Léi Yǐng Lee Opens Up About Winning TNA Knockouts World Title, Gets Emotional While Discussing Her Journey

Léi Yǐng Lee was overflowing with joy while discussing the accolade.

Week two of WWE NXT’s Gold Rush special featured a TNA Knockouts World Championship Triple Threat match. Going into the bout, Kelani Jordan put the title on the line against Jordynne Grace and Léi Yǐng Lee.

Yǐng Lee ended up securing the win, and now the title is back on a TNA-contracted talent. Lee opened up about the title win while on Busted Open. She was overflowing with emotion while speaking about it. She expressed her gratitude to TNA creative team member and Busted Open co-host Tommy Dreamer, and Dreamer ended up becoming emotional.

“You mentioned ‘emotional,’ woo.” Lee was jokingly told by Tommy Dreamer not to cry so early on in the interview. “I know but, feeling bring me back to the arena and that moment, so, yeah, when I hear of this, I’m already so excited, happy about it and I try to not think about it. I wanna focus (on) my match. Up till that day, I really walk in the building, I saw the building. I know that’s the — all the wrestlers wanna perform — their goal, and also, I wanna be there and I’m there. I was there. So I was so excited, and also nervous, you know… I’m not alone. I wish my friend or my family would be there with me. But it’s okay. I think that’s my big moment. I just go there, do my best, and when I’m in the ring, I feel the audience cheer for me, they know me, even if I’m in different company. That means a lot to me. The match, I’d been prepared all day… I try not crying, but, I just couldn’t control, and since the ref counting down the three, two, one, and finally I get all the struggle, the sweat, the pain, the blues I have been go through and finally… this is my moment, and I celebrate with everybody, and even (when) I go back to Gorilla (Position), I’m still keep emotional and everybody say, ‘Good job,’ ‘Congrats,’ and yeah, that’s when Tommy’s there. He’s crying too, and I need to right away cut a promo. So, I’m like, oh my God, oh my God, I need to cut promo. I didn’t know that. But Tommy just say, ‘Just go flow. Say what you want to say.’ I was like, ‘Okay.’ So then I cut that promo… Being really honest, I want to say, to Tommy, thank you. I think I said so many times but, even now, I still wanna say thank you to give me the opportunity. Like what I say, nine years in this business. That’s all I want and I finally get a chance… I finally made it. So, it means a lot to me. Not just the title, the arena, everything. I moved to United States myself. No friend, no family here. Don’t understand the English… step by step. Yeah, I’m proud of myself.”

Yǐng Lee, the former Xia Li, spoke about being released from WWE, joining TNA, and then winning the Knockouts World Title on a WWE show.

“This match means a lot to me, everything. You know my background… I was thinking I’m not good enough when I got released. But I know I had great match over there, with Becky (Lynch), with Lyra (Valkyria). Finally, I’m with different company — the same I worked — and I went to their pay-per-view in New York at Madison Square Garden, and won the TNA Knockouts Title. So, I mean, just everything for me. Perfect. The best thing ever in my life.”

Her first title defense is taking place at TNA Final Resolution on December 5th. She will face the winner of Dani Luna versus Xia Brookside. That number one contender’s match is taking place on the 12/4 TNA iMPACT.

If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Busted Open with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.