Keith Lee: The “Limitless” Life and Career of the WWE Superstar

Keith Lee

Keith Lee, who is famously known as “Limitless” is a very popular American professional wrestler who currently performs for the Monday Night Raw brand of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Prior to moving up to the Raw brand, Keith Lee had a successful stint with WWE NXT. He is a one time winner of the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Championship belt, Let’s find out more about Keith Lee

Keith Lee: All You Need to Know

When was Keith Lee born?

Keith Lee was born on November 8th, 1984 in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was introduced to professional wrestling at a young age by his grandmother, who was a fan herself, and credits her with inspiring him to pursue a career in professional wrestling. Lee played college football at Texas A&M University, but quit to become a professional wrestler.

Who introduced Keith Lee to professional wrestling?

Keith Lee was introduced to professional wrestling by his grandmother. In one interview with The British Wrestling Revival blog, Lee said he was introduced to the industry aged just four or five years old. His granny was the one responsible, and it was she who’d sit down with Keith to watch as much wrestling as possible. Given the time period (1988-1989), there’s a better chance he watched more WWF programming than WCCW.

Who inspired Keith Lee’s work ethic?

Throwing himself into the task of researching the best school possible, Keith Lee stumbled upon one owned by ex-WCCW and NWA stalwart “Killer” Tim Brooks. As it was situated just outside Dallas, Texas (in the small town of Waxahachie), the place seemed perfect, and Lee signed up for training.

To this day, Keith says Brooks’ work ethic and training has stuck with him. He doesn’t regret trading American Football or dreams of playing in the NFL someday for knuckling down, grafting from the bottom and working his way up the wrestling ladder.

Keith Lee: Professional wrestling career

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MscuhaNP41Y

Independent circuit (2005–2017)

A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Keith Lee made his professional wrestling debut in 2005. His earliest known match was for Professional Championship Wrestling in Arlington, Texas, debuting as Keith Paine in a Coal Miner’s Glove match lost to Shadow. He went on to continue wrestling in Texas and in promotions including Xtreme Championship Wrestling (XCW), NWA Southwest, Metroplex Wrestling (MPX), North American Wrestling Allegiance (NAWA) and numerous other promotions in the state of Texas. Keith also spent two years in Ring of Honor between 2016 and 2017. Keith also traveled throughout the United States appearing in other promotions. During the course of twelve years between 2005 until 2017, Keith held a total of eight wrestling titles. He won his first championship in 2007 while in Xtreme Championship Wrestling where he won the XCW TNT Championship. Two years later in 2009, Keith won the XCW Heavyweight Championship. Keith is also a former NAWA Tag Team Champion, Inspire Pro Pure Prestige Champion, PWG World Champion, VIP Heavyweight Champion, WWN Champion. Prior to joining the WWE, Keith held VIP Wrestling’s VIP Tag Team Championship with tag team partner Shane Taylor under the team name The Pretty Boy Killers.

PROGRESS Wrestling (2018–2019)

Due to WWE’s business relationship with PROGRESS Wrestling, Lee made his debut in 2018 on April 6 at PROGRESS Chapter 66: Mardi Graps. There he teamed with David Starr in a tag match lost against team Ringkampf (Timothy Thatcher & WALTER). He returned the following night for PROGRESS Chapter 67: Bourbon Is Also A Biscuit, teaming with David Starr and Matt Riddle in a six-man tag match lost against Jimmy Havoc, Mark Haskins & Morgan Webster. Lee returned the following month on May 5 for the opening night of PROGRESS Chapter 68: Super Strong Style 16 Tournament. There, Lee advanced in the first round of the Super Strong Style 16 Tournament after eliminating Morgan Webster. On the second night of the Super Strong Style 16 Tournament, Lee advanced in the quarterfinals after eliminating Angélico. On the third night, Lee was defeated in the tournament final by Zack Sabre Jr..

Lee returned the following year in 2019 on September 15 at PROGRESS Chapter 95: Still Chasing. There, he teamed with Matt Riddle under the team name The Limitless Bros. in a tag match lost against team Moustache Mountain (Trent Seven & Tyler Bate).

