Could AJ Lee be gearing up for a WWE comeback? Naomi certainly hopes so. During her appearance on Casual Conversations, Naomi revealed she’s been actively campaigning for AJ Lee’s return—so much so that she’s even enlisted CM Punk to help persuade his wife.
“I be harassing her husband about that all the time! I told him, ‘You need to tell her I can’t retire until she comes back!'” Naomi said.
With CM Punk back in WWE, speculation has been swirling about a possible AJ Lee return. Chants for the former Divas Champion have echoed at recent events, particularly during the Royal Rumble, fueling fan hopes.
Naomi acknowledged the demand, saying it speaks volumes about AJ’s legacy.
“For her to be gone over a decade and still be missed that much? That tells you what she did for wrestling. She was special.”
As for whether AJ will actually step back into the ring, Naomi made her stance clear.
“Even if it’s just a quick little show, we starving, sis! We need it to happen!”
Naomi and AJ Lee’s paths first crossed in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in 2009-2010, where they both competed for the FCW Divas Championship. AJ Lee won the title from Naomi in December 2010.
Their careers continued to intersect when they both participated in the third season of NXT in 2010, with AJ Lee finishing in third place. After moving to WWE’s main roster, they faced each other multiple times, including a notable match in August 2013 when AJ Lee, as Divas Champion, successfully defended her title against several competitors including Naomi.
Nothing like seeing an old friend after years (over a decade) and feeling like no time has been lost. @TheAJMendez thank you for being you! pic.twitter.com/l6V3B3IuA1
AJ Lee hasn’t competed for WWE for close to a decade, but fans and Superstars alike hope to see her back in the ring, potentially at the 2025 Royal Rumble event. Speaking at a WWE Fanatics event, Big E was asked about Lee returning as part of this weekend’s Women’s Royal Rumble match.
“I would love to see AJ Lee in the Rumble. I think the pop would be absurd. It would be very exciting.”
At the event, Bayley reminded Big E of an unfortunate incident from the April 8, 2013 Raw, where Big E struck AJ in the chest during their entrance. Even a dozen years later, the former WWE Champion feels bad for what happened.
“We’re trying to move on, okay?! That was like 13 years ago! It was very embarrisng for me, she just smiled like it was nothing.”
Big E isn’t the only notable name hoping to see AJ Lee make her return to action this weekend in Indianapolis. While appearing on the Lightweights Podcast, , WWE interviewer Jackie Redmond said that she would be “so pumped” to see Lee return this weekend. Redmond even shared her take that nothing would be bigger than a return by the former Divas Champion.
“That’s all anyone would be talking about. What could top it? … If AJ f**king Lee came back, is there anything that could steal that headline from her?”
CM Punk also hopes to see his wife return to WWE this Saturday, though has said in the past he wouldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t wish to do. Punk hopes to earn his first victory in the Men’s Royal Rumble this weekend, and fans remain excited at the prospect of a return by AJ Lee at the 2025 Royal Rumble event.
CM Punk’s WWE return at the 2024 Royal Rumble was meant to be a triumphant moment, but resulted in the Best in the World suffering a torn triceps. Speaking with Jackie Redmond, Punk recalled feeling broken before informing his wife AJ Lee of the bad news.
“I gave myself a good eight-minute cry before I called my wife and told her, ‘Hey, I got hurt.’ I could cry for 45 minutes, and the instant I actually try to vocalize something like that to her, I’ll still blubber.”
Realizing how upset he was, AJ Lee made sure to comfort her husband, assuring him that this injury was just a temporary setback.
“She said, ‘Just come home, I’ll take care of you, we’ll get over it, we’ll get through it.’ That’s what we did. That’s what she does for me. Always has my back.”
Punk will be a part of this weekend’s 2025 Royal Rumble event, and hopes to win the Men’s Royal Rumble match for the first time. A victory would be a massive step for Punk towards headlining WrestleMania, another accolade the Best in the World has yet to reach. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on CM Punk’s future in WWE, as well as a potential return by AJ Lee.
This year marks a decade since AJ Lee last competed in a WWE ring and fans have been hoping to see her back ever since. With the 2025 Royal Rumble set to take place this weekend, plenty are hoping that Lee’s return is a matter of days away.
In an video with Jackie Redmond, Punk was asked who he’d like to see in the Women’s Royal Rumble match.
“Oooh! There’s a big one that I’m not going to say, because I’m going to get in trouble.”
