Keith Lee debuts on AEW Dynamite, advances to Revolution ladder match

Keith Lee is now #AllElite.

The former WWE NXT Champion and North American Champion was the surprise opponent for Isiah Kassidy in the Face of the Revolution qualifying match on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, picking up a win over one half of Private Party.

The 37-year-old now moves on to the Sunday, March 6th Revolution pay-per-view ladder match where the winner earns a future TNT title shot.

Last Friday, Tony Khan said “a top wrestler” would debut in the match, “walking in the door, signing a contract, and then slamming the door shut Wednesday.”

After nearly three years in WWE, Lee was released on November 4th. He spent the better part of three years in NXT, becoming the first man to hold both the NXT and North American titles when he defeated current AEW roster member Adam Cole at July’s Great American Bash.

He was called up to the main roster in August 2020 and missed five months in 2021 after getting COVID-19 and suffering heart inflammation. After his return, he was eventually given the name “Bearcat.”

Wednesday marked his first in-ring appearance since a late-October win over Cedric Alexander on Raw.

Lee was one of three debuts Wednesday as Jay White made a surprise appearance in a backstage segment while A.Q.A. (the former Zayda Ramier in WWE NXT) challenged TBS Champion Jade Cargill for the title.