Jake Lee

[5.0] "Jake Lee in NJPW has been the funniest disaster. I still find his gimmick and overall character to be interesting, but the in ring work is not it. He might have been better in the past but right now he is struggling."

[5.0] "Jake Lee is obviously a shell of his former self after all the injuries he's sustained. However, there's something weirdly endearing about his cartoonishly ridiculous character work. We'll at least have all the fond memories of his run in the late 2010s and early 2020s."

[6.0] "This rating is me cautiously hedging my bets on the day he locks in and shows the real grappler he is. For the time being though - at least he's more entertaining than a bunch of the other silly heel characters New Japan has."

"My favourite Glup Shitto in wrestling. The single funniest guy in wrestling, and occasionally great big lad. His lifelong feud with his own coordination make for one of the most fascinating watches you are ever likely to see. I love him."

[6.0] "Jake Lee is a funny wrestler, and it felt a bit like everyone is expecting things from him that he cant do. He has a lot of charisma that really helps to get grabbed into his matches but not really the best inside the ring workrate wise. But im still having a bit of fun when he is on a card."

[0.0] "Jake Lee is just very boring. His look isn't awful, and maybe he doesn't botch a ton, but his work is never entertaining to watch. I can't comment as his mic skills but I can tell he isn't very charismatic. Jake Lee's 2024 G1 Climax run is so bad it will forever affect my opinion on him. An awful character worker that makes his boring matches borderline unwatchable. One of the worst in the world today."

[3.0] "Whatever this guy had at one point in his career, he does not have anymore. He is not completely incompetent, but as he is currently, and honestly: as he has been for the last 3-4 years, he is middling to dreadful. Over time his matches got worse, he got boring, the potential of him to ever be a REAL GUY whittled away, and yet somehow, someway, he has defied the odds and managed to get himself a better job every time a place lets him walk. His career trajectory over the last several years has been an arrow steadily pointing down. I'd rather see any other replaceable wrestler in his spot. I think he's cooked. More than willing to change this rating should he show flashes of his younger self as time moves on, but looking at the pattern of his output the last year: I doubt it'll happen."

[8.0] "He's one of my personal favorites. I absolutely loved his time in All Japan and his rivalry with Miyahara. His run in NOAH had its highs and its lows, and now that he's under the New Japan banner, I have to admit I'm really not enjoying what he's doing there. That said, I'd just love to see the Jake Lee from his early AJPW days again."

[7.0] "Jake's character went on a drastic downfall from the get go as he was kind of subpar in his AJPW tenure, he became former two time triple crown champion. He was still subpar during his short 1 year NOAH tenure as he became the GHC Heavyweight champion, which kind of boggles me since his ring work is alright for the most part. NJPW tenure on the other hand.... wow, he did not look great. In hindsight, his character as the smart bastard was underrated for him, but his matches wasn't really good, hell even the G1 Climax 2024 is egregious. Then he was injured after landing awkwardly during a match with david and kidd against CHAOS (goto, yoshi, ishii) and he was out for the rest of 2024 and the entire duration of 2025. Then he suddenly reappeared in 2026and he still sucked ass anyways. The "silent jester" nickname is him making a mockery of himself, granted, he has the looks, but he just doesn't have the ring work to back it out and he's really sluggish."

[5.0] "I can not believe my rating of his but I really have to. Jake Lee was my favorite in AJPW performing so many great matches and entertained us. His NOAH run was also good. Not the same level but he was good. His NJPW current run is just disappointing"

[4.0] "I'm judging primarily based on his NJPW run, but how this man is a multiple time world champion at anything confounds me. Eighty percent of the time his matches are a mire of incomprehensible theater kid nonsense, aggressive mugging, and soft offense. Maybe I'm just too simple to grasp the delicate metacritique cum deconstruction of masculinity as seen through the medium of improvised fight choreography that he's deigned to grace us poor plebians with, but as a professional wrestling fan who watches professional wrestling because he wants to see professional wrestling, his little performance art skits do nothing more than confuse and irritate me."

