AJ Lee’s first match in nearly a decade has sparked debate about her long-term place in WWE. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that while her comeback created immediate buzz, the impact may not last. He argued that the women’s division has changed too much during her absence to guarantee her spot as a consistent top draw.
Meltzer pointed to Lee’s age and the current in-ring standard as obstacles. “She could stand out a decade ago… but with how evolved the division is now, it’s tough,” he said. “The entire division has evolved incredibly in 10 years.”
A central part of his analysis was Becky Lynch’s role in Lee’s return bout at WrestlePalooza. Meltzer credited the current Women’s Intercontinental Champion with holding the contest together. “Becky helped carry her,” he affirmed. He added, “Becky Lynch really helped her through that a lot — and I thought almost enough.”
Garrett Gonzales, his co-host, agreed with the critique. “I did not like that match personally because I thought her style of wrestling just did not fit in with today’s style of wrestling,” Gonzales said.
Even so, Meltzer noted that Lee could still adapt. He suggested she might adopt a new mindset to catch up with the modern approach and “be a giant success.” He explained, “Very often, when you leave something and come back, and go back to doing what you did before — you don’t realize that the business is different.”
Lee’s return took place on September 20, 2025, at WWE WrestlePalooza in Indianapolis. She teamed with her husband, CM Punk, to defeat Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins in a mixed tag team match, forcing Lynch to submit to the Black Widow.
The storyline began earlier that month on the September 5 episode of SmackDown in Chicago. Lee made a surprise appearance to attack Lynch. In an off-air segment, she held up the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, signaling her title ambitions. After her WrestlePalooza victory, WWE relaunched her Love Bites merchandise line on WWE Shop.