AJ Lee Returns to WWE After a Decade
AJ Lee has made her long-awaited return to WWE, a decade after she retired due to a neck injury.
The company had hinted at Lee’s comeback, particularly following CM Punk’s recent controversial moment during a title match at the Paris Crush. Punk, who is married to Becky Lynch, found himself embroiled in dramatic interactions with Lynch and her husband, Seth Rollins, which captured the audience’s attention.
During a recent episode of “Monday Night Raw,” fans erupted in chants of “Aji Lee!” as the promotion unfolded, eager to see her reemerge in front of a spirited Chicago crowd during SmackDown.
Lee stepped in to support Punk after a heated verbal exchange with Lynch, who holds the women’s Intercontinental Championship. Punk had been searching for Rollins but instead encountered Lynch, escalating the tension.
After a history of rivalry with Punk, Rollins eventually showed up, but the segment concluded with Lynch slapping Punk, a moment loaded with energy. Punk cautioned Lynch about her actions, which made for an interesting twist.
Punk appeared excited when asked about where SmackDown would be held, especially since it was in his hometown of Chicago. It seemed like a perfect setting for Lee’s return.
With Lee’s involvement, a tag match featuring Rollins and Lynch against Punk and Lee is now set for Wrestlepalooza.
It’s noteworthy that Lee’s last match in WWE was a six-woman tag event on March 30, 2015. She announced her retirement just a month later after enduring a neck injury since SummerSlam 2014. In a 2022 interview, she revealed that she wrestled with three herniated discs during that tough period.
Lee’s career wasn’t devoid of controversy either. Her critiques of WWE’s treatment of women, particularly in February 2015, sparked the “#givedivasachance” movement. At the time, she voiced her concerns about the disparity in screen time and pay between the female wrestlers and their male counterparts, despite the women’s division contributing significantly to the company’s ratings.
Following his unexpected return in November 2023 at Survivor Series, Punk had initially thought he might not return. However, now he and Lee are focused on realizing the fans’ dreams of witnessing their collaboration once more.
