AEW star Keith Lee has responded to recent speculation regarding his presence at AEW events. A report from PWInsider suggested that Lee was backstage at a recent episode of AEW Dynamite in Athens, Georgia, fueling rumors of his potential return. However, Lee took to social media to clarify the situation.
“For the record… this isn’t true,” Lee wrote. “I was at Collision in Houston. But I was at Dynamite in Austin briefly. I do live in Texas after all.”
Lee has been out of action since December 2023, after being pulled from his scheduled match against Swerve Strickland at AEW Worlds End due to lingering health issues.
For the record…. this isn't true.
I was at Collision in Houston. But I was at the Dynamite in Austin briefly.
2024 was a monumental year for the world of professional wrestling, from the WWE exit of Vince McMahon to huge signings in AEW. With 2024 officially at an end, many in the world of wrestling are looking back at the year that was.
On X, WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazer reflected on teaming with Axiom, adding that the pair have become like brothers.
2024… it’s been a year that neither of us could have ever predicted.
Somehow we stumbled upon being one of, if not the best tag team in the world right now. And through it all, we’ve legitimately become brothers.
IYO SKY had an impressive 2024, including walking into WrestleMania as Women’s Champion. The Damage CTRL star also competed outside WWE and is ready to do even bigger things in 2025.
2024 was a great year with many of my dreams coming true! I will continue to fly even higher in 2025!????
NXT Superstar Arianna Grace ended 2024 with a party of her own, and hopes that 2025 proves to be as beautiful as the Beauty Pagent queen.
Watching NXT on CW is the best way to bring in the new year. Get your champagne popping to the show, that is also my home, NXT! ???? happy new years my little beauty queens. May your year ahead be as beautiful as me, I love you all so much! @WWENXTpic.twitter.com/oEhohCNseZ
Michin shared that she can’t wait to see what 2025 brings for everyone and included a photo of herself and her husband Keith Lee. The Limitless One has been out of action since December 2023.
Thank you for an incredible 2024! Can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for us all. Manifesting success !!
Keith Lee joined AEW in 2022 to much fanfare, but his tenure with the promotion has seen a series of unfortunate breaks due to health issues. In 2024, Keith Lee has yet to compete for AEW, Ring of Honor, or any other promotion, but the Limitless One is far from finished in the squared circle.
On X, Lee shared a statement of gratitude toward fans, saying he hasn’t seen all of the positive messages aimed in his direction but has seen many. Lee added that “we are not done” and encouraged his fans to “hang in there just like I am.” The former AEW World Tag Team Champion promised that “the time will come” before ending with a reminder to vote in next month’s U.S. election.
I certainly don't see them all, but I have seen many. I must take the time to say thank you.
And I must take the time to tell you…. we are not done. Hang in there, just like I am. Whatever it is…. the time will come. Let's move forward.
Lee didn’t share the reason for his absence from the ring in his statement. Earlier this month, Fightful Select reported that he had yet to be cleared after experiencing an undisclosed medical issue. Lee’s most recent match took place on the December 28, 2023, Collision and saw him defeat Brian Cage. He had been set to face Swerve Strickland at Worlds End two days later but their long-awaited blow-off match following their tag team split had to be nixed.
Whatever the future holds for Keith Lee, the former NXT Champion is confident that his return to the ring will come. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Keith Lee and hid role as part of All Elite Wrestling.
Posted October 21st, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Keith Lee.
It remains unclear when AEW fans will next see Keith Lee in the ring, but the former World Tag Team Champion is appreciative of the report he has received.
The Limitless One hasn’t competed since the Holiday Bash edition of AEW Collision in December 2023, where he defeated Brian Cage. Taking to Twitter, Lee shared his thanks to those who have wished him well either publicly or in private.
I don't spend a lot of time with social media these days.
But I wanted to make sure I popped on here to give thanks to many of you…
The ones who reach out privately. The ones who tweet publicly. The ones who share positive things.
Lee joined AEW in 2022, mere months after he was released from WWE following an impressive NXT run and mixed tenure on the main roster. That same year, Lee and Swerve Strickland captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Their 70-day title reign ended at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam in September 2022 at the hands of The Acclaimed. Lee would briefly feud with Strickland who has since gone on to become AEW World Champion.
Much like his final days in WWE, Lee’s AEW tenure has seen him miss plenty of in-ring time due to health issues. Lee was set to face Strickland at AEW Worlds End but these issues forced the Limitless One to be pulled from the show.
In January 2024, Lee disclosed that he had undergone a double surgery that has kept him out of the ring ever since. There’s currently no timeframe on when Lee will be expected to return. We here at SE Scoops are wishing him all the best in his recovery.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Saturday, April 6. This is a day that a lot of fans have waited for, because it is officially WrestleMania Saturday. We also have NXT Stand & Deliver to take care of, so let’s get right to it!
