AJ Lee returned to a WWE ring for the first time in over a decade on the September 5 edition of SmackDown, attacking Becky Lynch on behalf of her husband, CM Punk. After the broadcast, WWE released footage showing Lee holding Lynch’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship, which was left behind after Lynch and Seth Rollins retreated from the ring in Chicago’s Allstate Arena.
The confrontation closed the show, beginning after Becky Lynch slapped CM Punk multiple times in the ring. Punk stated he would never hit a woman but knew someone who would, which immediately cued AJ Lee’s iconic “Light It Up” entrance music. Lee sprinted to the ring and unleashed an attack on Lynch, forcing the champion to flee through the crowd with Seth Rollins.
This attack serves as direct retaliation for Lynch’s actions at Clash in Paris the previous weekend, where she interfered to help Rollins retain the World Heavyweight Championship against Punk. The segment on SmackDown now sets the stage for a mixed tag team match at Wrestlepalooza, pitting Punk and Lee against Rollins and Lynch.
The appearance marked Lee’s first time in a WWE ring in over 3,800 days. She retired from in-ring competition in April 2015 following WrestleMania 31, citing a spinal injury.