Ex-AEW & WWE Champion Addresses Retirement Rumours Amid 2-Year Absence

A former champion in WWE and AEW has confirmed their in-ring status almost two years after their last match.

The last time wrestling fans got to see Keith Lee in the ring was all the way back on the Holiday Bash edition of Collision in December 2023. Lee defeated Brian Cage on that occasion, but then the man who formerly held the AEW World Tag Team Championship with Swerve Strickland has not been seen since.

Mystery has surrounded Lee’s prolonged absence, with neither the company nor Lee himself confirming his current condition or status. But Keith Lee has now confirmed one thing at least, that he’s not retired from the ring.

Keith Lee Planning AEW Return

Taking to social media, Keith Lee responded to a fan who offered words of support, noting that he’s planning to return to wrestling but can’t say when:

You honor me. I appreciate you for that. All my gratitude. I’d like to take this moment to remind you, that you also, are boundless. Additionally, I’ll take a moment to reassure you that a return to the ring will certainly happen. Though I won’t posit how or when. Much love.

Keith Lee joined AEW in February 2022, four months after he was released by WWE. Lee joined WWE in 2018, making waves on the NXT brand before he was moved to Raw after SummerSlam in 2020.

Lee was forced to miss five months of action following a COVID-19 diagnosis, which was followed by heart inflammation. He was given the “Bearcat” gimmick by Vince McMahon following his return, but that lasted a matter of weeks before Lee was let go.

Also read:Andrade has rejected an offer from MJF following his WWE exit.