With AEW Worlds end upon us, Keith Lee has been removed from the show at the last minute after failing to get medically cleared to compete. The “Limitless One” was due to meet his arch-rival Swerve Strickland to reignite the feud that started when Strickland turned on Lee in 2022; unfortunately, Tony Khan took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to announce that Lee wasn’t medically cleared by AEW doctors and will be replaced by his “Naturally Limitless” tag partner Dustin Rhodes. Worlds End will now mark Rhodes’ first AEW pay-per-view match since Double or Nothing in May, his first singles match since June, and his first AEW PPV singles match since defeating Shawn Spears at Double or Nothing 2020.
TONIGHT, 12/30/23#AEWWorldsEnd PPV
Long Island, NY @NassauColiseum@swerveconfident vs @dustinrhodesDue to injury, AEW doctors can’t clear Keith Lee for his match tonight at Worlds End. His Naturally Limitless partner Dustin Rhodes has asked to step in to face Swerve TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/jGJOaEQJqZ
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) December 30, 2023
Khan’s announcement follows an earlier X post from Lee revealing that he has been working through an undisclosed injury since “AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam” in September 2022. Lee said the injury had been recovering well, but had worsened over the last month and he couldn’t promise he would get through today.
“I keep it very real with you guys,” Lee wrote. “I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022. It has been mostly well taken care of. Things have been worse since Final Battle. I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.”
Today… I keep it very real with you guys.
I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022. It has been mostly well taken care of.
Things have been worse since Final Battle. I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.
— Excellent Lee (@RealKeithLee) December 30, 2023
Lee and Strickland had been set to finally blow off the rivalry that began more than a year ago when Strickland turned heel on his partner, ending the championship tag team known as Swerve In Our Glory. Lee defeated Swerve in multiple tag team matches in the aftermath, and the two even briefly teamed up again during AEW’s Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament over the summer, but the expected one-on-one-match between them never occurred, and now it’s been delayed once again.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
