Latest news with #KeithLee
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Keith Lee Gives Update On Potential In-Ring Return
AEW star Keith Lee remains confident about making a comeback for his in-ring return. Lee hasn't wrestled for AEW since December 2023, when he defeated Brian Cage during the Holiday Bash episode of Collision. Since then, he's stayed off television but fans have been wondering when he will make his possible return. Advertisement When a fan reached out to him on Twitter/X with well wishes and hopes of seeing him wrestle again, Lee responded with optimism. He confirmed that he's in good health and remains confident that he will eventually step back into the ring. He wrote, 'You have my appreciation. I am quite well! Only time will tell when or where, but I am confident that time will come. Have patience my friend. Lead with Love. Be well.' As for his health status, the last update came in October 2024 when it reported that Lee had not medically cleared to return to in-ring competition due to an undisclosed medical issue. Despite the setback, the report confirmed that Lee remains under contract with AEW and is still listed on the active roster. Advertisement Keith Lee's run in AEW has had its share of highs and lows since his debut in 2022 following his release from WWE. He made an immediate impact by forming a tag team with Swerve Strickland, and together they captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship. However, the partnership eventually crumbled when Strickland betrayed Lee, sparking a heated rivalry. That feud, however, never reached its conclusion. An undisclosed medical issue sidelined Lee, removing him from the storyline. Although AEW had planned for the two to face off at Worlds End 2023, Lee was pulled from the match due to his health concerns. Read More: Keith Lee: We Are Not Done, Hang In There The post Keith Lee Gives Update On Potential In-Ring Return appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Popular AEW Wrestler Breaks Silence On Mysterious Absence
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. AEW star Keith Lee has provided an encouraging update regarding his health and his eventual return to the squared circle, assuring fans he is doing well despite a prolonged absence from television. Lee has been out of action since December 2023, an absence necessitated by his undergoing double surgery in early 2024. Addressing his in-ring future in response to a fan on social media who expressed hope to see him compete again, Lee stated, "You have my appreciation. I am quite well! Only time will tell when or where, but I am confident that time will come. Have patience my friend. Lead with Love. Be well." Lee's last match for AEW was a victory over Brian Cage on the Holiday Bash episode of Collision in December 2023, and he was recently spotted backstage at an AEW Collision taping in Houston. Lee's journey in professional wrestling saw him first make a major name for himself in WWE's NXT brand. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation He signed with WWE in 2018 and had a memorable run in NXT, becoming the first person in the brand's history to hold both the NXT Championship and the NXT North American Championship simultaneously in July 2020. Lee was called up to the Raw brand in August 2020 but faced disruptions due to health issues, including a severe bout with COVID-19 and subsequent heart inflammation, which kept him sidelined for a significant period. Despite these challenges, he made a return before being released by WWE in November 2021. "The Limitless One" then made his impactful AEW debut in February 2022. In AEW, Lee formed a popular and successful tag team with Swerve Strickland, known as Swerve In Our Glory, and the duo captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship in July 2022. All Elite Wrestling ALL IN at Wembley Stadium in London on August 27, 2023. All Elite Wrestling ALL IN at Wembley Stadium in London on August 27, 2023. Courtesy of AEW Following their eventual split and a subsequent feud, Lee continued as a singles competitor before his injury-related hiatus. Lee nor AEW has yet to confirm exactly what has sidelined him. His recent update signals a determined focus on recovery and an expected return to AEW when he is fully cleared. AEW could use someone like Lee in the ring and what he brings to the table and its roster. He is a really good in-ring worker and has limitless dream matches waiting for him. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Axios
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
All the N.C. restaurants viral food critic Keith Lee visited