This isn’t the first time Punk has brought up his wife and a potential return to WWE. Last July, Punk said that AJ knows that she has the option to return, but he will not push her into a comeback. In the interview, Punk added that AJ has seen how happy he is in this ‘new’ WWE and how things have changed since she was last around.
AJ has yet to appear on WWE TV since her 2015 exit, but her name has been coming up more ever since Punk’s stunning return to WWE in 2023. During a promo on Raw last year, Punk shared that AJ is doing well and sent her regards.
The WWE Royal Rumble is one of the promotion’s most exciting nights of the year and the return of AJ would be a huge moment for fans. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on AJ Lee and the former Divas Champion’s potential comeback.
AJ Lee is heralded by fans and several wrestlers as a trailblazer in WWE’s women’s division, who was able to win over fans during her time without resorting to titillation. The former WWE Divas Champion hasn’t wrestled since the post-WrestleMania 31 Raw back in March 2015, but NXT’s Cora Jade is hoping to change that very soon.
Speaking to Scott Fishman of TV Insider, Jade was asked about AJ Lee and shared her hopes of getting the 37-year-old back in the squared circle.
“I don’t know. I hope so. I’m working on it. Me and Roxy are always badgering [Punk] about it. I know he is doing it to her as well, so we’ll see. If it happens, you’ll have to thank me.”
Jade’s love for AJ Lee is hardly a secret, with both herself and NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez citing her as an inspiration for stepping foot in the ring. The NXT duo have been affectionately referred to as the ‘daughters’ of Lee and CM Punk, who have both got in on the fun.
With her husband CM Punk referencing her on WWE RAW, fans are buzzing at the possibility of AJ Lee stepping back in the ring, as are several Superstars she inspired. While Lee has yet to lace up her Chuck Taylors (not to be confused with the AEW star,) the former Divas Champion has an exciting new comic book project in the works.
This week, AJ and Amiee Garcia launched the Kickstarter for the special edition of their four-part comic book series ‘Day of the Dead Girl.’ A description for the series reads:
Death is never the end of the story. Coroner Sam Castillo will learn this the hard way, when a supernatural serial killer targets her hometown just as she moves back. A skeptical woman of science, Sam butts heads with her spiritual mother Ana, a leader of a witch coven specializing in Brujeria. But when the coven’s Brujas start turning up murdered, Sam and Ana must work together to find the killer and save their town’s Day of the Dead festival from turning into an occult bloodbath. As if sharing a bathroom with her mom wasn’t hard enough.
Lee and Garcia are no strangers to teaming up, having provided the comic adaptation for GLOW and Dungeons and Dragons. With two creative powerhouses at the helm, the project has already smashed its Kickstarter fundraising budget, a testament to their talents. Lee is also a best-selling writer, with her memoir ‘Crazy Is My Superpower‘ entering the New York Times charts in 2017.
Lee was at LA Comic-Con last weekend promoting the project, which is being produced by Magma Comix, who describe Day Of The Dead Girl as The X-Files meets Dexter with a Latina twist. Stay tuned for all the latest from AJ Lee and her life both in and out of the world of professional wrestling.
Posted October 10th, 2024 in News. Tagged: AJ Lee.
As WWE Women’s World Champion, Liv Morgan is one of WWE’s most featured performers and appears each week with Dominik Mysterio by her side. Next year, WWE SummerSlam 2025 will come to Morgan’s homestate of New Jersey, and the Judgment Day member has a dream match in mind.
While speaking during a Fanatics Fest autograph session over WWE Bad Blood weekend, Liv was about her dream match for SummerSlam and hopes to step in the ring with AJ Lee.
”My dream match for SummerSlam in New Jersey is myself and Daddy Dom vs. CM Punk and AJ Lee. We’re two Jersey girls, Dominik hates CM Punk and I think that could be [a great match.]”
Dominik certainly has his reasons for being opposed to CM Punk, as the Best in the World defeated Mysterio twice in December 2023, the first WWE matches for Punk since returning to the promotion. Punk recently put Mysterio’s name forward as one of the stars he plans to face after his feud with Drew McIntyre is finished.
Liv Morgan says her dream match is herself and Dominik Mysterio vs CM Punk and AJ Lee at SummerSlam 2025 in New Jersey.
Morgan isn’t the only Superstar eager to see AJ Lee return as Cora Jade and Bayley recently shared their support for the idea on X. Lee, who hasn’t competed since the March 30, 2015, edition of WWE Raw, had the following to say.
