The backstage reaction to AJ Lee’s return has been overwhelmingly positive, with talent and staff reportedly viewing her comeback as both inspirational and a significant morale booster. According to a report from BodySlam, Lee has signed a multi-year, full-time contract with WWE, confirming her return is not a short-term appearance. The buzz within the company is said to be “quite high” following the news.
Lee made her first appearance in a WWE ring in over a decade on the September 5th edition of Friday Night SmackDown in Chicago. The return happened after Becky Lynch slapped Lee’s husband, CM Punk, during an in-ring segment.
This confrontation directly builds toward a mixed tag team match scheduled for Wrestlepalooza on September 20, where Lee and Punk will face Lynch and Seth Rollins. To further the storyline, PWInsider reports that Lee is scheduled to appear on the September 8th episode of Monday Night Raw in Milwaukee.
The conflict is rooted in the ongoing feud between Rollins and Punk. Tensions escalated when Lynch interfered at Clash in Paris, helping Rollins retain the World Heavyweight Championship against Punk. On the September 1st episode of Raw, Lynch slapped Punk, prompting his statement on SmackDown that he would not retaliate against a woman just before Lee’s entrance.
Lee’s return is particularly significant as she retired in 2015 due to what was diagnosed as permanent damage to her cervical spine. The commitment to a full-time, multi-year deal after such a long hiatus underscores the personal and professional stakes of her comeback.