A new report has suggested that a deal between Keith Lee and AEW could already be signed, sealed and delivered.
Following the February 4th episode of AEW Rampage, AEW President Tony Khan announced that a free agent will be crashing through the ‘Forbidden Door’ on the upcoming edition of Dynamite. Khan gave little away but said that a “big announcement” would be made on the show.
This news sparked an incredible amount of speculation surrounding the new signing with many fans casting a keen eye on the list of former WWE Superstars who became free agents on February 2nd. While others wondered whether the show might see the AEW debut of Jeff Hardy.
With Hardy still bound by his non-compete clause until March, the lead candidate for the surprise signing in the eyes of fans is Keith Lee.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that while there has been no official confirmation, it appears that Keith Lee to AEW is a done deal.
“I know they’ve been talking to Keith Lee, I know that they were pretty close with Keith Lee if it’s not already a done deal. It probably is a done deal. I don’t know that ‘officially’, but that’s kind of been the word going around.”
Keith Lee hasn’t wrestled since defeating Cedric Alexander on the October 25th 2021 episode of Monday Night Raw. Despite only recently being given a new gimmick and renamed Keith “Bearcat” Lee, the star was released on November 4th.
Lee initially signed with WWE back in 2018, appearing in NXT until the summer of 2020. During his time on what was still the black and gold brand, the star won the NXT and North American Championships.
H/t to WrestleTalk for the transcription.