@YaOnlyLivvOnce i adore you goddesses and your peer pressure
CM Punk has said he’d love to see his wife return to WWE, but he would not force the idea on her as such a choice will be her decision alone. With WWE SummerSlam 2025 set to be a two-night event in East Rutherford, the promotion will be needing a stacked card to fill both nights of the show. Stay tuned to SEScoops to see whether AJ Lee is part of that card as Liv Morgan hopes.
AJ Lee says she has no idea what’s going on with CM Punk and Drew McIntyre.
The retired wrestling star has been mentioned a number of times during the feud between the two current WWE stars. The bracelet featuring her name and the name of her and Punk’s dog Larry has been the anchor of the whole storyline.
The former Divas Champion spoke to ComicBook recently to promote her new comic release with Scrappy Hearts Production partner Aimee Garcia, Day of the Dead Girl.
When asked for her thoughts on the ongoing WWE storyline between her husband and McIntyre, Lee claimed that she has no idea what’s going on:
“I mean this in the most loving way, I have no idea what’s going on [laughs]. I’m weird about like — I don’t want to watch my husband wrestle live because I’m scared. It’s like a weird juju thing.”
My Dog Is Famous All of A Sudden: AJ Lee
The former WWE star, real name April Mendez mentioned how she is focused on her own projects and doesn’t keep up with the product. While Punk still gives her some updates, she is not really immersed in it as people would think:
“I kind of don’t know what’s happening in the storyline. I know that my dog is famous all of a sudden! He’s got some surprise merch coming. I’ve been privy to that. But it’s cool. I’m happy that he’s happy and healthy and just killing it. I’m proud.”
Fans have been rooting for an AJ Lee return for a long time. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez who has become a protege of Punk has expressed the desire to wrestle the former champion many times.
The wrestling veteran, however, has been busy with outside projects. Punk himself has said that AJ knows there are options for her but he doesn’t want to give fans false hopes of her return.
A.J. Mendez-Brooks’ best-selling memoir, ‘Crazy is My Superpower’ (2017) is being adapted into a television documentary for A&E. Mendez-Brooks became a household name a decade ago as AJ Lee, one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE. The trailblazing performer helped jumpstart the Women’s Revolution before being forced into retirement due to injuries.
Since then, she’s become a New York Times Best Selling Author, has taken several acting roles and has new comic book series, ‘Day of the Dead Girl.’ Mendez-Brooks discussed these projects and more during this new interview with The Comicon:
Crazy is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules (2017)
Recently-retired WWE superstar AJ Mendez Brooks is a powerhouse–strong, quirky, and totally confident. But that wasn’t always the case. With humor and tremendous heart, she opens up for the first time about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons and the diagnosis that helped her gain control over her life.
Everything I was told should be my greatest insecurities and weaknesses, everything that I’ve been labeled–SHORT, NERDY, SKINNY, WEAK, IMPULSIVE, UGLY, TOMBOY, POOR, REBEL, LOUD, FREAK, CRAZY–turned out to be my greatest strengths. I didn’t become successful in spite of them. I became successful because of them.
Growing up AJ was a quiet girl trying to act “normal” when she felt anything but. As her family struggled with drug addiction, poverty, and mental illness, she found escape through comic books and video games, and was inspired by the tough and unconventional female characters. It wasn’t until she discovered pro wrestlingthat she learned superheroes could be real.
Determined to become the superhero she’d always admired, AJ trained and sacrificed for years to achieve her dream of wrestling professionally. Yet she quickly faced industry pressure to play the role of the damsel in distress and to dress more provocatively to cater to male fans. But she fought back and created an ass-kicking alter ego that was a genuine representation of herself: nerdy, enthusiastic, and a little bit crazy.
With humor and tremendous heart, AJ opens up for the first time about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons and the mental illness diagnosis that helped her gain control over her life. What most people view as a hardship, AJ embraced as inspira-tion for her superhero persona, shattering the stigma attached to mental illness.
Charting her journey from a scrappy girl in an unstable home to an empowered wrestling champion, Crazy Is My Superpower is an un-flinchingly honest story and brave confessional about her long road to self-acceptance.
CM Punk says AJ Lee is well aware of the options she has in terms of a potential wrestling return but it’s not something he is pushing her to do.
The potential return of the former Divas Champion continues to be a topic of discussion among fans as WWE has incorporated her name in Punk’s ongoing storyline with Drew McIntyre. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez most recently said that the former World Champion himself is also trying to convince AJ to make a return.