NXT: Stand & Deliver starts first today, with the broadcast beginning at noon EST. You can check out the updated card below:
Singles Match: Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez
NXT North American Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker (c) vs. Axiom & Nathan Frazer
Thea Hail, Fallon Henley & Kelani Jordan vs. Jacy Jayne, Kiana James & Izzi Dame
– Stand & Deliver Gate: Shawn Michaels disclosed that Stand & Deliver in Philly is set to become the second highest-grossing event for NXT, following closely behind NXT Brooklyn.
– The Rock’s Training: SEScoops also had an exclusive where Shawn Michaels explained exactly why Gallus was picked to train with The Rock for his WrestleMania 40 match.
WrestleMania 40 night one starts at 7:00 PM EST. It will be a loaded show, headlined by a massive tag team match, that is being billed as the biggest ever. You may check out the updated card below:
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
– AEW At WWE HOF: Keith Lee was accidentally shown on screen during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. He is married to Michin, so he was there for the ceremony. However, he wasn’t supposed to be seen on camera.
It’s been years since Keith Lee was signed to a WWE contract, but the Limitless One was spotted this week during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
The former NXT Champion and current AEW star was in the background of a backstage segment that saw CM Punk being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. It appears that somebody off-screen pointed out to Lee that he was in the shot as the wrestler quickly got out of the way.
Lee’s real-life wife and WWE star ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was being interviewed across the backstage area by WWE’s Cathy Kelley.
This humorous situation led to Lee’s name trending on X (formerly known as Twitter.) Some fans even compared it to a similar situation where Road Warrior Hawk accidentally appeared during a backstage interview and quickly realized his mistake.
In WWE NXT, Lee captured the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship and is to date the only Superstar to hold both titles simultaneously. Lee had far worse luck on the main roster and after a strong debut, would miss months of programming due to COVID-19 and heart inflammation. He was released from WWE in November 2021.
Lee joined AEW in March 2022 at that month’s Revolution pay-per-view and captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Swerve Strickland that July. Their reign was ended by The Acclaimed that September. A match between Lee and Strickland was scheduled to happen at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. Lee has been out of action since December 2023 and is currently recovering from double surgeries that he underwent in January 2024.
All Elite Wrestling superstar Keith Lee’s year is off to a rocky start. He suffered a setback last month when he had to pull out of a match against Swerve Strickland at AEW World’s End due to an injury. While fans have been hopeful he would return to action soon, he won’t be able to compete for a while.
In a statement written to Nick Hausman, Lee shared that he is set to undergo two double surgeries. AEW star seems to admit that he didn’t need surgery for 19 years of his career, but unfortunately, it was his time.
Hausman transcribed the following quotes he received from Lee.
“Took roughly 19 years…. but I guess it’s my turn,” wrote Lee. He continued, “Time to get fixed. Here’s to double surgeries. Certainly, one way to start 2024.”
It’s unclear what the specific injury Lee has to get fixed or how long he is expected to be out of action. The update from the AEW superstar is unfortunate, as it seemed like he was recently building momentum in the company.
Lee started gaining traction by winning a mixed eight-person tag team match at AEW WrestleDream on October 1, 2023. He continued to be featured for both AEW and Ring Of Honor, including competing in a loss against Samoa Joe for the ROH World Television Championship. In his last three matches, he won three consecutive matches, and AEW was ready to feature his long-awaited rematch with Strickland.
At this time, it’s unclear if the company plans to continue with the program when he eventually returns.
Could AEW Continue the Feud Between Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland
Although the feud between Lee and Strickland is unresolved, Strickland has moved on to another big storyline. He is in the mix to compete for the AEW World Championship and is involved in a feud with “Hangman” Adam Page.
On the January 10 episode of AEW Dynamite, Strickland shared his intentions to challenge for the world title before Page interrupted him. AEW may have another match planned between Page and Strickland as they look to end their rivalry. While it’s unclear if Strickland will get another win and move on to challenge for the championship, AEW seems to have plans for him.
Lee’s primary focus for the foreseeable future will be to recover from injuries. If he can return fully healthy, he can build momentum again, and the company can restart his feud with Strickland.
Although the timing of the injuries is unlucky, AEW fans will support Lee and look forward to him returning to the ring at 100 percent.
With GUNTHER’s impressive run on the main roster, CM Punk is keeping an eye on the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion. On Instagram, Punk reacted to GUNTHER’s declaration, saying if what he’s heard is real, it’s going to be a tough time for the 28 other Superstars in the match other than himself and GUNTHER.
