WWE

WWE Plans For AJ Lee Return May Include First-Ever Title Win

Following Becky Lynch's interference at Clash in Paris, WWE is setting the stage for AJ Lee’s return, potentially this Friday in Chicago. A mixed tag team match against Lynch and Seth Rollins is reportedly planned for Wrestlepalooza.

Leonardo Cunha
WWE Plans For AJ Lee Return May Include First-Ever Title Win

A mixed tag team match featuring a returning AJ Lee alongside her husband CM Punk against World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch is reportedly planned for the Wrestlepalooza premium live event on September 20. Furthermore, an appearance by Lee is heavily implied for the upcoming September 5 episode of SmackDown, which will take place in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

The storyline’s foundation was set at Clash in Paris on August 31, when Becky Lynch interfered in the main event and delivered a low blow to CM Punk, allowing her husband, Seth Rollins, to retain his title.

The conflict escalated on the subsequent episode of Raw. During an in-ring promo, Lynch slapped Punk multiple times after he called Rollins a “bum”. When the crowd chanted for “AJ Lee,” Lynch dismissed them, stating, “she doesn’t work here anymore.” Punk concluded the segment by warning Lynch that she would regret her actions. Later, when Raw General Manager Adam Pearce informed Punk that the next SmackDown was in Chicago, Punk’s reply was a simple, “Tremendous.”

Speculation was fueled further when Punk posted a cartoon of a devil on his Instagram story with the text, “Okay… you asked for it.” More definitive, however, was a social media post on September 3 from the official WWE Shop account on the platform X. In a reply to a fan, the account stated that new merchandise was being prepared for AJ Lee’s return to the ring. The post was deleted shortly after it was published.

This developing angle puts a direct spotlight on Lynch’s 87-day reign as the Women’s Intercontinental Champion. With Lee’s return seemingly imminent, a potential scenario involves Lee challenging Lynch for the title in what would be her first singles match in 127 months. Her last match occurred on March 30, 2015.

A title change could mirror the events at Clash in Paris, with outside interference costing Lynch her championship. Wrestlepalooza will be the first WWE premium live event to be broadcast on the ESPN streaming service. Internally, reports indicate Lee’s potential return has been met with excitement from the women’s roster.