September 7, 2025 • 8 mins
# From Gridiron to Greatness: Keith Lee's Wrestling Journey
Dive deep into the inspiring journey of professional wrestler Keith Lee in our latest podcast episode. Born in Texas and initially pursuing football at Texas A&M, Lee followed his childhood passion for wrestling to become one of the most unique performers in the industry.
Discover how this 6'2", 300-pound athlete defied expectations with his remarkable combination of power, speed, and agility. We trace his path from the Texas independent circuit to his breakthrough in Ring of Honor, his historic championship runs in NXT, and his current success in AEW.
Learn about the man behind the "Limitless" persona - his marriage to fellow wrestler Mia Yim, his numerous championships including the AEW World Tag Team titles with Swerve Strickland, and how his authenticity and charisma have made him a fan favorite across multiple promotions.
Whether you're a longtime wrestling fan or new to the sport, this episode offers fascinating insights into one of wrestling's most compelling success stories. Subscribe now to catch all our Biography Flash updates on Keith Lee and other wrestling legends.
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/4mMClBv
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Dive deep into the inspiring journey of professional wrestler Keith Lee in our latest podcast episode. Born in Texas and initially pursuing football at Texas A&M, Lee followed his childhood passion for wrestling to become one of the most unique performers in the industry.
Discover how this 6'2", 300-pound athlete defied expectations with his remarkable combination of power, speed, and agility. We trace his path from the Texas independent circuit to his breakthrough in Ring of Honor, his historic championship runs in NXT, and his current success in AEW.
Learn about the man behind the "Limitless" persona - his marriage to fellow wrestler Mia Yim, his numerous championships including the AEW World Tag Team titles with Swerve Strickland, and how his authenticity and charisma have made him a fan favorite across multiple promotions.
Whether you're a longtime wrestling fan or new to the sport, this episode offers fascinating insights into one of wrestling's most compelling success stories. Subscribe now to catch all our Biography Flash updates on Keith Lee and other wrestling legends.
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/4mMClBv
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Keith Lee was born on November eighth, nineteen eighty four,
in Wichita Falls, Texas. As reported by the ESPN Profile
and numerous other sources, from an early age, Keith was
captivated by professional wrestling, an interest sparked and encouraged by
his grandmother, who introduced him to the spectacle and drama
of the squared Circle. His early years in Texas were
(00:33):
spent not only being an enthusiastic fan, but also playing football,
which would turn out to be a significant foundation for
his eventual athletic career. While attending Texas A and M University,
(00:54):
Keith played as a defensive lineman, leveraging his size and strength,
which at his prime would later be build around six
feet two inches tall and more than three hundred pounds
in weight. Despite some prospects in football, Keith ultimately turned
away from the gridiron to chase his childhood dream of
becoming a professional wrestler, a decision shaped by his passion
(01:14):
for the business and his desire for a different kind
of spotlight. Lee officially began his wrestling journey in two
thousand and five, having trained under Tim Brooks. He started
wrestling under the ring name Kevin Payne primarily in Texas's
robust independence circuit. Over the next decade, Lee built his
skills and reputation by competing in a host of local
(01:36):
promotions such as Professional Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, North
American Wrestling, Allegiance, Metroplex Wrestling, and River City Wrestling. By
two thousand and eight, Lee made the transition to compete
under his birth name, further marking his commitment to authenticity
in and out of the ring. During his first ten
(01:57):
years on the Independence, Lee accrued various regional titles and accolades,
including the North American Wrestling Allegiance Tag Team Championship and
the X t Ramane Championship Wrestling, Heavyweight and TNT Championships,
as delineated in Keith Lee's biography on Wikipedia and multiple
wrestling databases. Keith's work, ethic and charisma did not go unnoticed,
(02:22):
and in twenty fifteen, he began to make his presence
felt beyond Texas. That year, Lee entered the national wrestling
spotlight by joining Ring of Honor commonly referred to as ROH,
where he teamed with Shane Taylor. Together they called themselves
the Pretty Boy Killers. This partnership saw them entering tournaments
(02:46):
and attempting to capture the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
While they were not successful in winning those belts, their
rivalry with teams such as the Briscoe Brothers added momentum
and visibility to Lee's burgeoning career. Lee's time in ROH
concluded in early twenty seventeen, a mutual parting after a
final inconclusive match with the Briscoes. Soon after, Lee expanded
(03:11):
his schedule significantly, appearing in major independent promotions across the country,
including Pro Wrestling, Gorilla, Evolve Wrestling, and OS. He won
the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World Championship by defeating Chuck Taylor
and captured the World Wrestling Network Championship after a high
profile match with Matt Riddle. The next pivotal chapter in
Keith Lee's career began when he tried out for World
(03:33):
Wrestling Entertainment in two thousand and eight, although he was
not signed at that time. Nevertheless, his perseverance paid off
ten years later when in early twenty eighteen, WWE announced