Punk’s comment is a nod to the infamous tweet by Keith Lee that he sent in early 2022 about the Austrian. Following reports that WWE would be changing the name of WALTER to GUNTHER, Lee had the following to say.
The tweet has become a meme among fans given GUNTHER’s exceptional tenure on the main roster. In contrast, many have felt that Lee’s tenure with AEW has been far from groundbreaking, with many believing he is being wasted in the promotion.
The 2024 Royal Rumble Matches: Who’s In?
GUNTHER and Punk are just two names confirmed for the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The pair are joined by Bobby Lashley, who like Punk and GUNTHER is yet to win a Rumble match. Former winners Cody Rhodes (2023), Drew McIntyre (2020), and Shinsuke Nakamura (2018) have also been confirmed for the match.
On the women’s side of things, Bayley and Nia Jax are hoping to win their first Royal Rumble matches. Bianca Belair, the winner of the 2021 Rumble, and Becky Lynch, who stood tall in 2019, hope to make history by becoming the first two-time Women’s Royal Rumble match winner.
Could WWE be on course to a highly-physical match at WrestleMania 40…
Swerve Strickland is not waiting for anybody going into 2024 and if Keith Lee wants to have a match with him, then he’s gonna have to work hard for it.
The two former tag team partners were supposed to finally face each other in a singles match at the Worlds End PPV. Hours before the show, however, it was revealed that Lee was not cleared by doctors. This resulted in a last-minute change in the match card, and Dustin Rhodes stepped up to face Strickland in a match instead.
The Limitless One’s injury was addressed at the Worlds End press conference. In response to a question, company president Tony Khan confirmed that Lee wanted to wrestle at the show and detailed why he wasn’t allowed to do so:
“Keith absolutely did want to wrestle. There is a process there and it involves a doctor examining the wrestler every time before they go out and wrestle but also keeping in touch with him during the week. Keith mentioned he got injured in his match at Final Battle. He had a great match with Shane Taylor hard hitting match in Dallas at Final Battle. Then after that, Keith had gotten back in the ring and had a great match with Brian Cage. Did a great number on Collision.
Keith, today when he went in to see the doctor, his injury had gotten worse during the week and really it was worse than it was after the Shane Taylor match and it was worse than it was after the Brian cage match. The swelling had gone up and with the swelling being what it was the doctor didn’t feel comfortable clearing Keith. So it’s a tough call. But the doctor did what he thought was right and I respect the medical team’s decision.”
On the question of this long-anticipated match taking place sometimes later, Swerve Strickland said that he is done waiting. He explained that if Keith really wants to get a shot at him now, he’ll have to do something to earn it:
“It’s quite unfortunate. I’m done waiting though. I don’t wait on anybody. For me. I’ve been waiting for a while now. Now I have my sights set on something else, and that’s championship gold. So either Keith’s gonna have to work harder than ever in 2024 to reach me at that point or reach to the championship or do something, but I’m not waiting on anybody. If the match happens, he’s gonna have to work hard to get to me at this point.”
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
AEW saw a few random injuries throughout 2023 that greatly changed their booking plans. They couldn’t get through the final pay-per-view of the year without being forced to change things up.
Keith Lee was scheduled to take on Swerve Strickland in a singles match at AEW Worlds End, a long-awaited showdown that some fans doubted would ever materialize. Sadly, that match wasn’t meant to be in 2023.
Unexpected Change Of Plans For Keith Lee
In an update on X, Keith Lee shared that he was going to enter the Worlds End match with an injury. Although he did not divulge the specifics of the setback, he assured fans that he is committed to giving his best effort in the upcoming match.
Today… I keep it very real with you guys. I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022.
It has been mostly well taken care of. Things have been worse since Final Battle.
I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.
Today… I keep it very real with you guys.
I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022. It has been mostly well taken care of.
Things have been worse since Final Battle. I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.
Keith Lee was taken out of AEW Worlds End and Dustin Rhodes was placed in his spot. Swerve Strickland picked up the win against The Natural in the end, which continued his winning streak in AEW.
This is not good news for Keith Lee, and we can only hope that whatever kept him off the AEW Worlds End card isn’t something that will persist far into 2024.
Keith Lee made his return to AEW television last month to continue his feud with former tag team partner Swerve Strickland.
When he did, the former WWE star also debuted a new natural look with white/grey hair. Since that return, he has continued to evolve his look with robes and capes.
While doing a new interview with Fightful’s Grapsody podcast, Lee addressed the new look and explained that part of it is a middle finger to people that tell you what you need to look like.
“I think that what inspired that look or return and all of that, I think in my previous interview the exact terminology I used was, ‘A giant middle finger to society and a lot of companies that want you need to look like, a lot of people that tell you what you need to look like.’ Instead I decided to say, ‘Okay, here’s reality’,” Lee said.
