There are breakout years, and then there are breakout years.

Keith Lee is having himself the latter.

A popular figure before 2020, it is the eight months of this year that have catapulted him into leading the NXT brand, and widespread superstardom across WWE.

So much of the work he has done himself, but little did we know that three words uttered by Brock Lesnar would have such an effect on the Limitless one.

A week after winning the North American Championship in NXT, Lee would enter the Royal Rumble and become one of the most giffed moments in recent wrestling history.

As he entered at lucky number 13, Brock stood alone in the ring having torn through much of the competition on the night. It gave him the perfect opportunity to eye-up Lee, and say the now immortal word ‘big boy huh?’.

It is not something Lee knew whas happening at the time, and is still coming to terms with the magnitude of such a moment, which falls into a similar category to the fist-bump he received from Roman Reigns at Survivor Series.

“Originally I didn’t even know that Brock was reacting to me in such a manner, nor would have I expected it to cause such a ruckus on the internet,” he told Sport360. “I think there is excitement when there is someone of Brock’s size or bigger gets in the ring with Brock because people want someone to go toe to toe with him. Every time someone tags me in it, it tickles me because I wouldn’t have expected it.

“The fist bump with Roman was unexpected to me as well, and then you see Brock reacting to me and then the interaction we had, those things are very special moments and are still something I am processing and I don’t think I understand the magnitude of how they have affected me.”

With the North American Championship already over his shoulder, Lee would go on to become the man who would finally snap Adam Cole’s record-breaking run as the NXT heavyweight champion at the start of July.

Knowing he entrusted to lead the brand is a big deal, and he has eyes for even more in the future.

“I felt like ‘the guy’ when I won the North American championship and began increasing the prestige of that championship, and I still feel like ‘the guy’ with the NXT championship. My goal here is to make that championship as important as I did the North American championship before giving the opportunity to other people.

“There is a certain pride that comes with it and being the guy to represent NXT is absolutely awesome and I hope there are more opportunities for me to do the same throughout WWE as a whole.”

With the restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic, fans we not able to share in Lee’s Heavyweight Championship win, something that is not lost on him.

“I think there is always a missing component without fans, and moments are always special with them. I don’t think it reduces the magnitude of what they are, becoming a first ever in anything is important stuff. Not having a crowd doesn’t take the shine away, but they would be even bigger moments with them.”

Lee is a man for the big moment – even when he was not officially signed to WWE.

Back in 2009 he took the role of a security guard during the famous rivalry between Triple H, backed by the McMahons, and Randy Orton with legacy.

During this he took a shot from Mr McMahon – and the fire was lit.

“I think back then I was just a wide-eyed dude just happy to be there. I was thinking maybe one day I could this cool stuff, and I was just happy to get socked in the mouth by Vince, and poked in the eye by Shane and have the crap beat out of me.

“Those times were things that motivated me, seeing these guys do what they do, but in my mind I have always thought I can do this – not only that but I can excel. I still have a long way to go though – I am just getting started.”

And, to today. Lee faces Karrion Kross this weekend at NXT TakeOver XXX this weekend, after a tumultuous few weeks against one of the brand’s darker characters.

Lee promises fans something a little different to combat an opponent who has clearly angered the big man.

“They will get a more brutal and aggressive version of myself. As much as I love competition, and I feel that is the lifeblood of this sport, this is something more. This is a fight, and I intend to make sure he realises what he has done by stepping at me in the wrong way. At Takeover he won’t have a choice but to stand face to face and reality will come crashing down.”

Fans in the Middle East can watch NXT TakeOver XXX along with SummerSlam this weekend exclusively live on the WWE Network.