Keith Lee Talks Differences Between WWE And AEW & How He Feels Now That He’s In AEW

Keith Lee made quite the debut on AEW Dynamite a few weeks back. That was after a lengthy period of time of wait. That was torturous enough for him, but for his fans, it was hard not knowing where this epic talent would end up after his WWE release.

The fate he was dealt in WWE was similar to that of Killer Kross (Karrion Kross at the time). Essentially WWE Creative had no idea what to do with him, and he faltered which of course wasn’t his fault, nor was it Kross’.

But after his no-compete clause came to an end, he made a beeline for AEW and his debut has gone down in the annals of AEW history and is easily considered one of the biggest debuts of a former WWE star on AEW TV.

He recently spoke with New York Post and detailed how it feels to be in AEW, navigating the new locker room and his past experiences in WWE and how they now differ within the realm of his new workplace.

About the differences between his time in WWE and AEW, as well as his acclimating himself to the AEW way of doing things, he said:

“There are a lot of disingenuous things that sometimes have to happen in this industry and are asked of us but I think that the difference in what I was doing (in WWE) versus what people know me for was a little too vast. And for a difference that big, I think it has to be a gradual shift and so the things that felt abnormal felt normal again on that night and it’s like a lot of wrongs were rewritten. Now there’s a chance to move forward in a different way. It was almost like a breath of fresh air or a sigh of relief…

 I don’t think anyone knows the true circumstances of what happens behind the scenes, but in the grand scheme of things, I know a lot of people there…I’ve always heard that the locker room itself is a laid-back place to be. My experience thus far — it definitely is. It’s something that I’m enjoying and just trying to make the most of. We’ll see how it goes. I still have a lot of integrating to do.”

via New York Post /Wrestling Inc. (Transcription)

At how he feels to now be within the realm of AEW he said:

“Joy, gratitude, happiness, purpose, quite a few things just felt right at that moment…Obviously it had been a while since I had been in front of a crowd just being who I am, and so it was a very special moment. I think you can probably see it in my face in most cases; I was kind of reveling at the moment. Basking in the glory, if you will…Yeah, it felt like, not even just for me but for wrestling in general, it felt like a void had been filled…”

via New York Post /Wrestling Inc. (Transcription)

Not afraid of hard work or rejection, Lee is ready to take on all adversaries and naysayers. He seems ready and willing to prove himself on this new platform and really, he knows about rejection. He was rejected by WWE multiple times before he garnered for himself what was at one time for him, a dream contract.

Of course that has now come to an end obviously, but with this new beginning, he can now elevate himself within a company that elevates itself every day with new acquisitions and new milestones. So let’s get ready to ‘bask in his glory,’ if you will, dear readers and watch the AEW rocket sail further and further toward the stars.

NEXT: Chris Jericho Talks About The Possibility Of An AEW/NJPW Super Show