Make A Statement
Lee pointed out that he made statements about this in the past with his first grey hairs. He wants people to be comfortable with who they are and the best versions of themselves.
“While I want people to take care of themselves physically and do what they can to adhere to their health, things of that sort, I’m going to be the trendsetter that says, ‘Okay, naturally grey hair, white hair, however you view it, I’m going to be the one who sets it off.’ Because I am who I am and I don’t really care what people say or think about me, I am going to be successful doing this,” Lee said. “I’m going to change the game once again. That’s what I always do. That’s really what it’s about.”
Although Lee said that he looks forward to putting an end to his feud with Strickland, he won’t do it at Revolution as neither star is booked for the show.
This week’s tapings of AEW Rampage saw a huge return from a former AEW World Tag Team Champion who has been out of action for weeks.
Friday’s Ramapge was taped immediately after the latest AEW Dynamite in Laredo, Texas, and saw names including Jon Moxley, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Britt Baker, and Mark Briscoe in action.
This week’s Dynamite saw AEW continue on the road to Revolution 2023, which will be headlined by AEW World Champion MJF vs. Bryan Danielson in AEW’s first Iron Man match.
Rampage Return
In the main event of the AEW Rampage taping, Dustin Rhodes defeated Swerve Strickland by disqualification when Parker Bordeaux got involved.
A post-match beatdown continued until Keith Lee made his return to AEW programming to even the odds.
Lee had been out of action for over a month after being attacked by Swerve, his former friend and tag partner, and the Mogul Affiliates.
The Limitless One was written off of TV with Swerve double-stomping a cinder block onto his former tag partner.
AEW Rampage
Keith Lee’s return to TV was just part of a stacked AEW Rampage this week, which we will be keeping spoiler free.
The show will feature AEW Trios Champions The Elite defending one more time against AR Fox and Top Flight.
Jericho Appreciation Society member Daniel Garcia will take on Ricky Starks as part of the latter’s feud with Chris Jericho.
AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill will put her title and her undefeated streak on the line against Vertvixen.
The identity of the man who attacked Keith Lee on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite has been revealed.
During a segment, rapper Rick Ross attempted to mediate a discussion between Lee and tag-team partner Swerve Strickland.
After Strickland warned Lee to be wary of his surroundings, the Limitless One was attacked by Parker Boudreaux and a mystery man, bringing an end to Swerve in Our Glory.
Granden Goetzman
After AEW Dynamite went off the air, Lee’s attacker was revealed to be Granden Goetzman, according to Fightful Select.
It is reported that Goetzman has been training for quite some time in preparation of his AEW debut, and has been working hard at Jay Lethal’s wrestling school.
Sources who spoke to Fightful said that his debut has been planned out for at the least a couple of weeks before last night’s show.
Goetzman was also backstage at AEW Dynamite on October 10, and sources said he’s been with AEW for “quite some time” anticipating his debut.
Goetzman Before AEW
The 30-year-old Goetzman joins AEW with a background in baseball, which he played professionally until last year.
A second-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, Goetzman has been playing in the minor league system in Mexico.
Listed at 6-4, Goetzman made it all the way up to AAA in the Rays minor league system before moving on to the St. Lous Cardinals and Houston Astros farm systems until 2019.
The outfielder was primarily known for his speed but did not end in the major leagues.
Swerve in Our Glory appears to be done for good after failing to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championships at Full Gear 2022.
On AEW’s latest big event, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee faced off against The Acclaimed, who won the titles from Swerve in Our Glory at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam.
This match marked The Acclaimed’s third title defense and the first championship opportunity for Swerve in Our Glory since losing the titles in September of this year.
The Split
Despite appearing to be on the same page at first, issues began in the match when the team disagreed over whether to put a piece of barricade on the ring apron.
Lee had to save his partner from being put through it, then was sent crashing through it himself by The Acclaimed.
When The Acclaimed went for their tandem finisher, Anthony Bowens’ arm gave out, and Lee cleaned house.
When Strickland told Lee to use the pliers on Bowens, the big man said no, and Strickland slapped the Limitless One.
Probably not the way @RealKeithLee imagined how this #AEW World Tag Team Championship match would go…
Irate, Keith Lee helped Bowens up and walked out of the match, and The Acclaimed would hit their tandem finisher to get the win.
The Build
In the run-up to AEW Full Gear, there had been tension within Swerve in Our Glory, which reached its boiling point on the Pay-Per-View.
The two have been noticeably at odds for months, and many fans have been predicting a split for some time.