When asked about it during a recent interview with Ringside Collectibles at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Punk said that he is not pushing AJ in any way. According to him if a discussion was to take place about Lee returning under a legends deal or even signing up for a new action figure, he would like to stay out of that conversation:
“I’m the wrong guy to ask those questions about. My stance—I know there’s a lot out there of that—but I certainly am not pushing her to do anything. I think she knows that there’s options. I think she sees how happy I am and how things are different.
But if the right situation presented itself, it would have to be a discussion between her and certain people. I don’t necessarily want to be in the middle of that; just because it could get kind of weird. Selfishly, yes, I would love to make out with my wife on television again.”
While fans are hoping to see AJ Lee return to the ring as an active competitor, the chances of that are slim considering all the other projects the former wrestling star is involved in.
Though you can never say never in wrestling and the ongoing intense personal rivalry between Punk and McIntyre seems to be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the former champion on WWE TV.
Apart from this, CM Punk also reflected on the Straight Edge Society faction and commented on potentially leading a new group with NXT stars. You can check out his full interview below:
Fans of AJ Lee could see her back in the ring in the future, if Roxanne Perez and Lee’s husband CM Punk have anything to say about it. It’s been over nine years since the former WWE Divas Champion competed in WWE, with her final match being on the post-WrestleMania 31 RAW in 2015.
“I try (to talk to CM Punk about convincing A.J. Lee to return) but he tells me that he’s doing the same thing. He’s trying to get her to come back, he’s pulling her in but, I hope one day she decides to come back and have a match with me.”
In April, a rumor went around that WWE was actively working on recruiting AJ but that she wanted a memorable return rather than a one-off appearance. We later confirmed that this rumor was not true, and while she is well-liked and respected in WWE, her return was not a topic of discussion. At the WWE Money in the Bank post-show event, CM Punk also downplayed the idea of his wife’s return, saying he didn’t want to give fans false hope and is proud of AJ for “doing her own thing.”
If AJ Lee returns to WWE, there’ll be no shortage of delighted fans. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from the world of WWE and beyond.
AJ Lee has confirmed several upcoming projects under her Scrappy Hearts production company amid rumors about her potential WWE return.
The former Divas Champion was interviewed by Screen Rant during the Tribeca Film Festival. She was there promoting her new movie Sacramento starring Michael Angarano, Michael Cera, and Kristen Stewart in lead roles.
During the interview, Lee real name April Mendez, was asked if she has any projects in the works under her Scrappy Heart Productions banner. The former WWE star revealed that they have several projects ready to be launched with the goal of telling stories of underrepresented communities:
“We have an original comic book coming out very soon, and we have a short film that is about to hit the festival circuit and a horror movie that is next in list and ready to go.
So we are really excited to show you what we have at Scrappy Heart Productions. We’re trying to represent underrepresented communities, like my, like the Latino community. We want us to be the stars of our own stories and we’re really fighting for that.”
Scrappy Hearts Production is a company AJ Lee started with Aimee Garcia. Garcia is known for her roles in shows such as Lucifer and How To Train Your Dragon.
A potential WWE return for the former champion has been a topic of discussion among fans since her husband, CM Punk returned to the company last year at Survivor Series.
The repeated mention of Lee in Punk’s ongoing feud with Drew McIntyre has only added fuel to the fire and there were even rumors that AJ could make an appearance at last Saturday’s Money In The Bank PPV.
Though when asked about it in the post-show media scrum, Punk had alluded to all the projects his wife was working on. The latest comments from the former WWE star only further confirm that she is not very likely to make time from her busy schedule for a wrestling comeback.
CM Punk says he would love to see AJ Lee return to WWE but it’s a decision she is going to have to make for herself.
The Straight Edge star took part in the post Money In The Bank 2024 media scrum after costing Drew McIntyre yet another opportunity at becoming a world champion earlier in the night.
During the talk, Punk was asked about the chatter of his wife potentially making a comeback to WWE and if we can hope to see the two of them sharing the ring again. The former world champion claimed that he doesn’t want to give false hope to people:
“I appreciate the question. You would have to ask my wife but she’s not here. She’s taking care of Larry. I don’t want to fall in the trap of saying never say never.
I don’t want to give people false hope. I also will not put words in her mouth and say ‘I think this could happen’ I think this is a brave new world. I don’t think a lot of people thought I was going to show up. It’s really all on her.”
She’s Doing Her Own Thing: CM Punk
CM Punk noted how as a fan of AJ Lee, he would love to see the former Divas Champion back in the ring. Though he also mentioned all the projects she is currently involved in, which makes it hard for the female star to make a comeback:
“She’s busy. I’m super proud of her. She’s doing her own thing. She’s got, I don’t even know if I’m allowed to talk about this stuff. She’s got a production company started up, she’s writing TV, movies, all kinds of stuff.
