WWE NXT North American Champion Dragon Lee was scheduled to team with The LWO’s Cruz Del Toro and Jaoquin Wilde against the No Quarter Catch Club at tomorrow night’s WWE NXT New Year’s Evil special. Yesterday, however, Lee put out a social media post stating that, due to Visa issues, he was not going to be able to perform on the big show.
“Feliz año nuevo!” he wrote. “Sad news to kick off the year, but due to visa issues I am unable to leave Mexico right now. Por eso, I will miss @WWENXT New Years Evil… But the LWO has a big surprise for the NQCC and the NXT Universe tomorrow night.”
Haus of Wrestling has confirmed with a WWE source that Lee’s tweet is legitimate and not part of some angle that will see him make a surprise appearance at WWE NXT New Year’s Evil. Lee is not factored into tonight’s show or the advertised six-man match. We were not given an indication of if he will be replaced in the six-man, or if the match will be charged or scrapped altogether. Update: Fightful reports that Carlito has been seen ringside preparing to compete on tonight’s show and will be The LWO’s new partner.
Lee won the WWE NXT North American Championship from The Judgment Day’s “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio at NXT Deadline last month. He was a last-minute substitution for Wes Lee, who was slated for the title opportunity but had to pull out the week before due to an injury. Prior to being brought back to NXT for the title match, Lee had been drafted to the WWE SmackDown brand. As WWE NXT North American Champion, he has successfully defended the title three times, twice in NXT and once on WWE SmackDown, against The Brawling Brutes’ Butch.