AJ Lee’s historic in-ring return after more than 11 years away culminated in a massive victory at WWE Wrestlepalooza. Teaming with her husband CM Punk, she forced Becky Lynch to submit in their heated tag team match against Lynch and Seth Rollins.
Now, the veteran mind behind the blockbuster encounter has been identified. According to a new report from Fightful Select, TJ Wilson, better known to fans as Tyson Kidd, was the producer of the highly anticipated bout.
The return was clearly a major moment for Lee, who originally retired from wrestling in 2015. Speaking on the Wrestlepalooza post-show, she opened up about what it felt like to be back.
“The match? It felt amazing, it was really surreal. It’s been a minute. Everything hurts way more than I remember, but that was a lot of fun.”
Beyond her own performance, Lee was effusive in her praise for the current WWE locker room culture, describing how the roster made her feel.
“Definitely. I mean, everyone was so welcoming and so kind and so complimentary in a way that made me feel like, ‘Oh, I did something and that it meant something to these wonderfully talented women.’ To be any tiny piece of their journey is so humbling. I’m so proud of them like a mama, and they’re wonderful. I just, I’m happy to be in their presence in the locker room.”
She concluded with a powerful statement on the growth of women’s wrestling since she was an active competitor.
“The evolution of the women has been the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. They deserved it 10 years ago; they deserve it now. They deserve even more in the next 10 years.”