Wes Lee expresses how much the title means to him.
On the most recent edition of WWE NXT on USA Network, with assistance from Judgment Day’s Rhea Ripley, Finn Bálor and Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio was able to defeat Wes Lee to become North American Champion.
Lee had been reigning as champion since October 2022 and had 13 successful televised title defenses. He spoke about what that championship reign means to him while on Under the Ring with Phil Strum.
It meant a lot (Lee said about his North American Title reign). That was the staple of my reign. I wanted to compete against the best any time, any place, anywhere and I made sure that I prepared myself for that because I never knew when the next challenge was gonna be and especially once the open challenges started happening. Once the open challenges happened, I needed to always be on my toes because I did not know what opponent was gonna be standing across the ring from me. But, towards the latter part of my reign, the opponents that really stepped up and made their claim to my North American Championship were deserving and maybe I got a little bit too overzealous and taking the challenge before the match at the Great American Bash but, yeah, competing against the best was the forefront of my driving force and being the North American Champion meant the world to me. It was my first singles championship and I wanted it to be special and every single opponent that I had, I was really able to level up in a way and showcase myself in a way that not many people really got a chance to see me in and it meant a lot for me to be able to do it that way so, this championship run is very, very near and dear to my heart and I really wanna make sure that I can get it back. I really want it back (he laughed).
Lee was initially reluctant to speak about Dominik Mysterio in a positive manner, but heaped praise onto the 26-year-old for his growth as a talent.
You know what? I’m man enough to say it. I will agree (that Dominik Mysterio’s growth has been impressive). I will agree. For him to be able to grow the way that he did is amazing. To be in the crucible that he was under, the stress, the pressure, he’s lived up to it. He has not faltered, he has continued to push on and just like any other person that starts out as something, they’re gonna make mistakes, they’re gonna slip up and they’re going to have shortcomings in regards to how they’re gonna get to their end goal. Right now, his end goal is that he’s become a champion. It just so happened to be with the help of the entire Judgment Day but, he’s still champion. I have to tip my hat to him because he is carrying the championship right now. Am I happy about it? No. But, I gotta give him his credit, I gotta give him his kudos because he was able to grow to a point that he was able to take my championship from me.
Mysterio has successfully defended the title against Butch and Sami Zayn since becoming champion. Both he and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley are scheduled for the 7/25 NXT.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Under the Ring with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