[10.0] "Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh Is it that sweet? I guess so Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso Move it up, down, left, right, oh Switch it up like Nintendo Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso I can't relate to desperation My give-a-damns are on vacation And I got this one boy and he won't stop calling When they act this way, I know I got 'em Too bad your ex don't do it for ya Walked in and dream-came-trued it for ya Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya (Yes) I know I Mountain Dew it for ya (Yes) that morning coffee, brewed it for ya (Yes) one touch and I brand-newed it for ya, hmm And now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh Is it that sweet? I guess so Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso Move it up, down, left, right, oh Switch it up like Nintendo Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso Is it that sweet? I guess so I'm working late 'cause I'm a singer Oh, he looks so cute wrapped 'round my finger My twisted humor make him laugh so often My honeybee, come and get this pollen Too bad your ex don't do it for ya Walked in and dream-came-trued it for ya Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya (Yes) I know I Mountain Dew it for ya (Yes) that morning coffee, brewed it for ya (Yes) one touch and I brand-newed it for ya (stupid) Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh Is it that sweet? I guess so Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso Move it up, down, left, right, oh Switch it up like Nintendo Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso (yes) Thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh Is it that sweet? I guess so Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso Move it up, down, left, right, oh Switch it up like Nintendo Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that lee espresso Is it that sweet? I guess so Mm, that's that lee espresso"

[2.0] "I just don't see it with Jake Lee and struggle to understand how he has seemingly failed upwards throughout his career. I struggle to think of any other main eventer in the puro scene who has such consistently mediocre-to-poor matches and has proven to not be a significant ticket sales draw. I think he has a good look and his MMA background is interesting, but it simply never comes together in-ring to produce anything of interest. In addition to his dull character, he seems to have the worst instincts of any wrestler in regard to reading & reacting to live crowds."

[3.0] "I've seen a couple good matches from him (against Marufuji, Kenoh and Umino) but I just haven't seen anything that good from him since. His G1 run in 2024 was horrible and just hasn't been that impressive. Maybe if he gets more comfortable in NJPW he could leave a mark, but seeing that he's been on the injured reserved list for almost a full calendar year, I can't see him being able to do much good for New Japan at this time, however I wouldn't mind to be proven wrong."

[6.0] "I find him extraordinarily boring, but I realize that his size and background make him a first round pick for any of the Japanese majors. I find his charisma very odd and forced (stop clapping) but when a match heats up and gets in its final gear, his size and bookin g always male him a threat to win, so he at least has that"

[7.0] "It is absolutely strange how Jake Lee is rated as high as he is. His technical skills are subpar and doesn't come across as charismatic. He does have the look, but that's about it... He has also very few moves that he uses. Not sure why 2 top wrestling promotions in Japan (AJPW and NOAH) would book him to be their top champion. Now he is with New Japan Pro Wrestling, the top wrestling promotion in Japan and in the G1 Climax has already had wins over Sanada, Gabe Kidd, and Shota Umino so unfortunately it looks like will be pushed in this promotion as well without deserving of this push. Edit: I have had a change of heart with him. Unfortunately, he got injured and is out for now. I think he could be good for the group upon his return."

"Strange how when people defend a pro wrestler they have the need to preface that they don't understand the negativity against them. If you're taking the time to register here, then you're likely listening to wrestling podcasts or reading other feedback online or comments here or elsewhere online (and if you're not then you're just ignorant). With that said, Jake Lee is one of those enigmas in modern Japanese wrestling who despite his failings as a wrestler - lack of drawing power both in All-Japan and Noah, below average in-ring ability, lack of charisma - just how he comes across when he appears - it's annoying how he always seems to fail up when he things seemingly don't work out for him. His time in AJPW was a non-starter as he failed to draw ticket sales and the majority of buzz for him at the time was negative. The Jake Lee Experiment continued in Noah especially with a boring, underwhelming GHC Heavyweight title win against Kiyomiya with his poor man's Jin Kazama cosplay and energy that he brought to that bout and for me that cemented Jake Lee as just another spot taker in NOAH unjustly pushed as the TOP guy in that company. His time in that promotion was riddled with the same issues that his AJPW run did and somehow he's competing the G1 in the company where apparently he desires to be. I'm unimpressed with what I've seen from him going into the G1, time will tell if he puts in the work and justifies his entry into the G1."

