Peatzilla | MP
By: Lewis Carlan
After being out of action since Sept. 2024 due to a patella tendon tear, spinal stenosis, and a herniated lumbar disc, Jake Lee made his long-awaited in-ring return on Jan. 4th at Wrestle Kingdom 20.
Lee surprised the 46,913 fans at the Tokyo Dome and everyone watching on NJPW World when he was revealed as the mystery partner for the United Empire team of Andrade El Idolo, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Callum Newman. It became apparent immediately that Lee had joined United Empire leaving his former faction Bullet Club War Dogs behind.
After leading United Empire to victory at Wrestle Kingdom 20, Lee made his presence felt as he attacked Yota Tsuji who had just won the IWGP Heavyweight Title from Konosuke Takeshita. Lee challenged Tsuji to a championship match and the two clashed at “THE NEW BEGINNING IN OSAKA” on Feb. 11 at a sold out Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
While Lee was unsuccessful in dethroning Tsuji for the IWGP Heavyweight Title, he showed the pro-wrestling world that his injury is definitely behind him as he re-established himself as one of the top stars in NJPW.
While Lee was gearing up for the New Japan Cup 2026 and his first round opponent YOSHI-HASHI, he took time out of his schedule to speak with Monthly Puroresu about a number of topics.
Here is the Monthly Puroresu interview with NJPW superstar Jake Lee:
Monthly Puroresu:
You faced and were defeated by IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji in Osaka on Feb 11th. Did you gain any new found respect for Yota Tsuji?
Jake Lee:
It was a match that was supposed to prove my own existence, and it was a match I lost. But at the same time, I was able to show that despite my beaten up body, I’m able to still fight. The champion is a clever man, and he has a lot of resolve, the kind of resolve that should support NJPW for years to come.
Image Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
You were out of action for a lengthy period of time. What was the most difficult part of being away from competition?
Jake Lee:
The biggest thing I learned in going through what I went through is that in the end, nobody is coming to help you. It’s up to you to decide whether you’re living to die, or living to live.
Monthly Puroresu:
How would you compare your current faction United Empire to your former faction Bullet Club War Dogs?
Jake Lee:
To me the War Dogs were about raising their stock through violence. United Empire is about showing it’s value through anger, dissent and despair.
Monthly Puroresu:
What are your expectations for the New Japan Cup 2026?
Jake Lee:
There’s a lot of first time singles opponents for me. That’s a lot of fresh matches, so please, enjoy.
Monthly Puroresu:
Should you win the New Japan Cup 2026 and challenge Tsuji again, would you approach the match any differently than in Osaka?
Jake Lee:
Strategy is not something I would change. It would be about proving the existence of Jake Lee more forcefully.
Image Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
You are a former AJPW Triple Crown champion and a former Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC Heavyweight Champion. How important is it to you to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and become a Grand Slam Champion?
Jake Lee:
Honestly, it isn’t something I think about. The Jake Lee you see before you is not the same man who won the GHC Heavyweight title, nor the Triple Crown.
Monthly Puroresu:
What would you name as your greatest accomplishment in pro-wrestling?
Jake Lee:
Every experience that I’ve had, win or lose is an indispensable building block of who I am.
Image Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
What are some of your favourite things to do when you aren’t competing?
Jake Lee:
I’ve been watching a lot of movies recently. Any genre, but I’ll watch movies I like over and over again. I like Jim Carrey in the Truman Show, and Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump, Green Mile and the Terminal, and a lot more besides, so please, share your recommendations with me.
Monthly Puroresu:
What goals have you set for yourself in 2026?
Jake Lee:
First thing is to keep fighting through the year. I would like for people to see me, as I am, persevering and believing that they can too. That’s what I mean by proving my existence.
Date:
March 7, 2026
