Keith Lee explains his absence from WWE during the first half of 2021.
Keith Lee was away from Monday Night RAW from February until July and while he continued to post positive words to his audience, many fans were concerned regarding the length of his absence from WWE TV.
In a new video released on his personal YouTube channel, Keith Lee explains the trouble that he faced after contracting COVID-19 and the many struggles he faced and trying to get back to performing in WWE. Lee would also explain that Mia Yim, his fiance, took great care of him and even missed an opportunity in the Royal Rumble because she contracted COVID through her efforts of trying to take care of him.
"So as some of you know, toward the end of January, I missed about three weeks on TV. That time I had contracted COVID," Lee began. "Actually, before I continue, let me go ahead and point out something because I did see some disturbing and just rude marks toward Mia Yim. [There were] some stating that it was her fault that I was gone, and some stating that she gave me COVID and what have you illegal and clear that up right now, that needs to be clear. We're it not for her. I don't know how things would have gone to be quite honest. I contracted COVID. She did not actually for like three weeks and the only reason that she did contract it was because she refused to not be there and take care of me and unfortunately, that ended up costing her an opportunity in the Royal Rumble. But that was a chance she was willing to take so you know, at the end of the day, I'm grateful to her and it's unfortunate that some of you are ungrateful, because the reality is, there's no telling how things would have gone without her assistance."
Continuing on, Lee explained his absence after his final match on February 8 against Matt Riddle saying that the very next day, he received a phone call saying that there were some concerning signs in his blood work, which were ultimately revealed to be inflammation in his heart. Leave and explains the fight against death that he underwent for the next several months leading up to his return in Dallas, Texas on the Monday Night Raw following WWE Money in the Bank.
"So after that, I came back for one match, against Mr. Riddle and I believe that was February 8. Then the next day, I got a call saying that there was something off in my blood. Some people may have experienced this thing where there's an inflammation in the heart or lungs. For me, it was the heart That led to very scary times, I was basically forbidden from training or any activity outside of a light walk. So there was a fear that doing more than that, that there was a chance that I could just up and pass away. So for three or four months, this was kind of the case and I have several MRIs on my heart. By the way, I don't fit in those machines, it was terrible and my shoulders really struggled with that. But we had to do what we had to do, right? So this became a fight against death, so to speak. It took up until the company sent me to Pittsburgh to get looked at and it was to the point where I was about to have to undergo genetic testing and all sorts of things. Because it was thought that there was a potential [chance] I could have a heart disease of sorts. Very fortunately, even though it took a long time, and we waited that amount of time for that to allow the inflammation in my heart to eventually go down to normal. So even though the first MRI was bad, and then the second one was worse, over time. Things got better here and there and eventually, after that visit, I was cleared to try and get back into some sort of shape. That's where the real struggle is."
Lee concluded, "It took some time, and to be honest, it wasn't even certain that I was going to show up in Dallas, in terms of on TV. So you know, for the people that cared. I greatly appreciate you. You guys made a lot more than you know some of you even more than that. Mr. Casey, you're one of them for certain. At the end of the day, I don't really know what's next, right? I fought the battle that mattered the most and I'm healthy. That's all I could really ask for. That's all my family can ask for and now we fight to make the most of what we can do in this industry and just move forward. Now what I always say, "Forward march," the grind continues. It's forever. We fought death. So, I don't mind fight anybody else. So, we will move forward and guess we continue to show exactly what it means to be limitless. Till then, stay up people."
Most recently, Keith defeated Karrion Kross on Monday Night Raw on August 2 and then worked a dark match in Orlando, Florida before the August 9 episode of Monday Night Raw.
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