World Wrestling Entertainment (2018–present)

Under his long-time ring name of Keith Lee, he debuted on April 5, during the first day of the 2018 WrestleMania Axxess weekend event, successfully defending the World Wrestling Network Championship against Kassius Ohno. On April 8, during the fourth day of the Axxess Weekend event, Keith Lee wrestled and lost to Lars Sullivan.

When did Keith Lee make his NXT debut?

Keith Lee made his televised debut on the August 8 episode of NXT, defeating fellow NXT newcomer Marcel Barthel. During the August 29 episode of NXT, Lee defeated Luke Menzies. During the course of September, Lee wrestled in numerous house events. The following month, Lee competed during the October 27 Live event, in a Halloween Battle Royal for the No. 1 Contendership spot to challenge for the NXT North American Championship. During the November 16 Live event, losing to Lars Sullivan. Lee returned to television during the November 21 episode of NXT and defeated local competitor Fidel Bravo in a squash match lasting under two minutes. The following week Lee returned during the November 28 episode of NXT, where he lost a rematch to Lars Sullivan. He finished the month at the November 29 Live event, winning a 12-Man Battle Royal No. 1 Contendership match, earning a title match for the NXT Championship. He was later defeated during the same house event in his title match against the reigning NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa. The next month, Lee returned for the December 1 Live event, during which he defeated Dominik Dijakovic. 

How was Keith Lee’s winning streak?

He went on to enjoy an undefeated streak during the December 6, December 7 and December 8 Live events defeating opponents including Fabian Aichner, Punishment Martinez and teaming with the Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) in defeating The Forgotten Sons (Jaxson Ryker, Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake). His winning streak ended during his final match of the year during the December 15 Live event, losing to NXT recruit Matt Riddle.

Lee made his televised return the following year in 2019 during the January 16 episode of NXT, losing in a singles match against Kassius Ohno. Four months later, Lee returned to television during the May 15 episode of NXT, defeating Cezar Bononi. The following month Lee returned for the June 5 episode of NXT, defeating Kona Reeves. Returning on the June 26 episode of NXT, Lee defeated Nykos Rikos. In later house events during the month, Lee wrestled for the NXT Championship held by Adam Cole, however he did not succeed in winning the title during the three title match encounters. He wrestled in an NXT Championship match once more during the July house events. Beginning on the August 28 episode of NXT, Lee embarked on a rivalry against Dominik Dijakovic, whom he was defeated by in a singles match. The following month on the September 25 episode of NXT, premiering on the USA Network, Lee defeated Dijakovic in a singles rematch. Ironically, Lee and Dijakovic later joined forces on the November 27 episode of NXT. They challenged for the NXT Tag Team Championship, losing to the reigning champions Undisputed ERA members Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong.

When did Keith Lee win his first ever NXT belt?

The following year in 2020 Lee captured his first NXT belt on the January 22 episode of NXT, defeating Undisputed ERA member Roderick Strong to become the new NXT North American Champion. On the July 8 episode of NXT, Lee defended the North American title against the reigning NXT Champion Adam Cole in a Winner-Take-All Title match, resulting in Lee becoming a double-champion. Lee retained both titles in his first double-title defense on the July 15 episode of NXT, defeating previous rival Dominik Dijakovic. Seven days later however due to Lee’s double-championship status the North American Championship was vacated until NXT TakeOver: XXX, when Damien Priest won a Five-Way Ladder Match to win the title. At TakeOver: XXX Lee would lose the NXT Championship in a title defense against recent NXT recruit Karrion Kross before it was vacated only six days later.

So that was a brief look at the life and career of Keith Lee, the Blackzilla who is also known by the nickname of Limitless. After a long stint on the independent circuit, Keith Lee has finally made it to the WWE and moving forward, his career is expected to have an upwards trajectory. The high flying big man is definitely one of the most exciting and promising WWE superstars today. His potential is truly limitless. 

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