SAEDNEWS: After a decade away from the squared circle, AJ Lee shocked the WWE Universe with a stunning return, standing alongside her husband CM Punk and reigniting one of the company’s most heated rivalries.
According to Saed News, AJ Lee has officially returned to WWE after ten years away from in-ring action, sparking one of the most talked-about moments in recent wrestling history. The surprise comeback took place on the September 5 edition of SmackDown in Chicago, where she appeared alongside her husband, CM Punk, in his hometown.
Lee made her presence felt immediately, going after Becky Lynch during a heated confrontation that also involved Seth Rollins and Punk. The moment set the stage for a high-profile showdown between the two married power couples of WWE.
Lee’s dramatic return was not just a nostalgic appearance but a major storyline development. Punk has been embroiled in a bitter feud with Rollins for months, intensified by Rollins’ Money in the Bank cash-in at SummerSlam that cost Punk the World Heavyweight Championship. Their rivalry escalated further at Clash in Paris, where interference from Becky Lynch denied Punk another chance at gold.
On the September 1 episode of Raw, Lynch slapped Punk during a heated exchange, leading to speculation that a larger confrontation was brewing. Those rumors were confirmed on SmackDown, when AJ Lee entered the fray and attacked Lynch, forcing the champion to retreat.
WWE has hinted that Lee and Punk will team up against Rollins and Lynch at WrestlePalooza on September 20, a marquee match that will also serve as WWE’s first premium live event streamed on ESPN+.
Lee’s comeback is particularly significant because of her impact on women’s wrestling during her first run with the company. Known for her eccentric persona, sharp mic skills, and distinctive skip to the ring, she became one of WWE’s most popular stars of the early 2010s.
She is a three-time Divas Champion, tied for the most reigns in the now-defunct title’s history, and was central to many of the women’s division’s most memorable storylines. Despite her success, her career was relatively short-lived, lasting just four years on the main roster.
Her final match came the night after WrestleMania 31 in March 2015. WWE announced her retirement soon after, with Lee later revealing in her memoir Crazy Is My Superpower that injuries to her cervical spine played a role in her decision to step away.
In the years following her retirement, AJ Lee built a career outside the ring. She wrote books, worked as a producer for film and television, and served as an executive producer for Women of Wrestling between 2021 and 2023. She also appeared in the wrestling-themed television series Heels, fueling speculation that she might eventually make a return to the squared circle.
Her husband CM Punk’s comeback to WWE in 2023 only amplified those rumors, as fans speculated that her reappearance was inevitable. Punk himself teased her several times during promos, planting seeds that finally paid off with her return on SmackDown.
Now that AJ Lee is back, questions remain about her role in the current WWE landscape. Will she commit to a full-time in-ring schedule, or will her appearances be tied to Punk’s high-profile storyline? Either way, her presence has already shaken up the women’s division and added new intrigue to one of WWE’s most heated rivalries.
For longtime fans, her comeback represents more than just nostalgia — it is the return of a performer who helped pave the way for women’s wrestling to become what it is today. And with WrestlePalooza looming, the stage is set for AJ Lee to make her in-ring return in one of the most anticipated matches of the year.
