AJ Lee is back in a WWE ring for the first time in over 3,800 days. She made her return during the final segment of SmackDown, confronting Becky Lynch and laying her out with an attack after Lynch got into a heated exchange with CM Punk.
The confrontation began when Becky Lynch, standing in the ring, started mocking the fans. This prompted CM Punk to walk out and call Seth Rollins a coward for keeping his distance from the ring.
In response, Lynch slapped Punk across the face. Punk told Lynch he would never hit a woman, but he knew someone who would.
Immediately after, AJ Lee’s theme music, “Light It Up,” played throughout the arena. Lee appeared and charged the ring to attack Lynch, leading to an embrace between Lee and Punk as Rollins and Lynch retreated in shock.
After the broadcast concluded, Lee picked up the Women’s Intercontinental Title and was seen skipping around the ring, hinting at a future championship goal.
AJ LEE HOLDING THE TITLE WHILE SKIPPING INSIDE THE RING 🥹 pic.twitter.com/bwttTlvFaW
— 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 (@TwistedJohnX) September 6, 2025
The current direction is reportedly building toward a mixed tag team match at Wrestlepalooza that would see Lee and Punk face Lynch and Rollins. That event is also expected to feature a major confrontation between Brock Lesnar and John Cena, continuing a targeted campaign that began with Lesnar’s assault on Cena at SummerSlam on August 3.