I laughably, I always say I’m a bad husband because I never know what project she’s talking about. ‘Oh, I have a meeting’ and I’m like, ‘With who? Is it Netflix? Is it Hulu? Is it CBS?’ I don’t know. She’s got so many irons in so many different fires. I will say as a fan of hers, would love to see it.”
Matt Hardy made clear he’s grateful to be an American alongside some photos of himself and his family.
I am grateful to be an American. I feel fortunate that I was born into the United States. I still & will always believe in the American Dream because I was able to make it into a reality. I am blessed in so many ways that it doesn’t always seem real. I am unapologetically proud… pic.twitter.com/F8OrVzI03F
Drew McIntyre is holding nothing back in his feud with CM Punk, and now former WWE Superstar AJ Lee has been thrown into the mix.
Punk and McIntyre have been at odds for some time with Drew taking credit for the injury Punk sustained in January that kept him from competing at WrestleMania. At the April 2024 event, Punk attacked McIntyre, giving Damian Priest the opening to cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew who’d won the World Heavyweight Championship mere minutes earlier.
Now, McIntyre has brought up Punk’s wife AJ Lee in the latest escalation of their feud. On the Pat McAfee Show, McIntyre shared how much of a ‘troll’ he can be when it comes to the ‘Best in the World.’
“I’ll tear you apart on social media. I’ll step from behind the keyboard and I’ll tear you apart physically and if I wasn’t married I’d take your girl too. That’s the kind of troll I am.”
Punk and AJ married in 2014, mere months after Punk walked out of the promotion following that year’s Royal Rumble event. Punk received his termination papers from WWE on his wedding day, which was a sheer coincidence according to then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. After Punk’s return to WWE in November 2023, fans rallied behind the idea that AJ could return as well, though that hasn’t happened yet.
Punk’s feud with McIntyre has been a highlight of WWE programming in recent weeks, but the two won’t collide just yet. In addition to Punk’s torn triceps, McIntyre is dealing with an elbow injury he has blamed on Punk. Nevertheless, the pair continue to appear on Raw with anticipation growing towards their eventual collision.
More on Drew McIntyre
Here are some recent articles regarding Drew McIntyre as he continues to hold nothing back in his feud with CM Punk:
WWE NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is focused on getting her dream match with AJ Lee before the gold-brand Superstar hangs up her boots.
Sitting down with Ring The Belle, Perez discussed her immense respect for Lee, a three-time WWE Divas Champion. The NXT star made clear that she’ll keep wrestling as long as she can in order to get a match with Mrs. CM Punk.
“Hopefully, one day, she’ll come back and maybe we can all do something together. That would be, that would be like my dream. I can’t retire until I have a match against AJ Lee.”
AJ Lee hasn’t wrestled since 2015 but the former Superstar hasn’t left the world of professional wrestling entirely. Lee joined WOW – Women of Wrestling in 2021 as an executive producer and commentator. In August 2023, Lee said she would be parting ways with WOW at the end of her contract.
Perez is hardly the only woman in wrestling to hold AJ Lee in high regard. Fellow NXT Superstar Cora Jade has called Lee an inspiration, especially her feud with Paige (now AEW’s Saraya.) Julia Hart told the Busted Open Radio podcast earlier this year that she looked up to Lee and Alexa Bliss before stepping into the ring herself.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, March 20.
Last night’s NXT saw a big match added to the upcoming Stand & Deliver PLE over WrestleMania 40 weekend. In just a matter of hours, All Elite Wrestling presents a 3-hour live block of AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
WrestleMania 40 Countdown: 17 DAYS
Let’s get into it…
WWE News
Jade Cargill: I’ve been informed that Jade Cargill is not dealing with any injuries. Upon inquiry, I was informed that significant plans are in place for her future, described specially as “big plans.” They have a plan in place for her, so fans need to be a bit more patient.
Jade Cargill is not injured. Let’s get that out of the way.
I asked and was told there are plans for her, and they are “big plans.”
Bray Wyatt Documentary: We’re going to keep mentioning this, because everyone needs to see this. Bray Wyatt’s upcoming documentary, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, will drop on April 1st. WWE made the official announcement yesterday, and fans should expect quite a presentation for that passion project.