The now former tag team is expected to feud immediately on AEW programming, though it is difficult to say if they will have a Pay-Per-View match at AEW’s next major event Revolution in March 2023.
Mia Yim made her return to in-ring competition on this week’s WWE Raw, but some fans were far more interested in her husband.
Yim returned to WWE last week by attacking Rhea Ripley and has aligned herself with the O.C. in their war with The Judgment Day.
Formerly Reckoning of Retribution, Yim was released from WWE in November 2021 as part of mass releases due to ‘budget cuts.’
Yim on Raw
After returning to Monday Night Raw last week, Yim faced Tamina Snuka in her first match back this week.
During the match, some fans in attendance in Louisville, Kentucky chanted for Swerve in Our Glory, referencing Keith Lee’s AEW tag team with Swerve Strickland.
Lee, a former NXT and NXT North American Champion was also released in November 2021 over budget cuts.
Later in the show, Yim would be announced for Team Belair at Survivor Series WarGames.
The chants for Swerve in Our Glory can be heard at 1:28 and 1:54 in the video below.
Yim Outside of WWE
Mia Yim is back with WWE, but did plenty during her time away from the promotion.
In February 2022, Yim married Lee in a ceremony officiated by WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley.
Yim returned to Impact Wrestling in May 2022 at the Under Siege event, having previously worked for the company as ‘Jade.’
Yim would challenge for the Impact Knockouts World Championship on multiple occasions but would always come up short.
Yim’s final match saw her face Taylor Wilde in a losing effort, mere weeks before her WWE return.
At one point, Keith Lee was seemingly on the cusp of being WWE’s next breakout Superstar, starting off 2021 with a WWE Championship match against Drew McIntyre.
After a lengthy hiatus from the ring, partly due to COVID-19, Lee returned in July 2021, but was released from the promotion that November.
Body Shape
Since his release, there has been speculation about why Lee fell from prominence so quickly, and was eventually cut from WWE.
A popular theory is that Lee was cut before of his weight, with some claiming that Lee refused to lose weight, forcing WWE to end their push of the ‘Limitless’ one.
In April 2022, Lee denied a claim that his weight was a factor in his release, describing the idea as a “fallacy.”
Many fans have compared Lee’s situation to Gunther, who lost a considerable amount of weight during his WWE tenure.
Gunther was called to the main-roster earlier this year and is currently the Intercontinental Champion, which fans have cited as proof that Lee’s WWE run would have been better had he lost weight.
Responding to a tweet comparing Lee and Gunther, in which it was again claimed that Lee “refused” to lose weight, the Limitless One’s wife Mia Yim fired back.
Yim, another WWE alum, said that even if Lee’s weight was a factor, that his medical issues during his WWE time could have cost him his life.
Yim explained that doctors told him that he could die if he elevated his heart rate, so working out wasn’t an option.
Walter is awesome.
“What keith Lee refused to do” When we weren’t sure if he was going to LIVE, the doctors told him if he elevated his heart rate, he could literally die. So working out, even jogging wasn’t an option. But go off about how he chooses to be fat and lazy. https://t.co/Eiqmp1su1z
Keith Lee did not find the success on WWE’s main roster many expected for him, but he has bounced back in AEW.
In February 2022, Lee joined AEW, defeating Isiah Kassidy to qualify for the “Face of the Revolution” Ladder match at Revolution, which was won by Wardlow.
In July, Lee, alongside fellow WWE alum Swerve Strickland, captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
Swerve In Our Glory (Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland) made their latest defense of the AEW Tag Team Championships against The Acclaimed at Sunday’s AEW All Out pay-per-view event.
The match saw a strong start by The Acclaimed. However, most of the match saw Bowens sell his knee and get worked over. Bowens with an overcastle to Lee before getting the hot tag to Caster.
The Acclaimed suplexed Lee off the top rope. Strickland hit a stomp to Bowens for 2. Caster with a superkick to Lee then an AA to Lee. Bowens with a slam to Strickland then Caster with the mic drop for 2. The end came when Lee and Strickland hit their double team finisher to Bowens.
The match was set up on the August 24, 2022 edition of AEW Dynamite when Lee and Strickland aided The Acclaimed as they were taken out by Gunn Club as they tried to aid a beaten down Billy Gunn.
They had a staredown before The Acclaimed challenged the champions in a backstage promo afterward.
Lee and Strickland became the champions on the July 13th edition of Dynamite when they beat then-champions The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) and Team Taz (Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks) in a triple threat match.
What are your thoughts on the champs retaining the AEW Tag Team Titles? Was this the right call by AEW officials? Sound off in the comment section.
This week’s AEW Dynamite was Night One of the annual Fyter Fest special, and saw two huge title matches.
