Jason Lee has established himself as one of the very best junior wrestlers in the world as he’s only improved more and more since joining DRAGONGATE in 2017. In 2022, the NATURAL VIBES member experienced an up-and-down journey to find himself a new faction after MASQUERADE ended. Shun Skywalker tried his hardest to add Lee to Z-Brats, but Lee ultimately ended up as a member of NATURAL VIBES and the rest is history.
A Kobe World 2022, Lee teamed with Jacky Funky Kamei to defeat Diamante and Shun Skywalker to win the Open The Twin Gate Championships. Most recently, Lee won the Open The Brave Gate Championship for the first time in his career by defeating Minorita at Champion Gate in Osaka.
He’s preparing to make his first defense against former champion Dragon Dia at Dead Or Alive on May 5.
Ahead of the match, Scott Edwards and the Five Star Network’s Kay Quinn, Amy Hay, Sondre Bjorn, Xavi, and Dylan Fox had a chance to interview Jason Lee! He discussed a number of topics including becoming Open The Brave Gate Champion, his time in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic, an opponent he’d like to fight outside of DRAGONGATE, and so much more.
Here’s what Jason Lee had to say:
Do you think there is room for more crossover between the style of martial arts often seen in Hong Kong and Chinese action films and pro wrestling? Not just with a singular martial artist/wrestler such as yourself, but the grander scope of pro wrestling as a whole?
Lee: Yes, I think there are many opportunities and chances to crossover martial arts, Chinese action movies, and pro wrestling. Usually, I watch some Chinese kung fu movies again and again to see if I can get some ideas from it. But yeah I wish Chinese wrestling to grow strong someday just like Japan or USA .
You’ve often said the Open The Brave Gate Championship was the title you always wanted in DRAGONGATE. Now that he has it what does he hope to accomplish with the belt? Anyone you’d like to defend against?
Lee: Yes. Been six years. I was waiting for this moment. I mean my weight is still not enough for the Open The Dream Gate Championship but I am working on it. But yeah I was so happy to become champion. Also, I wanna make a new image for the Open The Brave Gate Championship. Like when people talk about DRAGONGATE’s single title, I don’t want them to just talk about the Dream Gate. I need to make a big impact on the image of the Brave Gate Championship. I would like to defend against Dragon Kid.
You’ve been in MaxiMum, DRAGONGATE Generation, MASQUERADE, and now NATURAL VIBES as well as Kung Fu Masters. How do you adjust to the always-changing faction landscape of DRAGONGATE? Furthermore, how did being in all these different units with different wrestlers mold you as a wrestler? Were you able to learn something from every faction you’ve been a part of?
Lee: That’s what DRAGONGATE pro wrestling is. The unit wars! It always feels fresh when joining new units. For me, the costume is the best thing about this. Just like the new color on my body. Yes. I learn a lot when teaming with different wrestlers. Like the style and the move set.
How did you decide to become a wrestler?
Lee: Probably just like everyone else. Watched on TV when I was a kid. My brother told me to watch wrestling with him. And then just started loving it. Then I said to myself, ‘I gotta do this one day!’
Which wrestler did you most look up to when you started and which one do you most look up to now?
Lee: There’s actually a lot. Shawn Michaels for USA. Dragon Kid for Japan. But for now, if it is good wrestling, I watch it.
You have wrestled in a variety of different promotions, most notably HKWF, CWE, ZERO1, and of course DRAGONGATE. How would you say that your style changed from promotion to promotion?
Lee: Train hard and work hard for the style I can. It was very hard to change from one promotion to another. But for me, if I have a chance and opportunity I will work hard to try to fit in.
What was your goal when you first became a wrestler and what is your goal now?
Lee: I mean when I first became a wrestler, I wasn’t full-time. My goal for pro wrestling was to become a full-timer, which I am doing now. For now, my goal is to go up my weight and be strong enough to challenge for the Dream Gate.
What is your favorite match that you have ever had and why?
Lee: Kobe World 2022, Diamante & Shun Skywalker vs. Jacky Funky Kamei & Jason Lee. We both tried so hard in this match to become the Open The Twin Gate Champions. And I was surprised everyone enjoyed it so much! Thank you very much .
You have had a wide variety of tag team partners over the years. Which one would you say you work best with? Is there someone you would like to tag with in the future?
Lee: I think it is (Kota) Minoura. I had good chemistry with him in DRAGONGATE Generation and MASQUERADE. Well, I had good chemistry with Jacky Funky Kamei too but in the past, if I have a choice, it would be Minoura. I was thinking Jason Lee and Minoura would be a next-generation SPEED MUSCLE.
Around this time last year, you were in a rather different position. What was it like being fought over by those three factions? What did you feel like at the time? How would you say you have changed since then?
Lee: Yes. I felt I got more self-confident. And I felt I really belong to this company.
Shun Skywalker, who you have a very complicated history with, is the current Dream Gate champion. What do you think about him now?
Lee: He is a strong wrestler. That is the only thing I can say. I mean what he did in the past. I’m not really sure about him.
Are there any former faction members of yours that you would like to be in a faction with again?
Lee: Yes. Minoura I guess? Or former faction MaxiMuM.
If he could choose any DRAGONGATE talent to face in America in a special one-on-one DRAGONGATE showcase match similar to SBK/Estrella last year, who would he choose and why?
Lee: To be honest. It’s really hard to choose. But I would pick Jacky Funky Kamei because we always fight as a team and make Kung Fu Masters. I would like to face him and bring our style to the USA.
The Brave Gate scene is really heating up since you became champion! After your defense against Dragon Dia, is there anyone in particular you’re eager to wrestle?
Lee: Whoever wants to challenge, whoever can challenge. Just bring it. But first of all, I need to focus on the (Dragon) Dia match.
Who would you like to defend the Brave Gate Championship against from abroad?
Lee: Jonathan Gresham. In 2012, I had a match with him in Hong Kong. And now 2023 we both changed a lot. Seems he is doing really good too. So I would like to have a match with him again.
Do you have any personal goals in wrestling for 2023?
Lee: Since 2023 is a good start for me and now I am the Brave Gate Champion, I want to defend my title as long as I can to make a new defending record for the championship.
DRAGONGATE has inspired a number of Joshi wrestlers, most notably Mayu Iwatani! Are there any Joshi wrestlers that you’re currently a fan of?
Lee: I watch women’s wrestling too. Sometimes I can get an idea out of it. No special one actually. I just focus on good wrestling.
What do you think of the newest rookie class and which would be your choice to join Natural Vibes?
Lee: They are really awesome and doing great. I think Nagano would fit in. I mean is there anything better than soccer and dance?
You competed as part of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. How was that experience and what did you learn from it?
Lee: I think it helped my emotions and how to not get nervous. I always tell myself “I wrestled in WWE, why would I still get nervous?” That helps me anytime.
We’d like to thank Jason Lee for taking the time to answer our questions and take part in our interview. A huge thanks goes to Ho Ho Lun as well for helping the Five Star Network make this happen.
We also want to thank Chiyoko for their help with this interview. Chiyoko helped me translate the questions from English to Japanese.
You can follow Chiyoko on Twitter here: @chiyoko_asakura
Be sure to follow Jason Lee on Twitter: @lee_7122
You can check out Jason Lee’s first Open The Brave Gate Championship defense on the DRAGONGATE Network.
Like DRAGONGATE? Want to learn more about it? Check out the Five Star Network’s Dramatic Dream Dragons podcast!
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