Apology: NXT star Brooks Jenson has been getting backlash for wearing an Ole Anderson t-shirt on television after the legend’s recent death. Despite his accomplishments in wrestling, Anderson has a well-documented history of racially insensitive comments and general ‘old-school’ / caveman opinions. \
RAW Ratings: The March 18th episode of WWE RAW, which took place at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, attracted 1.69 million viewers, marking a 4% decrease from the previous week’s broadcast. The 0.55 rating in the P18-49 demographic was essentially even with the previous week’s 0.56.
AEW:
AEW Dynamite Preview: Matches for tonight’s broadcast include:
TNT Championship I Quit Match: Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland
AEW Continental Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa vs. Toni Storm & Mariah May
Chris Jericho vs. HOOK
Plus, we’ll hear from Mercedes Mone and will see more build for next month’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.
Lost In The Jungle? Speaking of TK, it seems that he’s still upset with ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry for his role in CM Punk’s departure from AEW. That said to be the reason why we haven’t seen him on TV since his suspension. Perry still under contract with AEW, and competing in NJPW.
Matt Hardy at RAW: Matt Hardy and his wife Reby were spotted in a luxury box during WWE RAW in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was there visiting friends and sources backstage said they didn’t see Matt mingling. Hardy later claimed that he was only in the building for about an hour and a half.
Suspended Star Grateful: Sammy Guevara issued a statement, where he explained how grateful he is for the wave of fan support after his AEW suspension.
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows on the horizon:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
We’ll see you back here tomorrow for another installment of the Daily Drop.
AJ Lee left WWE in 2015 due to ongoing back issues, and things weren’t okay with the company for a while due to their feud with her husband, which included serving his release papers on their wedding day. AJ Mendez’s name is not on any banned list, because her husband, CM Punk, made his miraculous return in November last year. That was, and still is, no guarantee that the former Divas Champion will follow him.
As the rumor mill churns, another report about AJ Lee, now going as AJ Mendez, has started going around. I can confirm that there are no talks to bring her into WWE at this time, but she is still loved internally.
Fact Check: AJ Lee Return Rumor
There’s been talk circulating on social media that AJ Lee might return to WWE following CM Punk’s comeback, with discussions reportedly initiated through Punk prior to the Royal Rumble, but ultimately, they didn’t materialize.
A rumor going around is that ‘despite ongoing efforts from WWE, AJ wants a memorable return run rather than a one-time appearance.” Upon investigating this topic, we can report this one is not true.
I reached out to inquire about any talks of bringing AJ Lee back into the fold. After all, CM Punk was introduced as “AJ Lee’s husband” during the WrestleMania conference in the T-Mobile Arena. He has also made mention of his wife a couple of times on television.
As much fun as an AJ Lee return might be, I am told that there is no talk in that direction internally, nor with AJ about wrestling again. I was also told by a tenured source within the company that:
“She’s very well liked, and respected. Just not a topic at the moment.”
AJ Lee had to retire due to health reasons, and her back needed the rest.
On March 30, 2015, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, AJ Lee, Naomi, and Paige emerged victorious against Natalya and The Bella Twins. That match marked AJ Lee’s final outing in the ring to this date. Based on this latest rumor killer, it doesn’t seem like she will be ending that hiatus any time soon.
WOW brought AJ Mendez in as an Executive Producer for the company. Her involvement with WOW brought a lot of eyeballs, but she did not compete for the company. Tessa Blanchard, who did compete for WOW, had some disagreements with AJ during their time together.
AJ announced in August 2023 that she was moving on from WOW, but she wishes them the best and thanked them for the opportunity and the big payday. She has no shortage of projects, writings, and other things to keep her busy.
SEScoops will continue to monitor this story and will provide an update if new information becomes available.
Bayley was as shocked as the WWE Universe to see CM Punk return to WWE, as her friend/mentor AJ Lee gave no hints leading up to the show.
Punk made his shocking return to WWE in the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames 2023, which took place in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, IL. The event marked Punk’s first time appearing in front of a WWE crowd since walking out of the company following the 2014 Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The show also marked Punk’s first appearance at a wrestling event following his firing from AEW in September.
Bayley on CM Punk’s Return
WWE went to great measures to keep CM Punk’s return to WWE under wraps. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Bayley recalled her reaction and the atmosphere backstage.
“Someone has it on film somewhere, I’m watching the monitor and his music hit, I frick’n went crazy. I’m like, no way did they actually do this. I ran into Gorilla [position] to go say hi to him and he was so happy.”
The Damage CTRL member admitted that she was extra surprised as she keeps in contact with Punk’s wife AJ Lee, who had kept mum on the return of her husband.