In the show’s opener, TNT Champion Wardlow retained his title against Orange Cassidy.
In the main event, Swerve in Our Glory captured the AEW World Tag Team Titles from The Young Bucks, in a match that also featured Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs.
An Invalid Title Change?
Fans were thrilled to see Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland win their first titles in AEW, but their win may be invalid.
Fans have noticed that when getting the pinfall, Strickland pinned someone who was not a legal man.
As seen in the video from AEW below, Strickland and Matt Jackson both tag into the match around 04:15, making both men the legal man.
Referee Rick Knox confirms that these two are the legal man, counting two pin attempts by Jackson (around 06:30, 07:00) and one pin attempt by Strickland (around 07:30.)
At around 08:15, Powerhouse Hobbs tags Ricky Starks into the match, despite neither being the legal man.
Strickland pins Starks to win the Tag Titles, which in theory should not have been counted by Referee Knox.
Khan Responds
This controversial finish has had fans speculating on whether this was a botch, or part of an ongoing storyline.
Responding to the finish, AEW President Tony Khan insisted that the referee’s decision is final.
Khan did not disclose whether this finish will be addressed on Rampage or next week’s edition of Dynamite.
That speculation’s BS! As always in @AEW + per generally accepted pro wrestling practices: the referee’s decision is FINAL!
The Fyter Fest edition of AEW Dynamite week one has wrapped up and here’s what happened just before the Rampage tapings began.
This week’s episode of Dynamite was held inside Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA. The show got started with a TNT Championship match between titleholder Wardlow and Orange Cassidy.
There was also a non-title match between interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and Konosuke Takeshita.
Headlining this week’s episode of Dynamite was an AEW World Tag Team Title match between champions The Young Bucks, Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks, and Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland.
After The Show
Dynamite went off the air with new AEW World Tag Team Champions. Swerve in Our Glory defeated The Young Bucks, Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks to lay claim to the gold.
When the show went off the air, Lee and Hobbs continued to celebrate and were then congratulated by AEW President Tony Khan.
Before meeting with Khan, Keith Lee shared some words with the fans and had a heartfelt message for a close friend.
The July 15 edition of AEW Rampage is being taped right after Dynamite. The show will feature an ROH World Championship match between Jonathan Gresham and Lee Moriarty.
Stick with the SEScoops homepage for coverage of this week’s edition of Rampage.
Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland have shocked the world.
Week one of AEW Fyter Fest began on the July 13 episode of Dynamite. The show was stacked and featured key matches. Championship gold was also at stake.
In the main event, The Young Bucks put the AEW World Tag Team Titles on the line against Swerve in Our Glory, Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks.
The action was intense but in the end, it was Strickland who scored the pinfall over Ricky Starks.
That’s right, we have now AEW World Tag Team Champions.
Many expected The Young Bucks to successfully retain the gold but that isn’t what transpired. AEW has been running a storyline where Lee and Strickland haven’t been on the same page but continue to win.
There was even a moment in the match where Strickland appeared to be looking to turn on his partner but thought better of it.
Here are video highlights of the big title win for Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland:
Keith Lee turned some heads last night when he posted a short statement on his Twitter account hinting that he may be leaving to deal with a potential family issue, adding that it was bad news.
The AEW superstar and former NXT champion has kept the situation pretty hush since tweeting it out last night, but he did promote his participation in this evening’s triple threat AEW tag title match at Fyter Fest. His full tweet reads:
“Got some very much less than stellar news today….No matter the results, tomorrow’s match belongs to my two brothers. It’s all I can do until I return. Love you boys.”
Tony Khan spoke was able to provide an update on Lee’s situation during “Tony Time” on today’s Busted Open Radio. The company president doesn’t reveal too much information other than Lee will still be competing tonight, and that he has AEW’s full support for his situation.
“I don’t want to get into Keith’s personal business. Keith is here, he is wrestling tonight. He had a family situation. It’s not my place to talk about it. Keith is here and here to wrestle, as I understand it. I can’t really comment on what is happening, but we’re going to support him through what is happening.”
Lee debuted for AEW back in February of this year. He has since been on their Revolution, Double or Nothing, and Forbidden Door pay-per-view cards as a featured act. Sescoops would like to wish him well on his situation.
SEScoops’ Ella Jay caught up with the “HBIC” to discuss a variety of topics, such as her wrestling return, Keith Lee’s AEW debut, gaming, and more.
You can watch our exclusive interview with Mia Yim below:
Here are some highlights of what she said about:
Her Return to Wrestling
Mia went against Athena on her return to wrestling and came out on top. Mia was asked what she thought about returning to the ring and the outcome of that match.
