AJ Lee returns to WWE, the inspirational story of AJ Lee – not only her WWE debuts and record Divas Championship reigns but also her contributions as an author, mental health advocate and her gorgeous 2025 WWE comeback.
AJ Lee, Big Return What Happened?
- Six months later, nine years after leaving the company, fans jubilated on the episode of WWE SmackDown on September 5, 2025 in Chicago, when AJ Lee returned dramatically to WWE.
- The homecoming took place during a hot segment with CM Punk, Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. When Punk called on somebody else (Lynch verbally assaulted him and hit him on the face), AJ Lee surprisingly entered. She ran into the ring and confronted Lynch, inciting the audience and preparing what comes across as a sizzling mixed tag team match.
Why It’s a Big Moment
- The appearance of AJ Lee ends a long period of absence since she retired in April 2015 after being injured in the neck.
- Hype of her return started gaining momentum recently: a since-deleted tweet by WWE Shop alluded to her comeback and future merchandise, leading to widespread speculation before being confirmed by her appearance on SmackDown.
What’s Next?
- Everything points to a big money mixed tag match in the 2025 Wrestlepalooza between CM Punk and AJ Lee and Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
- However, there seems to be a hint that WWE has intentions to have AJ Lee appear more than once. It is also reported that prior to her appearing on air again, she had signed a new WWE contract, which made her return official.
- Backstage video of Triple H and AJ Lee signing the deal was posted by WWE moments after SmackDown had gone off-air.
TL;DR
- When & where? AJ Lee has been mentioned as appearing in SmackDown, appearing in Chicago on September 5, 2025.
- Why now? The plot trigger was generated though tension in the story between CM Punk and Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins coupled up with a leak in WWE Shop merchandise.
- Result? She assaulted Becky Lynch, which was a significant event and possibly the precursor to a Wrestlepalooza fight.
- Official status? She has already signed another WWE contract and seems to be featured in future storylines.
Early Life & Background
- Birth Name: April Jeanette Mendez (April Jeanette Brooks when she married CM Punk).
- Born March 19, 1987, Union City, New Jersey, USA.
- She was raised in a Puerto Rican working class family and she attributes her fascination with wrestling to WWE viewing with her brother.
- Being influenced by other female wrestlers, such as Lita, AJ made the decision to become a wrestler at a very tender age.
Wrestling Career
Training & Early Work (2007–2009)
- Trained in Jay Lethal Wrestling Academy.
- Wrestled independently, as Miss April.
- Participated in competitions such as Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) prior to signing with WWE.
WWE Developmental (2009–2010)
- Signed by WWE in 2009, to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), the developmental division of WWE at the time.
- Invented her AJ Lee character, her geek chic appearance mixed with her aggressive wrestling approach.
Main Roster Breakthrough (2011–2013)
- Made main roster debut in 2011 as a member of the “Chickbusters” tag team with Kaitlyn.
- Rose to prominence when featured in storylines involving Daniel Bryan, CM Punk and Kane in 2012, as an erratic, unstable character known as the Crazy Chick.
- Becomes the youngest to hold the position of Named Raw General Manager when he is appointed to the post in July 2012.
- Not only did her conflicts with the super stars performers (John Cena, Vickie Guerrero, Dolph Ziggler) demonstrate that she is not just a multi-faceted performer, but is also a fantastic character who appears to initiate new people into the world, it was also a great way of doing it.
WWE Divas Champion 3-time (2013–2015)
o First reign: June 2013 to defeated Kaitlyn at Payback.
o Second reign: April 2014 – won at the Raw following WrestleMania 30.
o Third reign: beat Nikki Bella by November 2014.
- Made the championship record of 295 days in her original reign, the longest in the history of the championship at the time.
- Introduced stars such as Kaitlyn, Paige and the Bella Twins.
- Retired in-ring competition April 3, 2015, due to injury (especially to her cervical spine/neck).
Achievements & Honors
WWE
- 3× WWE Divas Champion
- Longest single Divas Championship reign 295 days (record until 2015 when it was broken by Nikki Bella).
- Slammy Awards:
o Diva of the Year (2012, 2014)
o Kiss of the Year (2012, with John Cena)
- Helped to popularize the concept that women wrestlers needed to be more than eye candy – the Women’s Revolution was to follow.
Outside WWE
- Author: Co-wrote Crazy Is My Superpower (2017), a New York Times bestseller, her story of mental illness and its impact on her life, her upbringing, and her wrestling career.
- Producer/Writer: Left WWE and did some work on TV and comic book projects.
- Mental Health Advocate: A vocal individual that discusses bipolar disorder and works with mental health groups.
Personal Life
- Hitched fellow WWE super star CM Punk (Phil Brooks) in 2014.
- The two grew up into one of the most popular wrestling couples.
Legacy
- AJ Lee is remembered as being one of the most influential female wrestlers of her time.
- Her charisma, in-ring talent, promo work, and her personality have helped to blaze a trail towards the present day division of women.
- Beyond the ring, she was a best-selling author, mental health advocate and role model to millions of her adoring fans.
Conclusion
The story of how AJ Lee worked her way to prominence as a WWE Superstar is simply awe-inspiring as she started as a mere fan of wrestling and rose to the top of the list of the most successful wrestlers of all time.
Her character, guts and technical prowess breathed new life into the concept of being a female wrestler in the Divas era. Not only do her return to WWE in 2025 a decade later send her fans into a state of ecstasy, but makes her one of the strongest women in the history of the business.
That she is returning to WWE 10 years later in 2025 not only makes her fans very happy but also aids in establishing her among the most influential female in the history of the industry.
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