Keith Lee has not appeared on AEW programming since 2023, and while a return was discussed internally in recent months, it has not materialized, according to Fightful Select.
Fightful has been regularly asking for updates on Lee’s status, given the length of his absence — now over two and a half years. The outlet confirmed an AEW source told them Lee was discussed for a return, though tentative plans appear to have fallen through.
Fightful noted Lee has not been a regular backstage presence at tapings, and there is no indication he has been around to begin the clearance process, which typically involves a multi-week procedure before a return takes place. Several wrestlers reportedly messaged Fightful asking about the situation when the outlet first teased the story.
Lee, 41, is a former AEW World Tag Team Champion who debuted in the promotion in February 2022 following his WWE release in November 2021. Before AEW, he had a celebrated run in WWE NXT where he became the first wrestler to hold the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship simultaneously. He was trained by Tim Brooks and debuted on the independent circuit in 2005, also holding the PWG World Championship and making significant runs through Ring of Honor and Evolve before joining WWE. He is married to fellow wrestler Mia Yim.
No timeline for a return has been confirmed.
