Keith Lee was born on November 8, 1984. He is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is also known for his time in WWE from 2018 to 2021 and Ring of Honour (ROH), as well as on the independent circuit with promotions such as Evolve, All American Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (where he held the PWG World Championship).
Lee signed with WWE in May 2018 and was assigned to the developmental brand, NXT, where he won the NXT Championship and the NXT North American Championship concurrently, becoming the first person to do so. Lee debuted on the Raw brand in August 2020, where he competed in WWE Championship battles against AJ Styles and Drew McIntyre. Lee departed WWE in November 2021 and made his AEW debut the following February. He just won the AEW World Tag Team Championship with Swerve Strickland, which he will retain until September 21, 2022.
Name | Keith Lee |
D.O.B | November 8, 1984 |
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Weight | 154 kg |
Occupation | Professional wrestler |
Professional Debut | February 2005 |
Ring name | Keith Lee |
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Keith Lee was born on November 8, 1984, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Growing up, Lee developed a passion for wrestling and pursued his dreams by training at the Booker T. Wrestling Academy in Houston. He honed his skills and gained experience on the independent circuit, competing for promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Ring of Honor (ROH). During this time, he showcased his incredible athleticism and ability to perform both high-flying moves and power-based maneuvers, earning the respect of his peers and fans alike.
In 2018, Keith Lee signed with WWE and joined the developmental territory, NXT. He made his NXT debut on August 8, 2018, in a match against Marcel Barthel, instantly impressing the audience with his agility and strength. Lee quickly gained attention for his remarkable athleticism and captivating presence, becoming a fan favorite.
Lee’s breakthrough moment came in 2019 when he had a series of highly acclaimed matches, particularly his encounters with fellow NXT standout Dominik Dijakovic (now known as T-Bar in WWE’s main roster). Their matches showcased their chemistry, athleticism, and ability to tell compelling stories in the ring. Lee’s performance garnered widespread praise and established him as a rising star in WWE.
Following his impressive run in NXT, Keith Lee made his debut on the WWE main roster on August 24, 2020, as a part of Monday Night Raw. He made an immediate impact, confronting Randy Orton and engaging in a high-profile feud. Lee competed against top stars on Raw, including Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, and Drew McIntyre, showcasing his incredible athleticism and power.
However, Lee’s main roster run faced challenges. He was briefly off television due to medical issues and faced limited opportunities upon his return. On the July 19 edition of Raw, he accepted WWE Champion Bobby Lashley’s open challenge match but lost. During the months that followed, Lee began to perform as Keith “Bearcat” Lee or Bearcat Lee (a tribute to Bearcat Wright) as part of a character change, but Lee was released from his WWE contract on November 4, 2021.
Lee made his All Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut on the February 9, 2022, edition of AEW Dynamite, defeating Isiah Kassidy to qualify for the “Face of the Revolution” ladder match at Revolution, which was later won by Wardlow. Later that month, Lee formed an alliance with Swerve Strickland when Swerve came to Lee’s assistance after he was attacked by Team Taz (Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks). The two would form a tag team, dubbed “Swerve in Our Glory.”
Swerve In Our Glory won the AEW World Tag Team Championship on July 13 by defeating reigning champions The Young Bucks and Team Taz in a Triple or Nothing tag team match at Dynamite: Fyter Fest Night 1. They successfully defended their titles against The Lucha Brothers and the Gunn Club (Colten & Austin Gunn).
They would then enter a three-match series with The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens), defeating them at All Out, losing the belts in a rematch at Dynamite: Grand Slam, and losing again at Full Gear after Strickland slapped Lee when Lee refused to use pliers as a weapon, causing Lee to walk out.
Strickland announced the formation of a new stable, Mogul Affiliates, alongside Parker Boudreaux, Granden Goetzman, and legendary rapper Rick Ross on the December 21 edition of Dynamite. Strickland, Boudreaux, and Goetzman all assaulted Lee, putting him down on the steel ring stairs with Strickland executing his Swerve Stomp finishing move through a cinder block on Lee’s chest.