Ryu 'Dragon' Lee Sent Home Before NJPW Tour?

Lee becomes a free agent this December.

Ryu Lee Dragon Lee
NJPW

Ryu Lee was recently sent home from Japan only a couple of days into an attempted quarantine.

As reported by Joe Lanza and Rich Kraetsch on the latest Voices of Wrestling Flagship podcast, the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion was in the country sometime prior to New Japan Pro Wrestling announcing this year's Best of the Super Juniors participants on 2 November, but left for unknown reasons, his quarantine seemingly abandoned.

VOW's source is an NJPW wrestler who knows Lee. Upon digging further, and speaking with people connected to the situation in Lee's native Mexico, VOW was unable to unearth the reason behind the wrestler leaving Japan so soon after arrival.

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The 25-year-old (who also competes as Dragon Lee) tweeted the following on 8 October, hinting at his BOSJ participation:-

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Lee was not named amongst the wrestlers involved in the tournament.

Former WWE announcer Hugo Savinovich claimed earlier this month that the promotion was interested in signing Lee when his Ring Of Honor contract expires in the first week of December. Lee hasn't wrestled at all during the pandemic, having worked his last match for ROH on 29 February's Gateway To Honor show.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.