Wes Lee

Wes Lee Bio

Deveon Everhart Aikens, born November 3, 1988, is an American professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE under the ring name Wes Lee. Throughout his career, Aikens has achieved considerable success, including becoming a one-time NXT North American Champion and a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion. He is also recognized for his work as Dezmond Xavier in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and as a member of The Rascalz stable alongside Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel.

Aikens began his professional wrestling journey in 2011 on the independent circuit. He quickly gained recognition for his high-flying style and tag team expertise. His partnership with Zachary Wentz led to numerous championships across various promotions before both wrestlers signed with WWE in 2020. Aikens is married to Erica Marie.

Early Life and Background

Deveon Everhart Aikens was born on November 3, 1988, in Dayton, Ohio, United States. He developed an interest in professional wrestling at a young age and pursued training to enter the industry. His athletic build and natural agility contributed to his wrestling style, which emphasizes high-risk maneuvers and aerial attacks.

Before reaching the national stage, Aikens honed his skills on the independent wrestling scene. He adopted the ring name Dezmond Xavier and began competing in various promotions across the United States. His early performances demonstrated his potential for success in tag team competition and showcased his ability to connect with audiences through exciting in-ring action.

Aikens formed a significant partnership with Zachary Wentz during his independent circuit years. The duo initially competed under the name Scarlet and Graves and quickly established themselves as a formidable tag team. Their chemistry and shared wrestling philosophy made them stand out in the crowded independent wrestling landscape, eventually leading to opportunities with larger promotions.

Path to Professional Wrestling

Aikens made his professional wrestling debut in 2011 under the ring name Dezmond Xavier. He spent the first decade of his career competing in independent promotions, building a reputation for his athleticism and innovative offensive maneuvers. His breakthrough came through his tag team work with Wentz, as the pair captured championships in Combat Zone Wrestling, All American Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.

In 2017, Aikens signed with Impact Wrestling, bringing him to a national television audience. He competed in the X Division and participated in the GFW Super X Cup tournament, which he won by defeating Taiji Ishimori in the final. His success in Impact Wrestling, combined with his accomplishments on the independent circuit, made him an attractive prospect for WWE.

In December 2020, Aikens and Wentz signed contracts with WWE and were assigned to the WWE Performance Center. This transition marked a significant milestone in Aikens’s career, providing him with the platform to showcase his abilities to a global audience. His previous experience in tag team wrestling made him well-prepared for WWE’s developmental system.

Wes Lee Career

Early Career (2011–2020)

Before joining WWE, Aikens established himself as a successful tag team specialist on the independent circuit. He and Wentz won the Combat Zone Wrestling World Tag Team Championships twice and held the AAW World Tag Team Championships in 2017. Their most significant achievement came in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where they won the PWG World Tag Team Championships and held the titles for 1,025 days, the longest reign in the company’s history.

During his time in Impact Wrestling from 2017 to 2020, Aikens competed primarily in the X Division. He won the GFW Super X Cup tournament in 2017 and challenged for the X Division Championship on multiple occasions. He also formed The Rascalz stable with Wentz and Trey Miguel, competing in the tag team division before the group departed Impact Wrestling in November 2020.

WWE NXT Breakthrough (2021–2025)

Aikens debuted in WWE NXT in January 2021 under the ring name Wes Lee, with Wentz performing as Nash Carter. The team adopted the name MSK and immediately entered the Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, which they won. At NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, MSK won the vacant NXT Tag Team Championships in a triple threat match, marking their first championship victory in WWE.

MSK successfully defended their titles throughout 2021, including victories at NXT TakeOver: In Your House and NXT The Great American Bash. After briefly losing the titles, they regained them at NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2022. However, Carter’s release from WWE four days later ended MSK’s run and vacated the championships. This transition forced Lee to begin a singles career in NXT.

Lee’s singles breakthrough came at NXT Halloween Havoc in October 2022, when he won the vacant NXT North American Championship in a five-man ladder match. He became the longest-reigning NXT North American Champion in history, holding the title for 269 days. He set records for successful title defenses before losing the championship to Dominik Mysterio in July 2023. A back injury required surgery, sidelining Lee for eight to twelve months in late 2023.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Era (2024–Present)

Lee returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in July 2024 at Slammiversary, reuniting with The Rascalz for a six-man tag team match victory. He initially aligned himself with NXT wrestlers Tyriek Igwe and Tyson Dupont, forming The High Ryze. This group feuded with The Rascalz throughout early 2025, culminating in a match at Sacrifice in March 2025.

Following his WWE release in October 2025, Aikens reverted to the Dezmond Xavier ring name and returned to the independent circuit. He also reappeared in TNA at Turning Point in November 2025, reuniting with The Rascalz to defeat The System in an eight-man tag team match. This reunion marked his return to a face character after spending time as a heel in WWE.

Style and Strengths

Wes Lee is known for his high-flying wrestling style and exceptional agility. He incorporates aerial maneuvers and innovative offense into his matches, making him a fan favorite in cruiserweight-style competition. His tag team experience has given him strong understanding of teamwork and timing in the ring. Lee’s ability to adapt to both singles and tag team competition has been a key factor in his success across multiple promotions.

Notable Events and Milestones

Lee’s most significant achievement was becoming the longest-reigning NXT North American Champion with a 269-day reign. He also holds the record for most successful title defenses with the championship. His PWG World Tag Team Championship reign of 1,025 days alongside Wentz remains the longest in the promotion’s history. Winning the GFW Super X Cup in 2017 was another career highlight, showcasing his abilities against top international competition.

Wes Lee Career Wins

Wes Lee has won championships across multiple promotions throughout his career. His major titles include the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Tag Team Championships in WWE, as well as numerous tag team titles on the independent circuit and in Impact Wrestling.

WWE NXT Highlights

Lee won the NXT North American Championship in October 2022 and held the title for 269 days, setting records for both reign length and successful defenses. He also won the NXT Tag Team Championships twice as part of MSK, with first reign beginning in April 2021 and second reign in April 2022. His Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic victory in 2021 was another significant milestone in his WWE career.

Other Wins and Performances

On the independent circuit, Lee won the Combat Zone Wrestling World Tag Team Championships twice and the AAW World Tag Team Championships with Wentz. His PWG World Tag Team Championship reign of over 1,000 days stands as the longest in company history. He also won the GFW Super X Cup tournament in Impact Wrestling in 2017 and held the DTU Alto Impacto Championship earlier in his career.

Wes Lee Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Wes Lee, born Deveon Everhart Aikens, comes from Dayton, Ohio. Public information about his family background and wrestling lineage is limited. His rise in professional wrestling came through his own dedication and training on the independent circuit rather than through family connections to the wrestling industry.

Personal Life

Deveon Everhart Aikens is married to Erica Marie. The couple maintains a relatively private personal life outside of Aikens’s professional wrestling career. Details about children or other family members are not publicly documented in the available sources.

2025 Season Performance

During 2025, Wes Lee competed in both WWE NXT and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. In NXT, he formed The High Ryze faction with Tyriek Igwe and Tyson Dupont, engaging in a feud with his former Rascalz teammates. The group lost to The Rascalz and Ace Austin at TNA Sacrifice in March 2025 in a Lucha Rules six-man tag team match.

Lee’s final WWE match took place on July 29, 2025, against Je’Von Evans. He was released from WWE in October 2025, ending his nearly five-year tenure with the company. Following his release, he returned to the independent circuit as Dezmond Xavier and reappeared in TNA at Turning Point in November 2025, reuniting with The Rascalz for a victory over The System.