the signing of Lee, following a growing national buzz about
his unique combination of power and agility, An athletic profile,
rarely seen for a man of his size. Initially allocated
(03:55):
to WWE's NXT brand, Keith made his official television debut
for m NXT in August twenty eighteen with a victory
over Marcel Ortell. His first year in NXT was a
period of building momentum before breaking out in a significant
way from late twenty nineteen through twenty twenty. During this run,
(04:15):
Lee competed in a series of high caliber matches, including
being part of Team NXT against the main roster's Raw
and SmackDown teams at Survivor series and delivering standout performances
at NXT takeover events. In January twenty twenty, Lee made
history by winning the NXT North American Championship from or Roderick,
(04:36):
successfully defending it on top of the door. Notably, in
July twenty twenty, at the Great American Bash event, Lee
defeated Adam Cole to win the NXT Championship, becoming the
first competitor to ever hold both of the brand's top
singles titles simultaneously. This accomplishment cemented Lee's legacy as one
(04:58):
of the standout performers of the na XT era. Shortly
after creating history in NXT, Lee vacated the North American
Championship to focus on defending the NXT title, but lost
it in August twenty twenty. He then made his jump
to WWE's main roster, debuting on Monday Night Raw with
a memorable victory over Randy Orton. Lee's unique in ring style,
(05:21):
highlighted by moves like the spear Bomb and Big Bang Catastrophe,
combined with his larger than life presence, saw him quickly
gain a following. He was drafted to Raw during the
twenty twenty one w W Lee Draft, continuing to wrestle
under both his regular and the brief bear Cat Moniker. However,
the tail end of his WWE run was impacted by
(05:43):
health issues and creative shifts, ultimately leading to his release
from the company on November fourth, twenty twenty one, as
noted by sources including IMB and Fox Sports. In his
personal life, Keith Lee's journey took a joyful step when
he married his longtime Parker and fellow professional wrestler, Stephanie Bell,
widely know non wrestling circles as Mia Yim or Reckoning,
(06:07):
on February fifth, twenty twenty two. The pair had supported
each other for years across various wrestling promotions, both on
and off screen. Lee's departure from WWE did not mark
the end, but rather a significant new beginning. Just days
after his.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Wedding, on February ninth, twenty twenty two, Lee debuted in
All Elite Wrestling, appearing on AW Dynamite, where he made
an immediate impact by defeating Azaiah Cassidy and entering the
face of the Revolution Ladder match.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Lee's style, remarkable speed, strength, and agility for a three
hundred plus pound athlete fit in perfectly with aw's dynamic
roster and fan base. In ae W Keith, Lee formed
an acclaimed tag team with Swerve Strickland, known collectively as
Swerve in Our Glory. Their partnership resulted in a major
(07:05):
highlight when at the first Night a Fighterfest on July thirteenth,
twenty twenty two, they defeated both The Young Bucks and
Teen Taz in a three way match to capture the
AW World Tag Team Championships. It was a crowning achievement
for Lee, further demonstrating his ability to shine not only
as a singles competitor, but also as a tag team star.
(07:28):
The pair would eventually lose the titles at ady w's
Grand Slam event. Yet Lee's starr continued to rise within
the company, and he became a fixture for high profile
matches and nemorable moments on both aight W, Dynamite and Rampage.
Lee's wrestling persona, often described by nicknames like Limitless, bear Cat,
Black Silla, and Friendly Fellow, reflects both his ferocious competitive
(07:52):
spirit and his approachable offscreen personality. Those who have followed
his work from the Texas Indies shows to standing room
only crowds on national TV regularly speak about his humility, resilience,
and the inspiration he provides for younger athletes.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Quiet please dot A, I hear what matters.
Keith Lee was born on November eighth, nineteen eighty four,
in Wichita Falls, Texas. As reported by the ESPN Profile
and numerous other sources, from an early age, Keith was
captivated by professional wrestling, an interest sparked and encouraged by
his grandmother, who introduced him to the spectacle and drama
of the squared Circle. His early years in Texas were
(00:33):
spent not only being an enthusiastic fan, but also playing football,
which would turn out to be a significant foundation for
his eventual athletic career. While attending Texas A and M University,
(00:54):
Keith played as a defensive lineman, leveraging his size and strength,
which at his prime would later be build around six
feet two inches tall and more than three hundred pounds
in weight. Despite some prospects in football, Keith ultimately turned
away from the gridiron to chase his childhood dream of
becoming a professional wrestler, a decision shaped by his passion
(01:14):
for the business and his desire for a different kind
of spotlight. Lee officially began his wrestling journey in two
thousand and five, having trained under Tim Brooks. He started
wrestling under the ring name Kevin Payne primarily in Texas's
robust independence circuit. Over the next decade, Lee built his
skills and reputation by competing in a host of local
(01:36):
promotions such as Professional Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, North
American Wrestling, Allegiance, Metroplex Wrestling, and River City Wrestling. By
two thousand and eight, Lee made the transition to compete
under his birth name, further marking his commitment to authenticity
in and out of the ring. During his first ten
(01:57):
years on the Independence, Lee accrued various regional titles and accolades,
