Report: Keith Lee's WWE Absence Due To Health Reasons

Keith Lee's ongoing absence from WWE television is reportedly down to health issues and not because of creative reasons. 

Lee has not been seen since facing and beating Riddle in a match on Raw on February 8. He had been scheduled to participate in a triple threat match with Riddle and Bobby Lashley at Elimination Chamber 2021 for the United States Championship, but was subsequently pulled from the event. 

Fightful Select is reporting that Lee's continued absence from WWE programming is because he was sidelined for health reasons in February and WWE is yet to clear him to return. The 36-year-old underwent tests not long after he was sidelined and the former NXT Champion is actively trying to get cleared for a return to action. 

While WWE creative are not currently factoring Lee into their plans at the moment, the report notes that this isn't because WWE have no plans to use him. It is indicated that there were initial plans for Lee to actually win the United States Championship in the aforementioned triple-threat match but, once his absence was confirmed, the decision was made to put the title on Riddle.