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AEW

Why Keith Lee Has Been Absent From AEW: His Health History and What’s Known

Lee’s AEW absence followed an undisclosed injury in 2023. His comments and later reporting offer clues about his health and a possible return, but no confirmed date or retirement decision.

By DocumentaryTube Team 3 min read
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Keith Lee’s AEW absence followed an undisclosed injury that forced him to withdraw from the Worlds End event in December 2023. Reports said the injury had troubled him for more than a year and that he expected to undergo two surgeries in early 2024, but the specific injury and outcome have not been made public in the sources cited here. Lee has separately described a 2021 bout with COVID-19 followed by heart inflammation; he has not linked that episode to his later absence. In 2025 he said he had been well for some time and expected to wrestle again, but no return date or current medical clearance has been established.

What is known about Keith Lee’s AEW absence?

The immediate reason publicly reported for Lee’s absence was an injury. He withdrew from his scheduled match against Swerve Strickland at AEW’s Worlds End event in December 2023. His last reported AEW match was against Brian Cage on the December 23, 2023 episode of Collision.

In June 2025, Figure Four Online reported that Lee had described the injury as something that had affected him for more than a year. He reportedly said it had been mostly taken care of before worsening ahead of Worlds End. The same report said he had indicated in January 2024 that he expected double surgeries. Neither the affected body parts nor the procedures or their outcome were identified in the sources cited here. Figure Four Online’s June 2025 report does not establish that the 2021 heart issue caused the later injury.

What health issues has Lee publicly discussed?

COVID-19 and heart inflammation in 2021

Lee’s earlier publicly described health crisis came after he contracted COVID-19 in January 2021. In a video account reported by Figure Four Online on August 12, he said that after missing television for about three weeks, he received a call following a February match saying something was abnormal in his blood work. He explained: “Some people may have experienced this thing where there’s like an inflammation in the heart or lungs, for me it was the heart.”

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Lee said doctors restricted him to light walks and prohibited training or other activity because exertion could carry a risk of sudden death. He said he underwent several heart MRIs, the inflammation eventually returned to normal, and an evaluation in Pittsburgh cleared him to work toward rebuilding his conditioning. He returned to WWE television in July 2021. These are details from Lee’s account as reported at the time, not evidence of a current diagnosis. Figure Four Online’s 2021 report describes that episode.

The separate, undisclosed injury

The injury associated with his 2023 AEW withdrawal is distinct in the public record from the 2021 heart inflammation. Lee’s comments, as reported in 2025, described a long-running injury that worsened before Worlds End, but the available reporting does not name a diagnosis or connect it to his earlier COVID-19 illness. Claims that specify a body part or describe the surgeries go beyond what these sources establish.

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What has Lee said about returning to wrestling?

June 2025: he said he was well

On June 26, 2025, Lee replied to fans that he was “quite fine” and that a return was not up to him. He also wrote, “I’ve been good for quite some time, though I do appreciate the concern. But no campaign required.” Figure Four Online quoted the posts. His comments describe how he characterized his condition; they do not confirm formal medical clearance or an AEW booking. Read the report.

September 2025: he expected to wrestle again

In a social post quoted by Figure Four Online on September 17, 2025, Lee said: “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.” He offered no timetable or details about where that return would happen. Figure Four Online’s September 2025 report records the statement.

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What is Lee’s status now?

The reports available here do not settle Lee’s current contract, medical clearance, retirement status, or plans. Sports Illustrated reported on June 9, 2026, that potential return discussions had taken place at AEW but had not resulted in a return at that time. Sports Illustrated’s report describes discussions, not a confirmed booking.

On July 14, 2026, Figure Four Online reported industry belief that Lee might have wrestled his last match, while explicitly noting that Bryan Alvarez did not know for certain. That is speculation attributed to people in the industry, not confirmation from Lee. A September 11, 2026 update said Lee had resurfaced on social media without addressing the retirement speculation. Neither report confirms that he has retired. Figure Four Online’s July report and its September update leave the question unresolved.

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