Fans keep asking what happened to Keith Lee, and the answer starts in December 2023, when one of wrestling’s most unusual big men vanished from television. At 6’2″ and over 300 pounds, Lee moved like a cruiserweight and hit like a heavyweight.
This article follows his path from the independents to NXT and AEW, explains the injury that stopped him, and covers where his in-ring future stands today.
Keith Lee at a Glance
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 2018 | Signs with WWE and is assigned to NXT |
| Jan 22, 2020 | Beats Roderick Strong to win the NXT North American Championship |
| July 2020 | Beats Adam Cole for the NXT Championship, holding both titles at once |
| Aug 2020 | Moves up to Raw |
| Nov 4, 2021 | Released by WWE |
| Feb 9, 2022 | Debuts in AEW |
| July 13, 2022 | Wins the AEW World Tag Team Championship with Swerve Strickland |
| Dec 23, 2023 | Wins his last match, against Brian Cage on Collision |
| Dec 30, 2023 | Pulled from Worlds End because of injury |
From the Independents to a Cult Following
Long before most casual fans knew his name, Lee had built a reputation on the independent scene. He worked for Evolve, All American Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he became world champion. He also spent time in Ring of Honor, facing some of the best technical wrestlers in the business.
His size was never the whole story. It was how he used it. A man his size hitting moonsaults and suicide dives made fans and critics treat him as a one-of-a-kind talent, and that reputation followed him everywhere.
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The NXT Breakout
WWE signed Lee in May 2018 and sent him to NXT. That is where he became a star.
On January 22, 2020, he beat Roderick Strong to win the North American Championship. That summer he beat Adam Cole to win the NXT Championship, which made him the first wrestler to hold both titles at the same time. A few weeks later he gave up the North American title to focus on the main belt.
His title defenses against Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest, like this April 2020 triple threat, are still remembered by many fans as highlights of that NXT era.
Lee’s entrance became an attraction on its own, and the crowd reacted loudly the moment he appeared. He wasn’t a typical underdog or a standard monster heel. He had his own style, and fans connected with it fast.
The Move to Raw
WWE called Lee up to Raw in August 2020, after SummerSlam. He started strong, with a win over Randy Orton at Payback 2020.
Then momentum faded. Lee missed several months in 2021 because of a health scare, and WWE later rebranded him as “Bearcat” Keith Lee. WWE released him on November 4, 2021, and he never won a main-roster title.
Fans still argue about why. Some believe WWE never fully committed to him. Others point to the empty arenas of the pandemic and a crowded roster. It was a long way down from the NXT run.
Arriving in AEW
Lee didn’t stay unsigned for long. He debuted on Dynamite on February 9, 2022, with a win over Isiah Kassidy. In July 2022, he and Swerve Strickland beat The Young Bucks and Team Taz to win the AEW World Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to The Acclaimed in September.
The team then fell apart. Strickland turned on Lee in December 2022 by hitting him with a cinder block. Fans still wonder what might have been, because the two never had a singles match. A planned meeting at Worlds End 2023 was scrapped on the day of the show.
Lee also challenged Samoa Joe for the ROH World Television Championship in November 2023. Joe won by submission and then vacated the title.
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The Injury That Changed Everything
Lee’s AEW run stalled at the end of 2023. He beat Shane Taylor at ROH Final Battle on December 15, then beat Brian Cage on Collision: Holiday Bash on December 23. AEW’s own results page records it as his last match. A week later, AEW pulled him from Worlds End because he wasn’t medically cleared.
Lee said he had been working through the injury since September 2022. He had two surgeries in early 2024.
Where Things Stand Today
Lee has not wrestled for nearly three years. In 2025, he told fans he was doing well and was confident he would return, though he wouldn’t say when.
In June 2026, reports said AEW had discussed bringing him back, but the plans never happened. A month later, Bryan Alvarez said on Wrestling Observer Live that some industry sources believe Lee may have quietly retired. Alvarez said his information wasn’t firsthand. As of those reports, Lee was still signed to AEW, and neither Lee nor AEW has announced a retirement.
My Take
For me, the most memorable Keith Lee moment is his face-off with Brock Lesnar at the 2020 Royal Rumble. The way Brock reacted to him made it feel like WWE had found its next big thing. In that moment, he looked destined to become one of the company’s biggest stars.
Whether he returns or not, I think his NXT run alone cements him as one of the best big men of the modern era.
Frequently Asked Questions
What titles has Keith Lee won in his career?
He won the PWG World Championship on the independents. In WWE, he held the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship at the same time. In AEW, he won the World Tag Team Championship with Swerve Strickland.
When did Keith Lee last wrestle?
On the December 23, 2023 episode of AEW Collision, he beat Brian Cage. Days later, he was pulled from Worlds End.
Is Keith Lee still signed with AEW?
According to reports in mid-2026, yes. Neither he nor AEW has announced a retirement.
What injury has kept Keith Lee out of the ring?
Lee has not named the injury publicly. He said it began in September 2022 and led to two surgeries in early 2024.
Is Keith Lee retired?
There has been no official announcement. A July 2026 report said some industry sources believe he may have retired, but that was not confirmed.
For more, browse our latest AEW news and analysis.
About Gaurav Sharma
I am Gaurav Sharma, founder and the only writer at Wrestling Nightmare. I live in Punjab, India. I have watched professional wrestling since 2000, and for the last 15 years I have followed dirtsheet reporting and the difference between what is shown on screen and what is reported from backstage. I write explainers and labeled opinion on WWE, AEW, and TNA. I credit the outlet that broke a story, and I do not publish unsourced salary figures or private family pieces.
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