“I didn’t text her [before]. Everybody reads online, but I was like there’s no way. This is crazy… And I was like, wait, no, it’s not gonna happen. He would have said something. She would have said something.”
Bayley on AJ Lee Returning
With CM Punk a WWE Superstar again, fans are buzzing over the possibility of AJ Lee returning to the ring. In the interview, Bayley shared her own excitement that the former Divas Champion could lace up her boots again.
“He gives me the best hugs. He’s like, ‘This one’s from me. This one’s from April.’ It’s nice to have him there but it makes me want her around. So I’m like, ‘Hey what’s up? What are you doing? Are you gonna hang out with us?’ ‘Sorry, I’m watching [our dog] Larry’”
SmackDown Superstar Bayley has her sights set on winning her first Women’s Royal Rumble match unless a certain former Superstar makes a return.
The 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event will take place on January 27, from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The show will be the 37th annual Royal Rumble event and the seventh to feature both a Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble match.
Bayley Hoping For a Return
The Royal Rumble match is synonymous with surprise entrants and Bayley hopes this year’s match is no different. While speaking on Gabby AF, Bayley was asked about who she’d like to see in the Women’s Rumble.
“Whoever wants to do a surprise entrance, just get ready to get thrown out by me. Mickie James is always awesome, I would love to see her again. Her music hits hard.
“Trish and Lita are always so fun to get those reactions, although they were just around not too long ago, still a good reaction.”
While Bayley would be fine throwing out Mickie, Trish, or Lita, a returning AJ Lee could prove to be too much for the Damage CTRL member.
“In an interview I just had, they brought up AJ Lee since CM Punk is here. I wouldn’t mind that.
I might actually let her throw me over the top rope if she came back. That’s how much I respect her.”
The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Bayley was the first Superstar to be declared for the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. She is joined by Nia Jax and former Rumble winners Becky Lynch (2019 winner) and Bianca Belair (2021 winner.)
Some surprise entrants won’t entirely be a surprise…
CM Punk returned to WWE, and fans soon cried for AJ Lee’s return as well. Other fans are now wondering when Larry, Punk and AJ Mendez’s dog, will make an appearance.
CM Punk Gives Update On Larry
During a recent interview on 640 The Score, CM Punk provided an update on Larry’s condition, mentioning that the dog experienced additional health issues, including a blown-out ACL.
A short time later, CM Punk appeared for the WWE 2024 Preview Special, and he was asked about Larry’s current state. Punk was very happy to receive a question about Larry, as he revealed that his little friend is doing much better.
“Oh, gosh, he’s doing so much better. He’s doing much better. He’s had a string of really, really good days. He had a rough couple of months. I don’t know if it was harder on me and April (His wife, aka WWE’s AJ Lee) or was harder on him, but he’s trying to jump back on the couch now. That’s how we got hurt in the first place. So we just gotta keep an eye on him still. But he’s doing a lot better. I appreciate you asking.”CM Punk acknowledged that Larry wasn’t present during the interview to be shown on camera, as AJ Lee likely had him in another room to prevent interruptions. This scenario is not uncommon for owners of small dogs who may hold sway in the household.
CM Punk & Larry’s Future
Currently, in a feud with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, CM Punk’s exchanges with Rollins started before Punk’s return and continued in on-screen promos. WrestleMania seems like a likely location for a confrontation between those two.
It remains to be seen whether Larry might make an appearance on WWE television. He was around backstage at AEW on a semi-frequent basis, as Larry was reportedly caught in the middle of Brawl Out, where he ended up losing two teeth after they were loosened during the chaos.
WWE saw the return of CM Punk at Survivor Series, and it didn’t take long for fans to wish they could see AJ Lee next. Although we have heard no definite momentum about her in-ring return, she is definitely teasing something.
AJ Lee on Heels
AJ Mendez landed a role on Heels. That part was perfect for her, because she got to play a female pro wrestler, despite her in-ring career grinding to a halt a year after her husband left WWE.
AJ Lee Drops Training Video
To add even more intrigue to the situation, the former Divas Champion dropped a video of her training in the ring with CM Punk. This is not recent footage, but it does show how hard she trained to get ready for that Heels role.
AJ Lee also dropped a photo on her Instagram story where she showed off her signature Chuck Taylor wrestling boots. She also picked lyrics to a classic Simon & Garfunkel song. This got a lot of fans going, assuming she is hinting at an in-ring return.