“I am very happy about the match. It’s been years since I’ve wrestled Athena and it’s also been over a year since I had my last match anyway, so it was a lot of mental blocks in my head because, you know, I wasn’t in a good mental space. So, getting into this match with a friend, and having her help me through it, kind of gave me back that confidence that I lost. So, the match was good, you know, I got to win, but aside from that, I feel like I’m slowly becoming myself again.”
It was a very emotional moment for Mia to come back to wrestling and win her first match. She clarified a while back that due to her recent wedding and move, she decided to handle everything at home first.
Mia promised us that we can expect her to see in the ring as much as she can be, and she also told us that she will meet everyone that she missed out on the last few years.
Keith Lee in AEW
Mia Yim’s husband, Keith Lee, was released from his WWE contract in November 2021. He made his debut in All Elite Wrestling on the February 9 episode of AEW Dynamite after radio silence on his next venture. Mia was asked how hard it was for her to keep Keith’s AEW a secret.
“Very hard, because of course, he doesn’t tell anybody anything. So, everyone’s coming to me and it’s like, what? I don’t know what you’re talking about. So, I don’t know. People always think they could get scoops from me and especially with Keith it’s like, that’s his business. Don’t come to me with that.”
Keith Lee made his surprise AEW debut to a massive crowd reaction. Fans in the arena were ecstatic to see “The Limitless” walk down the ramp towards the ring to face Isiah Kassidy. Keith won the match and went on to qualify for the “Face of the Revolution” ladder match at Revolution. Mia said watching this moment made her feel really proud.
“I was so proud. I knew it. I knew the reaction he was going to get was going to be authentic and loud, but just to see it as it was happening gave me the chills. And I was like, this is what he deserves.”
Disney Wedding
After being engaged for a year, Mia Yim and Keith Lee got married in February of this year. The couple tied the knot after spending several years together with a Disney-themed wedding. Mia described her wedding as a perfect day.
“Keith was able to give me my dream wedding of a Disney wedding. It was just having Mickey and Minnie there, having the carriage, it was picture perfect. Just marrying my best friend, the love of my life, that was something years ago that I never—like, I quit dreaming of because I never thought I was gonna get married or find ‘the one’. He came out of nowhere and it was just a perfect day having all of our friends and family under one roof, people I haven’t seen in years. It was just such a perfect day.”
Their wedding also had a Star Wars cake, as according to Mia, Star Wars is the only thing Keith loves about Disney. Mia isn’t a fan, but she described how the cake had a custom topper with the couple dressed as Star Wars characters.
“So, Keith is a big Star Wars person That’s the only Disney thing that he loves. I don’t care about Star Wars, but our cake. I got a custom cake topper that had me and him as—what the hell was I—he was Darth Vader and I was a Stormtrooper or whatever. Shana [Baszler] and the girls love Star Wars so all of their entrance music, like coming out to the ceremony and the reception was all Star Wars soundtrack.”
Gaming & Twitch Streaming
Aside from wrestling, Mia also plays video games on her Twitch and YouTube channel. Mia was asked what is the most difficult video game she has played, like ever. The frustration on Mia’s face was clear as she recalled struggling with Elden Ring and Sifu.
“Oh my God, I think right now, it’s Eldin Ring when I don’t have Jay Duke, helping me—or Sifu. Sifu is a rage-inducing game and I’m pissed off just thinking about it.”
Mia Yim doesn’t quit any game in rage, instead, she decides to not stop until she can beat a frustrating game. Admittedly, Mia did have to stop herself from breaking the controller a few times.
Memories of Wrestling in Texas
WrestleCon took place at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Mia was asked what her favorite memories from the state are.
“I just moved here. So, moving is not a favorite because I miss Orlando and it was a long drive. I haven’t had any—The favorite moment I have here in Dallas, is buying my first house with Keith and actually settling down. That’s a favorite memory thus far but there are going to be plenty more memories to make. We just moved like a month ago, so. [laughs]”
The “Head Baddie In Charge” was asked if she would like to have her own posse, who would she pick to be part of the group with her as the leader. She quickly answered the BRE—which stands for “The Best Roommates Ever” and includes Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Dakota Kai.
Tony Khan remains in disbelief over WWE’s decision to release Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland.
AEW hasn’t been shy in bringing in talent that once worked under the WWE banner. The likes of CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, Christian Cage, and many more once made a name for themselves within Vince McMahon’s empire.
There are some talents that WWE decided to drop, leaving fans puzzled. Heck, it’s even left Khan confused.
Tony Khan Surprised Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland Hit The Market
Tony Khan appeared on Barstool Rasslin’ and he admitted that he never envisioned a scenario where both Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland would be released by WWE (h/t Fightful).
