AJ Lee’s return to WWE appears to be more than a short-term deal, as the company has officially added her to its website roster. The move signals a potential long-term commitment, listing Lee in the ‘Current Superstars’ section. As of this writing, she has not been assigned to a specific brand.
This roster update comes as Lee is embroiled in a main event program heading into Wrestlepalooza on September 20, where she is set to team with her husband, CM Punk, against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. Since re-emerging on last week’s SmackDown, Lee has been a focal point of WWE programming, appearing on this week’s Raw and already being confirmed for next Monday’s show.
The high-stakes match for Wrestlepalooza was made official during a chaotic segment on the September 8 edition of Raw in Milwaukee. The confrontation saw Lee, still in possession of the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship she took from Becky Lynch, interrupted by both Lynch and Seth Rollins. The tension escalated when CM Punk arrived without his entrance music, attempting to hit Rollins with a GTS and ultimately goading Rollins into accepting the mixed tag team match.
A Return a Decade in the Making
Lee’s first appearance on Monday Night Raw in over 10 years was met with a massive ovation, as she cut a promo explaining that Lynch’s actions against Punk forced her out of retirement. The Milwaukee crowd was firmly behind her, chanting “welcome back” and even “therapy” in a supportive moment as Lee touched upon her mental health journey.
Lynch, meanwhile, played her heel role to perfection, hiding the black eye Lee gave her on SmackDown behind large sunglasses while berating the audience, who responded with heavy boos and “chicken” chants. After the match was set, Lee made a final statement by kissing the stolen title belt and throwing it at Lynch, cementing the deeply personal battle lines for the upcoming premium live event.