Keith Lee, a viral TikTok food critic, concluded his recent food tour, which highlighted six North Carolina restaurants. Why it matters: Over 17 million of Lee's followers get a glimpse of what's cooking at some local restaurants, which can make a huge impact on each business after just one video. Driving the news: In a recent TikTok video, which has over 600,000 views and 111,000 likes in under 15 hours, Lee announced that he has left North Carolina. "Me and my family are no longer in North Carolina, but North Carolina was amazing. There's a bunch of restaurants that we intended on going to but wasn't able to make it," Lee said in the video. Zoom in: Before he left, Lee managed to impact one last N.C. restaurant. The owner of Madame B's Bakery in Raleigh made daily videos during Lee's visit that suggested he was coming to the restaurant. He wasn't able to perform a taste test on any of the items at Madame B's, but he gave the owner a $1,000 tip and an additional $500 that the owner could use to give back to customers. Here are the six North Carolina establishments Lee visited, plus what he ordered at each spot: Hibachi Papi Lee kicked off the food tour at a food truck in Clayton that sells a mix of hibachi plates and Alfredo pasta dishes. Best bites: Lamb Alfredo scored a 9.2 out of 10. The steak and chicken hibachi plate earned a 9. If you go: Check their Instagram for an updated schedule of locations before you go. Hibachi Papi will be at 501 Yates Drive in the Gateway Conference & Event Center from May 19–22. Cook Out The N.C.-based fast food chain was the next must-try spot that Lee visited while in Clayton. Best bites: The hush puppies, which he says taste like cornbread muffins, scored a 7.5. The cheddar-style burger was one of the best things he tried. Yes, but: He was not a fan of Cheerwine. He was recommended to try the Salibury-manufactured soda, calling it "Carolina drink." He gave it a 5. The corn dog (which earned a 6.5) and the walking taco were his least favorite items.. What they're saying: Lee explains this stop was a must-try when visiting the state, saying: "I was told if I came to North Carolina and didn't have Cook Out, that I didn't come to North Carolina." He later goes on to mention that "I was also told that this is a after-the-club, late-night, 2-o'clock-in-the-morning type of place. This is just for the culture." A Place at the Table Cafe This pay-what-you-can restaurant in Raleigh allows you to work for your order if you can't afford it. How it works: You have five options on how to pay for your meal if you can't pay the suggested price. Pay less than the suggested price buy paying $3 or more for an item like an entree, side or drink. Volunteer in the cafe for one hour for your meal three times a week. Pay it forward by purchasing a $10 "place card," which is a donation that allows someone else to order a meal. Dine as a family in the cafe for free once a week. Use a place card to afford one meal. Best bites: Chicken and waffles with a hot honey sauce, which Lee rated an 8 out of 10. Stop by: Find A Place at the Table Cafe at 300 W. Hargett St., #50. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, 8am–2pm. Corner Boys BBQ The owner of this Raleigh-based food truck specializing in barbecue has been asking Lee to visit his business since 2023. Best bites: The collard greens, brisket and ribs scored above 8.7. The pulled pork and lamb chops also received high scores. Stop by: Find Corner Boys BBQ at 2201 S. Wilmington St. Open daily, 8am–5pm. Crav'n Caribbean This Jamaican takeout spot is located within a Charlotte ghost kitchen. Context: Over 100 people, including popular local food influencer Cory Wilkins and the restaurant's owner, recommended this place. Best bites: Lee tried the jerk bourbon chicken and oxtail fried rice, which had high ratings individually. Lee gave the entree and side a combined rating of 6.5. Stop by: 2200 Thrift Road, inside Wesley Heights City Kitch. Open Monday through Friday, 12–3pm and 4–9pm, Saturday 12–9pm and Sunday 1–7pm. JJ's Mama's Soul Food & More Lee says the owner calls this spot the first Black-owned restaurant in Lexington. Stop by: 601 W. Fifth Ave. Open Thursday, 11:30am–3pm and 4–7:30pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am–3pm and 4–8pm, and Sunday 11:30am–4pm.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Viral food critic to visit Charleston food spots
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – An internet food critic and influencer who has amassed over 17 million TikTok followers is headed to the Lowcountry. Keith Lee announced he is taking a food tour of the Carolina's hitting hidden gems from Raleigh to Charleston. Lee is known for hitting mom-and-pop shops or hyperlocal spots 'I can't wait, man, I'm ready to eat,' he said in the announcement. 'Good food, good vibes, let's go have a good time.' Since the initial posts, Lee has tried Crav'n Caribbean in Charlotte, Corner Boys BBQ in Raleigh, and A Place at the Table Café in Raleigh, and enjoyed fried croaker fish made by exotic cook Bernard Hardison in Columbia. There's still time to send Lee your recommendations of must-try Charleston spots. He frequently posts about checking his inbox for suggestions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Keith Lee on hosting NYC food festival: 'I take it very seriously'
