AJ Lee has returned to WWE after ten years. She made her shocking appearance at the end of the September 5 episode of SmackDown in Chicago, hitting the ring to attack Becky Lynch. Lee’s music played after a tense in-ring segment between Lynch and CM Punk, leading to Lee confronting Lynch and leaving her laying as the show went off the air.
The show’s final segment began with Seth Rollins introducing his wife, Becky Lynch. Lynch took the microphone and insulted Chicago’s local sports teams, which prompted a response from the hometown hero, CM Punk.
The promo battle between Punk and Lynch grew heated, with Lynch slapping Punk multiple times. After the repeated strikes, Punk stated that he would never put his hands on a woman, but he knew someone who would.
This declaration immediately brought out AJ Lee. She stormed the ring, performed her signature entrance poses, and then launched an attack on Lynch. The assault solidifies the expected mixed tag team match for Wrestlepalooza on September 20, where Lee and Punk will face Lynch and Rollins on WWE’s first premium live event broadcast on ESPN.
The animosity between the two couples started at Clash in Paris on August 31, when Lynch interfered to help Seth Rollins retain the World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk. As Rollins and Lynch retreated, SmackDown concluded with Punk and Lee standing together in the ring.