | title = Rush Habla después de ganar el campeonato mundial semicompleto del CMLL | date=February 25, 2011 | access-date=July 31, 2011 | last=Ruiz Glez | first= Alex | publisher =[[Súper Luchas]] Magazine | language = es}}</ref> Dragon Lee's two older brothers grew up to become professional wrestlers as well, with the oldest of the brothers, [[Rush (wrestler)|William]], making his wrestling debut in 2008 and would later become known as "Rush".<ref name=RecordRush>{{cite web | url=http://regio.record.com.mx/2011-02-22/rouge | title= Rush | access-date= July 31, 2011 | work=[[Récord (Mexican newspaper)|Récord]] | language=es|archive-date=October 3, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003032114/http://regio.record.com.mx/2011-02-22/rouge}}</ref> Another of Dragon Lee's brothers, [[Místico II|Carlos]], became a professional wrestler in 2011, adopting the ''[[wrestling mask|enmascarado]]'' (masked) character Dragon Lee initially.<ref name=ForjandounIdolo>{{cite web | url=http://www.cmll.com/forjandounidolo/charly/dragonlee/index.html | title= Dragon Lee | access-date=June 20, 2012 | work=[[Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre]] | language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513033558/http://cmll.com/forjandounidolo/charly/dragonlee/index.html | archive-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> In 2012, the original Dragon Lee was offered the opportunity to take over the Místico character after the original wrestler under the [[Místico]] mask left Mexico. It was public knowledge that Dragon Lee had taken over the Místico character, leaving the mask and character of Dragon Lee behind.<ref name=CMLLMisticoII>{{cite web |url=http://cmll.com/noticias.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615140141/http://cmll.com/noticias.htm |title=Místico con alma de Dragón.... ¡Las Amazonas del ring en jaula! |work=[[Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre]] |date=June 21, 2012 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=June 21, 2012 |language=es |url-status=dead |trans-title= Místico with the soul of a dragon... The Amazons of the ring in the cage}}</ref><ref name=WVMisticoII>{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1340476258 | title=Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly | date=June 23, 2012 | access-date=June 23, 2012 | last=Boutwell | first=Josh | work=WrestleView|archive-date=August 28, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828203919/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1340476258}}</ref> Dragon Lee's uncles are also professional wrestlers, known as [[Franco Columbo]], Pit Bull I, and Pit Bull II, and all had a hand in training Dragon Lee prior to his professional wrestling debut. At the age of 14, his father took him to [[Mexico City]] to start training in amateur wrestling, participating in several wrestling events.<ref name=DragonEntrevista>{{cite web | url=http://www.fuegoenelring.com/noticias_detalle.php?articles_id=4252 | title=Dragon Lee, la apuesta coliseína | date=May 15, 2015 | access-date=May 17, 2015 | first=Gabriel | last=Cruiz | publisher=Fuego en el Ring | language=es| archive-date=June 11, 2015 | trans-title= Dragon Lee, the Coliseo bet | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611124950/http://fuegoenelring.com/noticias_detalle.php?articles_id=4252}}</ref> He would also participate in boxing; but, as Dragon Lee recalls in a 2015 interview, during his first match he performed a [[Suplex]] (a wrestling throw) on his opponent and was disqualified. At that point he realized that his future was in ''Lucha Libre''.<ref name=DragonEntrevista/>

Lee made his [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) debut on the August 17 edition of ''[[AEW Dynamite|Dynamite]]'', participating in the first round of the [[AEW World Trios Championship#Inaugural tournament|AEW World Trios Championship tournament]], where he teamed with [[Los Ingobernables#La Facción Ingobernable|La Facción Ingobernable]] members [[Andrade El Idolo]] and his brother [[Rush (wrestler)]] to take on [[The Young Bucks]] and their mystery partner, who was revealed to be Kenny Omega. The match ended with Omega and the Bucks emerging victorious, after Omega pinned Lee. After the match, El Idolo and Rush attacked Lee and removed his mask.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/andrade-rush-attack-dragon-lee-aew-dynamite-billy-gunn-acclaimed/ | title=411Mania }}</ref>

