Why Keith Lee Could Have A Hard Time Adjusting To WWE NXT

Just two days after reporting to the WWE Performance Center, Keith Lee wrestled his first match for NXT.

At Wednesday night’s NXT television tapings at Full Sail Live in Orlando, Florida, Lee beat Marcel Barthel in a singles match.

Lee’s “Limitless” nickname was displayed on his entrance video and tights, and his “Bask In My Glory” catchphrase was on a hoodie that he wore to the ring. Lee beat Barthel with his finisher, a fireman’s carry powerslam.

#NXTFSLive t.v. debut of @Marcel_B_WWE pic.twitter.com/OZfRPHkIZh

— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) July 19, 2018

Scoop #29: Keith Lee is in NXT pic.twitter.com/29BUnFvolP

— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) July 19, 2018

#NXTFSLive The Limitless @RealKeithLee makes his NXT debut. @WONF4W pic.twitter.com/3lgxPXNoOj

— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) July 19, 2018

Scoop #30: Keith Lee defeats Marcel Barthel pic.twitter.com/BmsqNfpwWT

— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) July 19, 2018

#NXTFSLive your winner! @RealKeithLee pic.twitter.com/wGrIYfGkce

— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) July 19, 2018

#NXTFSLive POUNCE! @RealKeithLee pic.twitter.com/wgZVildG9y

— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) July 19, 2018

#NXTFSLive Take 'em down @RealKeithLee pic.twitter.com/lnAHpZXA61

— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) July 19, 2018

It’s the @FullSail debut of @RealKeithLee vs @Marcel_B_WWE #NXTFSLive pic.twitter.com/EIS6PIbiTq

— Jordan Alvarado (@nerdyjordy) July 19, 2018

A victorious debut for @RealKeithLee #nxtfslive pic.twitter.com/tIot4LE26F

— Jordan Alvarado (@nerdyjordy) July 19, 2018

If the match does air, this will also serve as Barthel’s NXT TV debut. He formerly wrestled as Axel Dieter Jr. for wXw in Germany and PROGRESS in the United Kingdom before being signed by WWE in 2017. He’s wrestled under his real name at NXT house shows since debuting in June 2017.

Lee, a 6-foot-2, 320-pound performer from the independent wrestling scene, made waves last month when he appeared in the crowd during Aleister Black and Lars Sullivan’s NXT Title Match at TakeOver: Chicago II. Going by the nickname of “Limitless” on the indies, Lee has captured many titles during his 13-year wrestling career, including the World Wrestling Network Championship and the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Championship.

Back in April, Lee successfully defended the World Wrestling Network Championship against Kassius Ohno at WrestleMania Axxess in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to Sean Radican of the Pro Wrestling Torch, Lee got mixed reviews from WWE officials for his efforts. One WWE source noted that Lee has a reputation for “doing moves” and he’s going to have to adjust his style in WWE to that of a telling a story in the ring.

The key for Lee to having success in NXT is that he has to be coachable. Another source noted that when Lio Rush arrived at the WWE Performance Center last year, he wasn’t coachable. This is one of the reasons he floundered until joining 205 Live last month.

On the other hand, WWE sources of the Pro Wrestling Torch noted that Ricochet has been easy to work with from the first day he reported to the WWE Performance Center back in January. One source noted that the key to finding success in NXT as a name indie talent is to come in and listen to all of the advice given from the coaches at the WWE Performance Center and then after that process plays out, you can have more input into your character. Since joining WWE, Ricochet has been great to work with and in turn, producers have allowed him to have more input into his character.

Following Lee’s appearance on Wednesday, he tweeted the following.

I am out to make a statement and shake the Earth. This is just the beginning of a new grind. Come along for the ride.#BaskInMyGlory #iAmLimitless pic.twitter.com/ymQAtrv5P9

— Keith Lee (@RealKeithLee) July 19, 2018