"People are so harsh on this guy and I genuinely have no idea why. You'd think Jake was The Great Khali or El Giagante the way people speak about him online but in reality he's perfectly fine. He's had more than enough really good performances in All Japan and NOAH against Kaito, Miyohara, Wagner Jr and others, along with an entertaining Good Looking Guys stable, that people SHOULD have gotten over whatever weird bias they have against him."

[4.0] "I was pretty ambivalent to Jake Lee in All Japan, thought he was a bad pickup for Noah especially as GHC champion and he's been at his absolute worst in New Japan. It's not that he can't be brought to good matches but it's always coming from the other guy dragging him up. If he had presence and charisma that would be one thing but that's arguably his biggest flaw. He is a chore to watch."

[3.0] "Another year, another company trying the Jake Lee experiment. The man is tall, and that is it. He is physically unimpressive. He can't talk. His work is acceptable, but utterly bland and lifeless. Easily the most over-pushed wrestler in all of Japan."

[9.0] "Arguably the best 'big man' in Japanese wrestling. Always impressed with his powerful and dynamic style, great mix of strength and agility. Fan of his storytelling ability, mannerisms and facial expressions. He is a commanding presence as leader of GLG, from his entrance, to his tempo dictating methodical style, to his promos. I enjoyed his run as GHC Heavyweight champion last year and his matches in the N1 and look forward to seeing where he goes in 2024."

"Jake Lee is great at promos. His way of speech is nice and soft making him sound like one of those genius villains who planned there way to success. His matches are slow at first but they build up to a frenzy of high speed action usual by his opponents. Especially in pro wrestling noah. His matches against Kento Miyahara is one of the best series of matches. His GHC Heavyweight title defenses have been all amazing and provide great in ring story telling."

[9.0] "I need to change my critic on Jake Lee before, because he has really impressed me since he came to NOAH. Maybe his technic is still just average, but it's already enough for him. What left a deep impression on me was his personal charisma, his acting skills and dominance, which we haven't seen for a long time in NOAH. He is like the Roman Reigns of NOAH now (with better competitiveness and less absence). His title reign is already impressive, even with only less than 100 days. He is a dominant champion and a strong heel now, which is just what NOAH need now."

[9.0] "Jake Lee was the highlight of All Japan for me, with amazing physical charisma and an awesome in-ring style, I always looked forward to his matches with Kento & Yuma in particular. I do think since going freelancer he hasn't completely hit is stride yet, but he's working with some new guys in NOAH that he hasn't ever worked with so there is a feeling out process. I am hopeful he can excel in the new environment, he is absolutely talented enough to do so."

[9.0] "His work as the leader of total eclipse and his victory in the 7 year feud he had with Kento Miyahara was able to develop his character fully over the last few years. That coupled with his good in-ring makes me optimistic for his future away from ajpw."

[8.0] "Difficult to rate him. Before his heel turn and Total Eclipse unit, he was really good in-ring wrestler but was almost a complete opposite of Kento: not great at connecting with audience, not as charismatic as him etc. Heel turn definitely helped him to become one of the top faces of AJPW and more complete character, but now he sometimes overplays. Still, very talented wrestler."

[9.0] "Watching Jake Lee transform into this new character over the past couple of months has been a blast for me. Lee's metamorphosis into this maniacal heel, which is not something All Japan has really delved into in a long time, has not only made Lee a bigger star but has also made All Japan a more interesting show to watch."

[5.0] "I don't understand the hype on Jake Lee. He is just average in the ring, we don't know what wrestling style he has, he is just the SANADA of AJPW, a wrestler overhyped for no reason. But with his heel turn, he gain some charisma and character points"

[9.0] "Jake Lee is freaking awesome! The guy has a great look and an excellent arsenal of moves, alongside with a great persona. He has everything to be one of the future aces of AJPW."

[10.0] "Jake Lee is such a promising wrestler and he's already so good. His rivalry with Kento is my favourite in AJPW right now and I've loved basically everything he's done since he returned with Sweeper, just hoping he can get some big wins soon, because he should be a star"