including the North American Wrestling Allegiance Tag Team Championship and
the X t Ramane Championship Wrestling, Heavyweight and TNT Championships,
as delineated in Keith Lee's biography on Wikipedia and multiple
wrestling databases. Keith's work, ethic and charisma did not go unnoticed,
(02:22):
and in twenty fifteen, he began to make his presence
felt beyond Texas. That year, Lee entered the national wrestling
spotlight by joining Ring of Honor commonly referred to as ROH,
where he teamed with Shane Taylor. Together they called themselves
the Pretty Boy Killers. This partnership saw them entering tournaments
(02:46):
and attempting to capture the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
While they were not successful in winning those belts, their
rivalry with teams such as the Briscoe Brothers added momentum
and visibility to Lee's burgeoning career. Lee's time in ROH
concluded in early twenty seventeen, a mutual parting after a
final inconclusive match with the Briscoes. Soon after, Lee expanded
(03:11):
his schedule significantly, appearing in major independent promotions across the country,
including Pro Wrestling, Gorilla, Evolve Wrestling, and OS. He won
the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World Championship by defeating Chuck Taylor
and captured the World Wrestling Network Championship after a high
profile match with Matt Riddle. The next pivotal chapter in
Keith Lee's career began when he tried out for World
(03:33):
Wrestling Entertainment in two thousand and eight, although he was
not signed at that time. Nevertheless, his perseverance paid off
ten years later when in early twenty eighteen, WWE announced
the signing of Lee, following a growing national buzz about
his unique combination of power and agility, An athletic profile,
rarely seen for a man of his size. Initially allocated
(03:55):
to WWE's NXT brand, Keith made his official television debut
for m NXT in August twenty eighteen with a victory
over Marcel Ortell. His first year in NXT was a
period of building momentum before breaking out in a significant
way from late twenty nineteen through twenty twenty. During this run,
(04:15):
Lee competed in a series of high caliber matches, including
being part of Team NXT against the main roster's Raw
and SmackDown teams at Survivor series and delivering standout performances
at NXT takeover events. In January twenty twenty, Lee made
history by winning the NXT North American Championship from or Roderick,
(04:36):
successfully defending it on top of the door. Notably, in
July twenty twenty, at the Great American Bash event, Lee
defeated Adam Cole to win the NXT Championship, becoming the
first competitor to ever hold both of the brand's top
singles titles simultaneously. This accomplishment cemented Lee's legacy as one
(04:58):
of the standout performers of the na XT era. Shortly
after creating history in NXT, Lee vacated the North American
Championship to focus on defending the NXT title, but lost
it in August twenty twenty. He then made his jump
to WWE's main roster, debuting on Monday Night Raw with
a memorable victory over Randy Orton. Lee's unique in ring style,
(05:21):
highlighted by moves like the spear Bomb and Big Bang Catastrophe,
combined with his larger than life presence, saw him quickly
gain a following. He was drafted to Raw during the
twenty twenty one w W Lee Draft, continuing to wrestle
under both his regular and the brief bear Cat Moniker. However,
the tail end of his WWE run was impacted by
(05:43):
health issues and creative shifts, ultimately leading to his release
from the company on November fourth, twenty twenty one, as
noted by sources including IMB and Fox Sports. In his
personal life, Keith Lee's journey took a joyful step when
he married his longtime Parker and fellow professional wrestler, Stephanie Bell,
widely know non wrestling circles as Mia Yim or Reckoning,
(06:07):
on February fifth, twenty twenty two. The pair had supported
each other for years across various wrestling promotions, both on
and off screen. Lee's departure from WWE did not mark
the end, but rather a significant new beginning. Just days
after his.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Wedding, on February ninth, twenty twenty two, Lee debuted in
All Elite Wrestling, appearing on AW Dynamite, where he made
an immediate impact by defeating Azaiah Cassidy and entering the
face of the Revolution Ladder match.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Lee's style, remarkable speed, strength, and agility for a three
hundred plus pound athlete fit in perfectly with aw's dynamic
roster and fan base. In ae W Keith, Lee formed
an acclaimed tag team with Swerve Strickland, known collectively as
Swerve in Our Glory. Their partnership resulted in a major
(07:05):
highlight when at the first Night a Fighterfest on July thirteenth,
twenty twenty two, they defeated both The Young Bucks and
Teen Taz in a three way match to capture the
AW World Tag Team Championships. It was a crowning achievement
for Lee, further demonstrating his ability to shine not only
as a singles competitor, but also as a tag team star.
(07:28):
The pair would eventually lose the titles at ady w's
Grand Slam event. Yet Lee's starr continued to rise within
the company, and he became a fixture for high profile
matches and nemorable moments on both aight W, Dynamite and Rampage.
Lee's wrestling persona, often described by nicknames like Limitless, bear Cat,
Black Silla, and Friendly Fellow, reflects both his ferocious competitive
(07:52):
spirit and his approachable offscreen personality. Those who have followed
his work from the Texas Indies shows to standing room
only crowds on national TV regularly speak about his humility, resilience,
and the inspiration he provides for younger athletes.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Quiet please dot A, I hear what matters.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.