WWE viewers were livid last night as Dragon Lee got unmasked on Monday Night Raw.
The weekly Netflix live show, which was on air for three decades before making the jump to streaming in January, was broadcast from Glasgow this week, and the episode has got people talking.
Lee was scheduled to face Chad Gable after the latter’s recent issues with luchadors in WWE, but the American Made leader presented a doctors note and exaggerated cough to get out of match.
Instead, Lee had to face the mysterious El Grande Americano – another masked wrestler with more than a passing similarity to Gable.
After an AI-heavy promo package hyping up the debuting superstar’s legacy – which included a reference to the Gulf of America – the masked star came out for the bout.
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The match was fast-paced and energetic, but Lee lost the bout after Americano removed his mask and took advantage with Gable’s signature Ankle Lock.
He kept his face covered by his hands, but plenty of fans on social media were furious by the shock twist.
‘Unmasking Dragon Lee and forcing him to stay unmasked as he taps out is deplorable,’ ranted @UndisputedsXe, while @_miyabit added: ‘Dragon Lee unmasked made me genuinely sad.’
‘It’s so weird seeing Dragon Lee unmasked. I don’t like it,’ wrote fellow X user @iFollowSP0RTS.
Meanwhile, @AndyGibsonTV pointed to the genuine rich legacy of lucha libre in Mexico, where a wrestler’s mask and identity hold huge significance.
He wrote: ‘Get Dragon Lee’s face covered quickly. It is sacrilegious for a luchador to be unmasked. He cannot show his face in public.’
While some people suggested Lee ‘deserved so much better’, others pointed out that he is no stranger to being unmasked, as a similar stunt was pulled during his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Fan @Cigano300 argued: ‘Why are people clutching their pearls over Dragon Lee being unmasked? It’s been done to death in wrestling. 😂
‘They still protected his face, unlike the time he got unmasked in AEW. I’m sure the same folks fake outraged now, had no issue with it then. #WWERaw’
Others pointed out that the match itself delivered in spades, even with the controversial ending.
‘No one’s getting the big picture here. This was actually a really good match,’ commented @SilenseMusic on YouTube.
There were also fans praising the stars, as @kingaqua909 said: ‘Chad Gables ability to make anything he does interesting is amazing 😂’
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However, many more played along with the story and joked that they had their own memories of watching El Grande Americano earlier in his career.
‘I was just a little boy when my papa brought me to watch an El Grande Americano match in Mexico and I’ve been a fan ever since! His matches with El Generico were amazing! Gracias,’ quipped @moonnite-v53.
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WWE Raw airs every Monday night on Netflix.
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