The finish of the World Heavyweight Championship match at Clash in Paris has set off a wave of speculation regarding a potential return for former Divas Champion AJ Lee. The main event, a Fatal Four-Way match, saw CM Punk on the verge of victory against champion Seth Rollins before Becky Lynch interfered. Dressed in all black, Lynch entered the ring and delivered a low blow to Punk, allowing her husband, Rollins, to secure the win.
The implications of the interference were addressed almost immediately. On the post-show panel, commentator Big E directly referenced the situation, stating, “This man CM Punk has got a wife too.” Punk himself fueled the talk later that night. While leaving the arena, he spotted a fan sign that read, “CM Punk, bring back AJ Lee,” held it up for the cameras, and acknowledged it before heading backstage.
According to a report from Fightful Select, the on-screen developments are matched by internal discussions. The report states that AJ Lee’s name has been mentioned in multiple creative pitches within WWE. Significantly, these pitches have not been immediately dismissed as they reportedly have been in past years, suggesting a greater openness to the idea of her return. This isn’t the first time Punk has referenced his wife on the road; during a recent European tour, he mimicked her signature skipping ring entrance.
As the on-screen rivalry with Rollins and Lynch intensifies, Punk shared a more personal message on social media. After a long European tour that concluded with this week’s Monday Night Raw, he posted an Instagram story about being away from his family.
“Day nine. And we move. I miss my wife and little bubba. It’s too hard being away this long. This is tour,” Punk wrote.
The speculation has also drawn a direct response from Becky Lynch. On the episode of Raw following Clash in Paris, Lynch addressed crowd chants for AJ Lee, saying, “Classic, always chanting for a dope that doesn’t work here.”
AJ Lee, a three-time Divas Champion, officially retired from in-ring competition on April 3, 2015, following WrestleMania 31. Her departure was attributed to issues with her cervical spine and occurred during a time of legal disputes between CM Punk and WWE.