WWE

AJ Lee Might Not Return, With Another WWE Women’s Champion Poised For SmackDown

Following Becky Lynch's interference at Clash in Paris, a backstage segment on RAW suggests Rhea Ripley, not AJ Lee, may be the one to back up CM Punk in his feud with Seth Rollins.

Leonardo Cunha
AJ Lee Might Not Return, With Another WWE Women’s Champion Poised For SmackDown

The seeds for a potential mixed-tag team conflict were planted this past Sunday at Clash in Paris, when Becky Lynch, disguised in the crowd, delivered a low blow to CM Punk. The interference cost Punk the World Heavyweight Championship in his Fatal Four-Way match, allowing Lynch’s husband, Seth Rollins, to retain the title. The angle immediately triggered widespread speculation that Punk’s wife, former Divas Champion AJ Lee, would return to WWE to seek revenge.

The speculation was fueled further in the aftermath of the match. Punk was seen acknowledging a fan’s sign that read, “Bring Back AJ Lee,” and the event’s post-show panel openly discussed the possibility of her comeback after more than nine years away from the ring.

That narrative carried directly into the September 1 episode of Monday Night Raw in Paris. CM Punk opened the show to address the attack, only to be interrupted by Becky Lynch. Responding to crowd chants for his wife, Lynch bluntly stated, “she doesn’t work here anymore.” After a tense verbal exchange, Lynch slapped Punk multiple times. Punk did not retaliate but warned her that she would come to regret her actions.

Later in the night, an incensed Punk was seen backstage asking Raw General Manager Adam Pearce about the location of the upcoming SmackDown, which Pearce confirmed would be in Punk’s hometown of Chicago. Punk’s simple response, “Tremendous,” was widely interpreted as a hint that he planned to bring his own backup to the show.

However, a different backstage interaction on Raw has now cast doubt on whether that backup will be AJ Lee. Punk was seen speaking with Rhea Ripley, with whom he has a known friendship. With Ripley not currently involved in a major storyline, the deliberate on-screen connection suggests that WWE may be positioning her to be Punk’s equalizer against Lynch and Rollins, especially given Ripley’s own past rivalry with Lynch.

While the on-screen story presents conflicting possibilities, behind-the-scenes reports indicate that an AJ Lee return is a legitimate topic of conversation within WWE. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, Lee’s name has been part of numerous creative pitches recently, with sources noting the discussions have gained “more traction… than in previous years.” Jon Alba of The Takedown on SI corroborated that her name has been mentioned in creative meetings. A WWE higher-up reportedly told Fightful that the company has few concerns about a potential return, noting Lee has maintained her physical condition and pointing to her husband’s own successful comeback after a long absence.