Ultimo Dragon opens up about why his WWE run was ultimately short-lived.
In 2003, Ultimo Dragon joined Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, and many of his other WCW Cruiserweight contemporaries in WWE. Making his debut at Madison Square Garden, Dragon’s run in the top promotion was short-lived, peaking with a WrestleMania appearance in the Cruiserweight Championship multi-man melee.
Speaking on the Perched on the Top Rope podcast, Ultimo explains why his WWE run didn't work out saying that the promotion wanted him to unmask and believed his character was too similar to Rey Mysterio's character for their liking.
"So when I was with [WWE], Rey Mysterio was there, of course. The way they look at it, they're similar characters, both masked guys, smaller, cruiserweight, but I didn't understand at the time. That's true, but I didn't realize it till afterward,” said Dragon through his translator, Sonny Onoo. “They wanted me to take my mask off. That was one of the reasons why I left.”
He continued, “Rey Mysterio was really popular. So, as a masked man, there was really no spot for me. I am a promoter as well, so I understand a lot more now. Of course [he would have liked to compete more in WWE], but I'm a promoter now and if I had the choice between Ultimo Dragon and Rey Mysterio, I would choose Rey Mysterio.”
Dragon also noted that he never had any lengthy discussions with Triple H or Vince McMahon, only saying hello in passing.
Elsewhere in the interview, Dragon discussed wanting to have his final match with somebody like Chris Jericho. Learn more here.
If you use any of the above quotes, please link back to this article crediting Fightful with the transcription.
