His matches with Dominik Dijakovic defied physics and changed the perception of what big man in wrestling can do on the big stage.
To date, Lee is the only double champion in NXT history. He became the NXT North American and NXT Champion when he defeated Adam Cole in a Winner Takes All match at Great American Bash.
Lee was a significant player on NXT. So, when he lost the NXT Championship to Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver XXX, it was apparent his time on the black and gold brand was coming to an end. WWE confirmed this when he made his debut on Monday Night RAW the night after SummerSlam 2020.
Before joining the main roster, Lee had two standout and star-making showings at WWE pay-per-view events. His performance in last year’s five-on-five-on-five Survivor Series Elimination match was terrific. The Limitless One was the last surviving member from Team NXT and he nearly defeated Roman Reigns to win.
Lesnar’s reaction to Lee’s debut in the men’s Royal Rumble match earlier this year was fantastic as was the moment he stood toe to toe with The Beast. It was clear that big things were in store for Keith Lee.
The point is that Keith Lee is a bonafide star and there is no doubt about it. Unfortunately, WWE has a history of changing and diluting NXT Superstars when they get to the main roster. Can’t miss stars like Finn Balor, Bianca Belair and Ricochet can attest to that. Whenever an NXT talent moves over to RAW or SmackDown, there is a fear that they won’t be treated correctly or they will fall by the wayside and end up on Main Event.
Since his debut, Lee has been mixing it up with two of WWE’s biggest names. However, there have been a few noticeable tweaks to his presentation, which may give a few fans reason to worry. Nevertheless, these changes are nothing that can’t be fixed.
In Keith Lee, WWE has a main event star and major attraction that can headline pay-per-views for years to come. In this article, we will look at five ways WWE can make Keith Lee a bigger star.
#5. WWE Has to Change Keith Lee’s Ring Gear
During his Monday Night RAW debut, Lee’s ring attire stood out as one of the first things that fans noticed. He no long sported his spandex shorts that fans were accustomed to from his days on the indies and NXT. The new addition to the red brand replaced them with what looked like basketball shorts mixed with an ancient Greco-Roman pteruges.
It was even more jarring when he got into the ring for his match and wrestled in some sort of Lycra tank top. Since then Lee has ditched that piece of apparel for a more traditional singlet, which isn’t much better.
It may seem trivial to pick out something as superficial as ring attire, but wrestling is as much about the aesthetics as it is about ability. A WWE Superstar’s look has a lot to do with how they are later perceived and accepted by the fans.
One of the most remarkable things about Keith Lee is his physique. He’s huge, bulky, and thick. At first glance, you may believe that Lee is just another big man. So, when he does a somersault plancha over the top rope or a Spanish fly, it is way more impressive.
#4. Keith Lee Need New WWE Theme Music
The other thing that WWE fans notably criticized about The Limitless One’s debut was his theme. In NXT when that opening line hit, the choir sang and the beat dropped fans knew that Lee was on his way and business was about to pick up. The fact the Lee himself was responsible for the lyrics and the rhymes made the track individual to him and instantly recognizable.
The theme has gone from a personalized and memorable hip-hop style tune to a subpar generic rock track. The choice drew instant criticism and for a good reason. Nothing is compelling about the track.
Yes, the opening lyrics remain, but what follows is just bland. There is no hook or even a guitar riff that makes the song stand out. It is dull, uninspired, and does not fit Lee’s character at all.
Again it may seem trite to pick on something so minute as a theme song, but the most successful Superstars in WWE all had iconic theme music.
Imagine the glass shatter of Stone Cold Steve Austin’s theme followed by a nondescript track, or The Rock’s “if you smeeeeeeell” backed up by a song lifted from a stock music site. The impact of the Superstar’s entrance is lessened severely by a poor choice of music.
The correct theme music gives the wrestler an identity; something that fits their persona, character, and in-ring style. The song that Keith Lee has right now doesn’t tick any of those boxes. A change in theme music for Lee would be a step in the right direction to make him a much bigger star.
#3. Allow Him to Rack Up Some Wins on WWE RAW
Keith Lee has had six matches on the main roster, three of which involved Randy Orton and two with Drew McIntyre. Three of the six have ended in disqualification or no contest. His win over Dolph Ziggler on WWE RAW was predictable, but his victory at Payback against Randy Orton was brilliant. While it is very promising that Lee’s first opponents have been top-level guys, the results of the matches are yet to bear any fruit.
A win streak is a sure-fire way to get new talent over as a credible and legitimate threat. For example, Goldberg is still known for his dominant run with WCW all those years ago. Asuka is fondly remembered for her undefeated record in NXT, and The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak is the stuff of legend.
If Keith Lee were just to start wrecking shop in the ring and destroying talent left, right, and center, then it would give him two things. First, he gets wins and victories lead to WWE titles. Secondly, with matches against wrestlers like Dolph Ziggler and Murphy, Lee wouldn’t only pick up said wins but he could do it emphatically with his unique displays of ability.
# 2. WWE Has to Let Keith be Keith
Keith Lee’s moniker is “Limitless” because he is. There isn’t anyone like him. Lee is a big man who does big man things, but Lee is also a dynamic performer who does astonishing things.
His matches in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla are legendary and are what brought him to the WWE stage. His matches in NXT were breathtaking, star-making performances, and GIF material. They’re what got him to this stage of his career.
Letting Keith Lee be Keith Lee sounds the most straightforward and most simple outcome. For some reason, WWE tends to handcuff individual NXT talent as a way of acclimating them into the main roster though.
His promos have a thespian like quality. His cadence is poetic and sounds as if he is reciting Shakespeare rather than cutting a promo. So far, WWE has been allowing him to speak in that style. As his role on RAW evolves the scripted promos will inevitably come. Hopefully, he will be able to take it in his stride and deliver them in the way only he can.
Lee is an otherworldly talent. His superhero-like mannerisms and in-ring ability should be available for all to see and not watered-down into that WWE style. Let him flip, let him fly, and let us bask in his glory.
#1. Keith Lee Should Win the WWE Championship
His two matches with the WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, have both ended prematurely due to interference. WWE is playing the long game with this rivalry by delaying it and hopefully, saving it for a big pay-per-view event.
Lee and McIntyre’s encounters both inside and outside of the ring have been highly entertaining. Despite the limited match time, what we have seen them do is very promising, and a proper, interrupted match must be on the way.
First, McIntyre faces Orton for the title at Clash of Champions next week. There is a strong chance that The Viper will come out of the match as the champion for the 14th time. A loss in the Ambulance match would keep Drew strong. Even more, making Orton champion would be the perfect opportunity for Lee to face and defeat The Legend Killer once again to win the WWE Championship. This would then set up a championship match between Lee and McIntyre in the future.
This is merely fantasy booking, but one thing is for sure, Keith Lee will inevitably earn a shot at the WWE Championship. When he does, he will more than likely leave with the title over his massive shoulder regardless of his opponent.
To win the WWE Championship within a few months of making his main roster debut would be memorable and befitting of someone with the sublime talents Lee possesses. There is no better way to become a bigger star in WWE than winning the prestigious prize in the entire company.
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