It’s time to light it up.
AJ Lee has made her triumphant return to WWE after she retired from wrestling 10 years ago. Lee made her comeback during the Sept. 5 edition in SmackDown, joining her husband CM Punk in his hometown of Chicago. The couple faced another married duo in Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
After making her electric return, Lee delivered shots to Lynch before the Women’s Intercontinental Champion retreated.
Lee’s arrival comes as her husband has reignited his longstanding feud with Rollins. Punk won the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam in August but Rollins returned from his supposed injury and cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Punk to win the title.
The two met again at Clash in Paris in a fatal four-way match, and Punk’s chance to win the title back was thwarted after Lynch interfered and helped her husband retain the gold. At Raw on Sept. 1, Lynch berated Punk and slapped him. Afterward, Punk teased something could be happening at SmackDown, which resulted in Lee’s arrival.
It is believed Punk and Lee will team up to face Rollins and Lynch at WrestlePalooza on Sept. 20, WWE’s first premium live event in ESPN’s livestreaming service.
AJ Lee WWE career
It took a decade, but Lee’s return to wrestling is something fans had been hoping and anticipating for years. Known for her unstable persona along with her elite promo skills and signature skip, Lee is considered one of the best wrestlers in the early 2010s. She was consistently at the top of the women’s division and is a three-time Divas Champion, tied for the most reigns in what was once the top women’s title.
While an accomplished star, Lee’s WWE tenure was rather short, spending only four years on the main roster. After competing at WrestleMania 31 in March 2015, she had her final match the next night on Raw. WWE announced Lee’s retirement from in-ring competition in April 2015. In her memoir ‘Crazy Is My Superpower,’ Lee said damage to her cervical spine and was a factor in her retirement.
Lee hasn’t wrestled since, but she’s stayed around the business. She’s been a writer for movies, TV shows and authored books, but she also was an executive producer for Women of Wrestling from 2021-23.
There was always hope Lee would eventually return to wrestling, especially since she did in the show ‘Heels.’ The belief raised when Punk made his return to the company in 2023, sensing she could also be coming back. Punk has referenced her several time during his current stint with WWE.
Now, Lee is finally back in the ring.
