Keith Lee Explains His 5-Month WWE Absence: "We Fought Death"

Keith Lee has had a lot to overcome in 2021.

Yesterday saw the WWE Raw star upload a video to his personal YouTube and Twitter accounts explaining his lengthy absence from television this year, outlining battles with COVID-19 and a potentially life-threatening heart condition, calling the situation a "fight against death."

Lee revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 in January, hence his first three-week absence from television. His fiancée, Mia Yim, took time off to care for Keith during this period, resulting in her missing out on the Royal Rumble. The 36-year-old expressed his gratitude for this, shooting down those who'd suggested that Yim was responsible for his first absence.

On his second absence, which stretched from February to July, Lee said he was informed that "something was off in my blood" after briefly returning for a match with Riddle. Suffering from inflammation of the heart, he was forbidden from doing any physical activity beyond a light walk. Lee revealed, scarily, that there was a chance he could pass away if he did anything more than that.

Undergoing multiple MRIs during this period, Keith found himself locked in what he called a "fight against death." Fortunately, has last few scans showed signs of improvement. When Lee was on the verge of undergoing genetic testing, his inflammation starting going down, leading to Lee being cleared.

While the former NXT Champion says he doesn't know what's next, he fought the battle that mattered the most and is now healthy.

Lee returned to WWE programming on the 19 July episode of Raw, having left the show in early February. This was the first time the reason for his departure has been disclosed - as is his right.