“Also, speaking of established stars coming in, Swerve Strickland and right before that Keith Lee. I can’t believe these guys got fired by any wrestling company in the world.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re thinking if you run a wrestling company and you don’t have a spot for Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee. I get that there are only so many positions in a company but I think any company that has those guys and, you know, it wasn’t like they’re unreasonable guys. They’re great!
“I love both guys. They’ve been a huge part of what we’re doing here now, too.”
On AEW TV, Lee and Strickland have actually formed a duo at least for this feud with Team Taz. Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs have been thorns in the sides of Lee and Strickland, so something has to give.
Lee and Strickland will team to take on Starks and Hobbs on the April 13 episode of Dynamite.
With a three-decade long career in professional wrestling, The Undertaker is one of most successful pro wrestlers of all time. His advice is very useful for any talent including Keith Lee.
The limitless one recently appeared on AEW Unrestricted. He talked about things such as receiving a big pop during his AEW debut and more.
Speaking of The Dead Man, Lee revealed something The Undertaker told him a long time ago that has been instrumental to his career:
“He told me, years, and years, and years ago. ‘In this life, whatever it is I choose to do, I need to make sure that it means something. Don’t do anything for nothing, always make it mean something.’
“That is something that I have applied, especially wrestling in the indies.” said Keith Lee, “Any match that I’ve had, I’ve tried to make it sure that match meant something special.”
The AEW star also detailed another interaction he had with one of the most legendary pro wrestling names in Jim Ross. Lee revealed that Ross pulled him aside after his third failed tryout with WWE.
According to him, JR told him that he believed him to be a ‘million-dollar talent’ despite the rejection. It was something he appreciated very much coming from the Attitude Era star.
Keith Lee is grateful for the moment he shared with Brock Lesnar at the 2020 Royal Rumble.
The majority of the 2020 Royal Rumble match was controlled by Brock Lesnar. The Beast eliminated twelve competitors, back to back, by himself. Number 13 was the brand new NXT North American Champion Keith Lee. The moment that stood out to everyone was how shocked and impressed Brock was by the size of Lee. Lee then rocked Lesnar with a shoulder tackle which left him in shock. This showdown, no matter how short it was, was one of the most memorable parts of the match.
Keith Lee’s Royal Rumble Moment With Brock Lesnar
The new AEW superstar recently appeared on Talk Is Jericho. Lee told the story of finding out he’d be a part of the match and what his experience was like working with Brock.
The Limitless One explained, “He’s [Brock Lesnar] always been so cool with me. it’s not something you expect based on specific stories and what have you. The reality was, I didn’t even know I was in the Rumble until like two hours before. They bring in a bunch of people. I’m like, ‘I don’t want to be in the way,’ your back is against the wall, and then you find out you are on. ‘Here we go,’ I don’t know what’s going on and then they start sorting out everything and there is a meeting because the Rumble is basically built around Brock. I got to chat with him and we sorted things out.
They wanted a moment and I think that moment was probably between myself and Riddle, but he had at that time, so they gave it to me. We didn’t really do a lot. Just from the walk…here’s what made it, this Rumble happens and everyone has these ideas and Brock’s like, ‘Cool, awesome, sure thing,’ then the bell rings and he’s just chucking people. ‘Whatever you said you wanted to do doesn’t matter because I don’t remember or I don’t care.’
I’m backstage and I’m like, ‘That’s not what they said, that’s not what they said. I’m gonna have to fight him because I’m not about to lose my shit [laughs].’ My walk, I had gotten taped up because Undisputed ERA jammed my ankle the week prior. I’m so adrenaline hype because I’m gonna fight this guy. I’m walking out, not selling a thing. The walk wasn’t about the Rumble, it was about, ‘I might fight this guy.’
I get there and it’s like, ‘Oh, he wants to work. Okay! We’ll make it a show.’ You can feel it. He’s selling me coming down and I’m like, ‘That guy did more for me in four seconds than anybody can.’ I knew right then, ‘Let’s make this thing last. Take 40 seconds and stare at each other. Let him make the first move and follow.’ It was awesome. Paul (Heyman) is brilliant at what he does.
All of it made it a special three minutes. Him and Roman did that and made potential massive matches down the line and….oh well.”
Current Plans For Lee & Lesnar Respectively
Lee was a part of the November 4, 2021 WWE releases. He signed with AEW following his debut on the February 9 edition of AEW Dynamite. Keith defeated Isiah Kassidy, in his debut, to qualify for the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match on March 6 at Revolution.
Lesnar is scheduled to face Roman Reigns in a Winner Takes All, Title vs Title, Unification Match for the WWE and Universal Championships. The match will take place in the main event of Night 2 of WrestleMania 38.
H/T to Jeremy Lambert & Gisbert Guzzo of Fightful for the transcription
