5 Dream matches for Keith Lee outside WWE

One of the most shocking names in the latest batch of WWE releases was Keith Lee. The former NXT Champion was in the midst of a character change to Bearcat Lee following his return to action this past summer.

Despite overcoming COVID-19 and heart inflammation, Lee wasn't positioned prominently and was released on November 4th, 2021.

The Limitless One accomplished a lot in a short time with WWE. He is the only man ever to hold both the NXT and North American Championships simultaneously.

Lee is a versatile athlete who has the size and strength of the heavyweights with the agility of a cruiserweight. He is pretty solid in terms of mic skills.

For some reason, WWE could never capitalize on his skills in a major way on the main roster.

With Keith Lee now a free agent, the wrestling world will have the opportunity to see what he has to offer without restraint. The landscape is different from when he was last on the market in 2018, and many tantalizing matchups are more likely than ever before. In this article, let's look at the five dream matches for Keith Lee outside WWE.

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#5 Keith Lee vs. Shane Taylor

The timing of Keith Lee's release from WWE comes at an interesting time in the free agency market in wrestling. Not only are there boatloads of former WWE superstars available, including Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman, but there has become an even bigger influx that just occurred.

Bandido, Dragon Lee and Jonathan Gresham have all joined the open market, but Shane Taylor is the name that offers the most appealing dream match for Keith Lee.

These two men share a lot of similarities. They are powerful big men with surprising agility and charisma that resonate with fans no matter what promotion they are in.

Keith Lee and Shane Taylor were part of a tag team called "The Pretty Boy Killers" before The Limitless One's WWE run. They put on bangers against the Viking Raiders and the Briscoes before breaking up to gain more success on their own.

Their mutual breakup proved to be best for both men's careers, but this showdown would be awesome due to how well they know each other and how they have grown.

#4 Keith Lee vs. Tomohiro Ishii

There will be plenty of first-time-ever clashes for Keith Lee once his 90-day WWE non-compete clause is up. However, many fans will want to see The Limitless One square off with some former opponents that he hasn't been able to face in Vince McMahon's promotion.

NJPW's Tomohiro Ishii has faced Keith Lee in the UK for Revolution Pro in a tremendous encounter. But it has been three years since these two men locked horns and this will feel like a fresh matchup once again.

Ishii's hard-hitting, strong style makes him an ideal opponent for Lee. They created magic together and could do it on a bigger stage.

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#3 Keith Lee vs. Will Ospreay

Keith Lee spent years on the independent wrestling scene prior to his arrival in WWE. He has worked for many of the same promotions as the self-proclaimed "real" IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay.

Despite being some of the top competitors at that level during that time, no promoter saw fit to put the two exceptional athletes against one another.

Will Ospreay is among the best wrestlers in the world today and has adapted his style so much over the past few years.

He has bulked up and gone from Light heavyweight to Heavyweight in New Japan Pro Wrestling while maintaining his high flying arsenal. Keith Lee could present a different type of opponent that Ospreay hasn't tested himself against just yet.

#2 Keith Lee vs. Bryan Danielson

Keith Lee has to follow in the footsteps of many former WWE Superstars who have left the promotion for grander heights in their careers. From Jon Moxley to The Good Brothers, leaving WWE is not the end, but it could be the beginning. No one has made a better start to their new start than Bryan Danielson.

Since signing with the company in September, the former WWE Champion has put on incredible matches in AEW. Whether it be a strong style epic with Eddie Kingston and Minoru Suzuki or a technical masterpiece with Bobby Fish and Kenny Omega, the American Dragon has shown why many consider him one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation.

Week after week, Danielson has put on a clinic every week for All Elite Wrestling. This is similar to what Keith Lee was doing before signing with WWE.

The Limitless One offers a bigger challenger for Bryan and something that he is accustomed to producing quality bouts with throughout his career.

Keith Lee will have to utilize his size, strength, and agility to break down Danielson. The current No.1 Contender for the AEW World Championship will have to use his in-ring IQ, submission background, and signature kicks to overwhelm his larger competitor. It makes for a widely compelling showdown between these two stars.

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#1 Keith Lee vs. Shingo Takagi

Keith Lee has always treated the business with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove himself against the best in the world. It should be fun to see where he winds up because the possibilities are endless. NJPW has long been regarded as the home of the best professional wrestling. The current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi will attest to that claim.

The Los Ingobernables de Japon member has to be in the running for Wrestler of the Year for 2021 with his achievements and classic matches. Shingo has put on showstealers against Jeff Cobb, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay, among others in the past 12 months.

With the skills of those performers, it is safe to assume a similar quality with the Limitless One.

Keith Lee has never been shy to his fair share of terrific bouts, even in WWE. He tore it up with Dominik Dijakovic, Adam Cole and Roderick Strong in NXT while also producing entertaining contests with Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, and Riddle on the main roster.

Putting Lee against Takagi will be a physically intense clash with the fans on the edge of their seats.

The consistency of Shingo Takagi can't be underestimated. He has been a bonafide star and top guy for New Japan Pro Wrestling since his arrival in 2019. Keith Lee needs someone as talented and gifted as Shingo to work with to show why WWE made the mistake of letting him go. That's why Shingo Takagi is the biggest dream match outside WWE for Keith Lee.