Keith Lee, Otis Reportedly Among Stars Vince McMahon ‘Threw A Fit’ About

WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon reportedly threw a fit in regards to the work of various big men on the roster per Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc). These individuals were mandated to undergo two training classes per week at the WWE Performance Center taught by Raw Superstar Drew Gulak and WWE Producer Adam Pearce.

The initial report did not disclose the names of these individuals outside of identifying them as “some of the big guys.” In an update from PWInsider (h/t Wrestling Inc), however, these big guys have since been identified as Otis, Keith Lee, Raw Underground standout Dabba-Kato, RETRIBUTION member Mace (Dio Maddin) and AJ Styles’ seven-foot bodyguard Omos.

Of course, the two names that stand out the most on this list are Otis and Keith Lee, who have each seen the highest of highs in 2020 only to come crashing back down to earth in recent months.

Whether these in-ring issues among Keith Lee and Otis are related to a lack of confidence following recent struggles, or Vince just being Vince, is anybody’s guess. But the narrative of Lee and Otis—both of whom were favorites of Vince McMahon at one point—being sent back down to developmental is indicative of the hot-and-cold nature of present-day WWE and its mercurial Chairman.

Lee had his main roster coming out party late in 2019 with a Survivor Series performance that reportedly made McMahon swoon. Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t WrestleTalk) even reported that Vince “loves” Keith Lee. Lee went on to enter the WWE Royal Rumble in 2020, where he was given an elusive “Clash of the Titans” spot opposite an impressed Brock Lesnar.

Lee’s full-time stint on the main roster has been a disappointment across the board, with many reasons for his struggles out of his control. WWE’s micromanaging main roster administration tinkered with Lee’s popular theme music, his look and even how he works in the ring as his agile big man act was exchanged for a more slow-paced style reminiscent of The Big Show. By not playing to his strengths and almost never being booked to win clean, Lee has become something of an afterthought on the main roster.

McMahon’s apparent souring on Lee comes amid head-scratching reports that WWE may be planning a Lee vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Brock Lesnar match at WrestleMania 37.

As a big man who won Vince McMahon over only for Vince to change course, Otis being in the same boat as Lee indicates these “improvement” issues go well beyond the talent itself.

This might not be a big man problem. This sounds more like a Vince McMahon problem as the Chairman continues his failures to commit long-term to a rising star.

As recently as October, WWE insider account @WrestleVotes noted Vince McMahon was still a huge supporter of Otis, who even won the Money in the Bank briefcase back in May. Otis would go on to join Ken Kennedy and become only the second WWE Superstar to lose the Money in the Bank Briefcase prior to cashing it in.

McMahon’s big-man edict is sure to draw ire from WWE’s mostly hardcore audience, particularly in the case of Lee, a 15-year veteran who many fans have followed throughout his successful stints in PWG and later on in NXT. As a historic former double champion in NXT, some will view the idea of Keith Lee being sent to the Performance Center as an outright slap in the face.

But WWE has a very specific playbook, and regardless of what anybody did prior to coming to the main roster—and this includes wrestlers in the WWE-owned NXT—the main roster is an entirely different animal.

Still, acquiescing to the ever-changing demands of Vince McMahon is a fool’s errand in its own right.