Why AJ Lee Left WWE
AJ Lee left WWE in 2015 after several years with the company. Following her last match at WrestleMania 31, AJ Lee announced her retirement from professional wrestling. AJ Lee and Saraya (then known as Paige) beat the Bella Twins in tag team action on the grandest stage of them all.
AJ Lee actually wrestled once more as AJ Lee, Naomi & Paige defeated Natalya & The Bella Twins in a 13-minute match during the March 30th WWE Monday Night RAW. Then, she bid WWE farewell, but she also went out with a win.
AJ Lee’s decision to leave WWE was a personal one, and she expressed a desire to focus on other endeavors outside the wrestling industry. Her departure marked the end of an impactful career in WWE, where she had achieved success as a multiple-time Divas Champion, and now fans can only imagine what 2024 has in store.
Fans will soon get an in-depth look at the formative years of AJ Lee as well as her former tag-team partner Brittney Savage.
Lee and Savage teamed together in Women Superstars Uncensored and would become the WSU Tag Team Champions in February 2009. The pair held the gold until Lee signed with WWE that same year.
Now, fans will get to learn more about the duo this month on pay-per-view and on-demand. Stonecutter Wrestling gave the following statement:
APRIL & BROOKE CARTER: THE AC EXPRESS! IN DECEMBER ON PAY-PER-VIEW AND ON DEMAND!
You know them as AJ Lee and Brittney Savage. But before they were stars, they were a tag team without compare known as the AC Express. You’ve seen them in some of the biggest fights in some of the biggest venues and on prime-time TV. And now you can see these champions in the early fights that rocketed them into stardom!
Every month you can see a new show focused on the early career of a current wrestling star, and you can order the shows on pay-per-view or on demand. In addition to APRIL & BROOKE CARTER: THE AC EXPRESS, be sure to check out JON MOXELY: THE SWITCHBLADE, still available on pay-per-view and on demand. Go online to your cable or satellite provider’s website to order on pay-per-view. Or check your on demand guide for available shows.
While Lee became the bigger star of the pair, Savage did make one WWE appearance. Her sole outing on WWE TV saw Savage lose a squash match to Beth Phoenix on the November 6, 2009, episode of SmackDown.
AJ Lee: Back in the Ring?
With CM Punk’s return to WWE, many are hopeful that AJ will soon be making a comeback alongside her husband. After Survivor Series: WarGames, AJ Lee’s name trended online. Lee is said to be well-respected within WWE with several Superstars interested in facing her.
Posted December 14th, 2023 in News. Tagged: AJ Lee.
AJ Lee is an inspiration for any person dealing with mental health problems. She had a successful WWE career while dealing with multiple issues herself. By opening up about her struggles with bipolar disorder, she has inspired many to seek help. The former Divas champion has continued spreading awareness about mental health in the society with her post-WWE work.
The former WWE star opened up about her journey and struggles on Renee Paquette’s The Sessions podcast. Speaking about how she manages her career with her illness, Lee said that it’s something you have to constantly be aware of:
“It really becomes this thing that you have to stay on top of all the time. You always have to kind of give yourself grace and check in with yourself” said AJ Lee, “And educate yourself about treatment, about the right method for you and about symptoms.”
The retired wrestling star also revealed her advice for the people who are dealing with issues themselves or know someone who does. She mentioned how education and empathy are two things that can save a life:
“So that’s my biggest thing, whether it’s you or someone you care about – education and empathy. If you just know what’s happening and you can give people a little bit of space and healing and grace when they need help.” said AJ Lee, “You really could save your life or somebody else’s.”
You can find country wise and global mental health hotlines here.
The end of their WWE career has been a bitter experience for a lot of former WWE stars, but not for AJ Lee. According to the former Diva’s champion, her exit was exactly what it needed to be.
The former WWE star recently appeared on The Sessions with Renee Paquette. Among other things, she talked openly about her departure from WWE.
Lee first revealed how Vince McMahon reacted to her decision to leave. She claimed that the boss was very kind and told her that the door was always open:
“He was very kind. He was just like, ‘the door’s always open if you want to come back.’ and that to me was I don’t know like I know it’s different for some people, but to me, it was so important to go out on top on my own terms.”
AJ Lee mentioned how a lot of people get buried on their way out of WWE. To get a win at WrestleMania just before her departure, felt the right way to leave to the female star:
“Yeah, I appreciated that. I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience with them. For me, it was exactly what it needed to be.”
Lee teamed up with Paige to defeat The Bella Twins on WrestleMania 31. She competed in a six women tag team match the next night on Raw and then announced her retirement on April 3, 2015.
