Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash has criticized AJ Lee’s return to the company, stating that her skipping to the ring on the September 5 episode of SmackDown was inappropriate for the realism of her angle with Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. Speaking recently on his Kliq This podcast, Nash argued that the nature of the story demanded a more serious approach.
Nash elaborated that the angle’s premise was not a typical wrestling storyline but a personal conflict. He asserted that Lee’s motivation was to confront Lynch for putting her hands on Lee’s husband, CM Punk.
“The reason she’s coming down is not to make [a] phony s**t wrestling angle,” Nash said. “The reason she’s come down is because another woman is putting her hands on her husband, and he can’t do anything about it.”
In his view, the context required an immediate and intense physical response from Lee.
“Under the circumstances, if she would have just stormed down and not even said a word, just went right to her and pummeled the s–t out of her, then if she wants to come out the next week and fing skip, she can do what she wants,”* he affirmed.
This is not the first time Nash has been critical of Lee since her return, having previously stated that her discussion of her mental health experiences amounted to mocking the subject.
The angle began on the September 5 SmackDown in Chicago, where Lee’s return culminated in an attack on Lynch. In an off-air segment after the show, Lee directly signaled her intentions by holding up the Intercontinental Championship.
The initial phase of the feud concluded at WWE Wrestlepalooza on September 20, where Lee teamed with CM Punk to defeat the heel duo of Lynch and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins in a mixed tag team match.
With Lee now signed to a multi-year, full-time contract, speculation has turned to her next program. Wrestling analyst Sam Roberts has predicted a formal challenge against Lynch for the Intercontinental title is imminent. Roberts noted Lee is a credible challenger who could elevate a long-term rivalry, win or lose.
However, a September 27 analysis of the Wrestlepalooza match stated that Lynch “helped carry” Lee through the contest, raising questions about how her in-ring style fits into the current WWE landscape as the company builds toward its next event in Crown Jewel.