Since August to December, his first storyline in WWE was a feud with [[Dominik Mysterio]], who was the NXT North American Champion. Lee faced Mysterio several times for the title, being defeated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Jon |date=2023-09-26 |title=Dominik Mysterio Retains NXT North American Title Against Dragon Lee On WWE Raw |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1404035/dominik-mysterio-retains-nxt-north-american-title-against-dragon-lee-on-wwe-raw/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Wrestling Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref> Lee began to appear on [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] in September and was quietly drafted to the brand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Defelice |first=Robert |date=2023-09-29 |title=Dragon Lee Appears On 9/29 WWE SmackDown, Gets Into Altercation With Austin Theory {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/dragon-lee-appears-929-wwe-smackdown-gets-altercation-austin-theory |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=www.fightful.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Jason |date=2023-09-29 |title=WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (9/29): Barnett's review of Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar for the U.S. Title, Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka, John Cena's appearance, Grayson Waller Effect with Bobby Lashley |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/09/29/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-9-29-barnetts-review-of-rey-mysterio-vs-santos-escobar-for-the-u-s-title-charlotte-flair-vs-asuka-john-cenas-appearance-grayson-waller-effect-with/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Jason |date=2023-10-06 |title=WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (10/06): Powell's review of Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and Judgment Day, Asuka and Charlotte Flair vs. Iyo Sky and Bayley, Rey Mysterio vs. Bobby Lashley in a non-title match |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/10/06/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-10-06-powells-review-of-cody-rhodes-jey-uso-and-judgment-day-asuka-and-charlotte-flair-vs-iyo-sky-and-bayley-rey-mysterio-vs-bobby-lashley-in-a-non/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Andy H. |date=2023-10-09 |title=WWE Star Quietly Moved To SmackDown Roster |url=https://whatculture.com/wwe/wwe-star-quietly-moved-to-smackdown-roster |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=WhatCulture.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Andrew |date=2023-10-09 |title=Dragon Lee listed as member of WWE SmackDown roster |url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/10/09/dragon-lee-listed-as-member-of-wwe-smackdown-roster/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=POST Wrestling {{!}} WWE AEW NXT NJPW Podcasts, News, Reviews |language=en-US}}</ref> Lee faced [[Santos Escobar]] at [[Survivor Series: WarGames (2023)|Survivor Series: WarGames]], but Lee lost the match.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Jeremy |date=2023-11-10 |title=Santos Escobar Turns On Rey Mysterio And LWO On 11/10 WWE SmackDown {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/santos-escobar-turns-rey-mysterio-and-lwo-1110-wwe-smackdown |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Fightful |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Defelice |first=Robert |date=2023-11-24 |title=Dragon Lee To Face Santos Escobar At WWE Survivor Series 2023 After Escobar Injures Carlito {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/dragon-lee-face-santos-escobar-wwe-survivor-series-2023-after-escobar-injures-carlito |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Fightful |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chiari |first=Mike |date=2023-11-26 |title=Santos Escobar Tops Dragon Lee at WWE Survivor Series After Mysterio, Carlito Attacks |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10098217-santos-escobar-tops-dragon-lee-at-wwe-survivor-series-after-mysterio-carlito-attacks |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> At [[NXT Deadline (2023)|NXT Deadline]], Lee defeated Dominik to win the [[NXT North American Championship]], marking his first title win in WWE.<ref name="Deadline2023">{{cite web|last=Moore|first=John|title=NXT Deadline results: Moore's live review of Ilja Dragunov vs. Baron Corbin for the NXT Title, Iron Survivor Challenge matches, Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee for the NA Title, Carmelo Hayes vs. Lexis King|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/12/09/nxt-deadline-results-moores-live-review-of-ilja-dragunov-vs-baron-corbin-for-the-nxt-title-iron-survivor-challenge-matches-dominik-mysterio-vs-dragon-lee-for-the-na-title-carmelo-hayes-vs-lex/|date=December 9, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref> On the December 12 episode of ''NXT'', Lee successfully defended the North American Championship in his first title defense against [[Tyler Bate]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berge|first=Kevin|title=WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights After Deadline|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10100924-wwe-nxt-results-winners-live-grades-reaction-and-highlights-after-deadline|date=13 December 2023|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref> On the January 9, 2024 episode of ''NXT'', Lee successfully retained his title against [[Brian Pillman Jr.|Lexis King]]. After the match, [[Oba Femi]] cashed in his [[NXT Breakout Tournament]] contract and defeated Lee to win the title, ending Lee's reign at 31 days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Jeremy |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Oba Femi Cashes In Breakout Tournament Contract, Wins NXT North American Title On 1/9 NXT {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/oba-femi-cashes-breakout-tournament-contract-wins-nxt-north-american-title-19-nxt |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Fightful |language=en}}</ref> On February 4 at [[NXT Vengeance Day (2024)|Vengeance Day]], Lee failed to win back the title from Femi in his rematch.<ref name="NXTVengeanceDay2024">{{cite web|last=Moore|first=John|title=NXT Vengeance Day results: Moore’s live review of Ilja Dragunov vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Title, Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Title, Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/02/04/nxt-vengeance-day-results-moores-live-review-of-ilja-dragunov-vs-trick-williams-for-the-nxt-title-lyra-valkyria-vs-roxanne-perez-for-the-nxt-womens-title-dusty-rhodes-tag-team-classic-finals/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=February 4, 2024|access-date=February 4, 2024}}</ref> On April 3 premiere episode of [[WWE Speed|''WWE Speed'']], Lee was defeated by [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]] in the [[WWE Speed Championship#Inaugural Tournament|tournament]] to crown the inaugural [[WWE Speed Championship|WWE Speed Champion]].<ref>{{Cite web |last

