What is being said about Keith Lee’s status with AEW in 2026
In late 2023, AEW star Keith Lee revealed that he had been working through an injury since 2022 and that his condition had worsened. Lee was ultimately pulled from the 2023 AEW Worlds End PPV event and has not wrestled since.
According to Fightful.com, AEW sources confirmed that Keith Lee was discussed for a return to television several months ago. However, those plans have yet to materialize. The report noted that tentative creative ideas were in place at the time, but had those plans moved forward as originally intended, Lee likely would have already returned by now.
It remains unclear whether the discussions ever reached Lee himself. Fightful also reported that Lee has not been backstage to undergo the clearance process, which is typically one of the first steps toward an in-ring return.
In June of 2025, Lee publicly stated that he has been “good for quite some time” but it’s not up to him when it comes to a wrestling return.
Keith Lee was discussed for an AEW return in recent months, but it didn't come to fruition, @FightfulSelect learned pic.twitter.com/GqcOyjGfyd
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 8, 2026