It's a festival worth its salt. Starring a who's who of culinary icons, Keith Lee's Family Style Food Festival is set to take over Industry City on Saturday, May 17, to assuage even the hangriest New Yawkas. 'I'm more than excited,' Lee, the martial artist-turned-foodfluencer whose 17 million TikTok followers can make or break a restaurant, told The Post. 'It's gonna be amazing, not even just from a food perspective, but from a culture perspective, and from a community perspective.' Produced in partnership with Complex, the festival is set to bring together the trendiest treats from across the city, all under Lee's trademark umbrella of shining a light on independent businesses. 5 Keith Lee, shown as a South by Southwest influencer panel in March, is 'more than excited' about his foodie gathering this Saturday. SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images That includes slices from Brooklyn's celeb favorite Lucali Pizza, sammies courtesy of Lower East Side legend Katz's Delicatessen and the viral Thai eats from Noho's Fish Cheeks, among a buffet of others. 'There's never really a way to include everyone, but we can try,' said Miles Canares, a founder of the festival alongside Ben Shenassafar and Bobby Kim of the Hundreds. It all began in 2019 with the idea of hosting a family-oriented food bacchanal. Complex acquired the festival last year amid larger plans for a food-focused publication. 5 Keith Lee (left) is joined by rapper Tobe Nwigwe for a food sampling at a 2024 festival in Las Vegas. 'It's gonna be amazing, not even just from a food perspective, but from a culture perspective, and from a community perspective,' he told The Post of his upcoming get-together. Julian Berman According to Canares, there's a cutthroat competition for a space at the highly sought-after snack summit. 'Our process of who to include is having a mix of institutions like Russ and Daughters, as well as hot spots,' says Canares. He points to Williamsburg's L'Industrie Pizza with its daily snaking lines, and Calvin Eng's Cantonese-American restaurant Bonnie's as two examples. Adds Lee, 'I get hundreds of messages a day.' The festival, which last had a successful stint in Los Angeles in 2024, is also known for limited-time collabs and mountains of merch. This year, they include a juicy Scallion Pancake Burrito with Char Sui (see: thick slices of Chinese-style pork) cooked up by LES stalwart Nom Wah Tea Parlor in partnership with Forsyth Fire Escape, the likes of which have been creating a buzz online. The mighty and meaty selections don't end there. Canares is especially salivating over a bountiful bagel sandwich courtesy of Greenberg's, stuffed with eggs, cheese and massive slabs of bacon from Hometown BBQ. Other noteworthy participants include a veritable UN of eats: Japanese delicacies from Raku and Vietnamese coffee courtesy of La Gaz, are among them. There are even bites from Georgia, the country, that is, in the form of Chelsea's Chama Mama. The pop-up Schmackwich, known for an ooey-gooey Wagyu chopped cheese, is also a member of the robust roster. 'They don't have a brick and mortar shop, but they have a team that has so much energy behind them,' says Canares. 5 Lee's event is produced in partnership with Complex and will bring together numerous city purveyors. WireImage Even the sips have major cred, with acclaimed watering hole Double Chicken Please (which was just named one of the 50 Best Bars in the world) also making an appearance. 'The food we feature is really a combination of who we feel like and who can create buzz,' Canares noted. 'There's a lot of restaurants who will have a trick or two up their sleeve.' When it comes to Lee, he's no stranger to rallying the masses to munch. The 29-year-old was a successful MMA fighter before becoming a breakout star on TikTok, thus far amassing nearly a billion likes thanks to his nonchalant reviews of tasty mom-and-pop operations nationwide, many of which he films inside the confines of his car. In the past couple of months alone, Lee's savory search has brought him everywhere from Texas and Chicago to London, where he shot a recent series of reviews. Lee even attended the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles as part of his scrumptious sojourn. 'I take food very seriously,' he says about his review methods, which are more sweet than sour, eschewing the Simon Cowell school of critique. 'I take people's feelings into consideration and I take people's hard work into consideration as well.' 5 Keith Lee says his culinary creation is about bringing 'buzz.' WireImage 5 TikTok creator Lee gets a taste of a British feast for a video. @keith_lee125/Tiktok Known to favor smaller operations off the beaten path (earning him the nickname 'The People's Champ'), his first viral hit came as a surprise — even to him. 'The moment I realized this was something bigger than just eating food was when I posted about a pizza shop that was about to close its doors,' Lee recalled. '24 hours later, I went to sleep and my mom woke me up at eight in the morning screaming and yelling and I thought it was an emergency.' It turns out, his mother saw the fledgling shop on the morning news — with a line out the door, thanks to Lee's video. But, there's also a flipside. Last November, eagle-eyed followers spotted something wiggling on sushi he scored from Seattle's FOB Sushi Bar. While Lee couldn't confirm or deny it was a worm, the public reaction was so intense that it led the eatery to temporarily close its doors. 'As long as I stay true to myself, there's no pressure at all because these reviews are exactly who I am in real life,' Lee said of his secret sauce to success. 'When you're not pretending to be something you're not, it's a lot easier to maintain your character than putting on a personality and having to take it off.' 'It's all based on the same thing I pride myself in, which is family,' said Lee, who has two kids with wife Ronni Lee, with a third on the way. As for his expectations of the festival: 'It's gonna be crazy.'