=Defelice |first=Robert |date=April 3, 2024 |title=RicochetLatino AndWorld BronsonOrder Reed Advance In WWE Speed Championship Tournament, JD McDonagh vs. Axiom Set For 4/10 WWE Speed {{!}} Fightful News |url(2024–present)=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ricochet-advances-wwe-speed-championship-tournament-jd-mcdonagh-vs-axiom-set-410-wwe-speed |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=Fightful |language=}}</ref>

Muñoz's "Dragon Lee" ring character is that of a ''tecnico'' or the good guy; in Lucha Libre traditional good guy/bad guy divide is still maintained much stricter than most other countries in the 21st century.<ref name=Mondo/> His wrestling style is a high speed, high flying version of Lucha Libre, where he will take higher risks than a lot of wrestlers when executing moves off the top rope or from inside the ring to the outside.<ref name=NJPW>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/profile/653 | script-title=ja:ドラゴン・リー | access-date=May 23, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja | trans-title=Dragon Lee}}</ref> ([[Professional wrestling throws#Package fallaway powerbomb|Bridging package fallaway powerbomb]])<ref name=MedioMinute>{{cite web | url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/mas-deportes/lucha-libre/noticias/2014/09/19/caida-a-caida-81-aniversario-del-cmll | title=Caída a Caída... 81 Aniversario del CMLL | author=Redaccion | work=MedioTiempo | publisher=[[MSN]] | language=es | date=September 19, 2014 | access-date=September 20, 2014 | trans-title=Fall by ball... the 81st anniversary of CMLL }}</ref><ref name=SL81>{{cite web | url=http://Superluchas.com/2014/09/19/cmll-81-aniversario-cobertura-y-resultados-atlantis-vs-ultimo-guerrero-mascara-vs-mascara/ | title=CMLL 81 aniversario (Cobertura y resultados en vivo) -Atlantis destapa a Último Guerrero | first=Eduardo | last=Cano Vela | date=September 19, 2014 | access-date=September 20, 2014 | work=[[Súper Luchas]]| language=es | trans-title=CMLL 81s Anniversary (live coverage and results) - Alantis defeats Último Guerrero }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/686588/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】「スーパージュニア」開幕 高橋ヒロムがまさかの黒星発進 | access-date=May 18, 2017 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=ja | trans-title=New Japan] "Super Junior" opening battle Takahashi Hirom charges on | archive-date=June 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140347/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/686588/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> During his long running storyline with Takahashi the two developed such a trust in each other that they were able to perform high risk moves that Dragon Lee would not be able to do against other wrestlers who would not be able to execute their part of the move safely. His high risk style has led him to often use a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frankensteiner|Running frankensteiner]] throw where he leaps over the top rope and executes the leg scissor takedown on an opponent standing on the apron, sending him to the floor. His high flying style has earned him the nickname "El Niño Maravilla" ("The Boy Wonder").<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cmll.com/?p=98254 | title=El CMLL invade Estados Unidos junto a NJPW | date=May 18, 2017 | access-date=May 22, 2017 | work=[[Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre]] | language=es | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521165313/http://cmll.com/?p=98254 | archive-date=May 21, 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

!style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=20% scope="col"|WinnerLoser (wager)

!style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=20% scope="col"|Loser (wager)Location

!style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=20% scope="col"|LocationEvent

!style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=2015% scope="col"|EventDate

!styleclass="background: #e3e3e3;unsortable" width=155% scope="col"|DateNotes

* {{wwe superstar|dragon-lee}}