AJ Lee Returns to WWE After Decade-Long Hiatus, Ignites Feud Between Punk, Rollins, and Lynch

It’s been ten years since AJ Lee last laced up her boots in a WWE ring, but on Friday night in Chicago, the former three-time Divas Champion made her long-awaited comeback, and the fans erupted like it was 2014 all over again.

AJ, who retired in 2015 following her husband CM Punk’s dramatic WWE exit, had long been one of the most beloved stars in the women’s division. Her decision to step away came just as the Women’s Evolution was beginning to take shape, eventually creating opportunities for new stars like Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Mercedes Mone. While her absence left fans nostalgic and longing for her unique mix of charisma and unpredictability, AJ always seemed content pursuing projects outside the ring — until now.

The seeds for her return were planted at WWE Clash in Paris. In the main event, Punk looked poised to reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins, only for Becky Lynch to deliver a low blow that unfairly swung the match in Seth’s favor. As Punk walked back up the ramp, a fan’s sign caught the cameras: “Bring back AJ to WWE.” Punk’s smirk in response fueled speculation that something bigger was brewing. Maybe he was actually considering it.

The very next night on Raw, the teases only intensified. Becky slapped Punk and mocked him in the ring as fans chanted AJ’s name — chants that Becky and Seth didn’t ignore, but instead leaned into, even showing some resentment. Later, when Punk learned that SmackDown was heading to Chicago, the writing was on the wall.

Sure enough, on September 5th at the Allstate Arena SmackDown event, the WWE Universe got the payoff. In front of more than 16,000 roaring fans, AJ Lee made her long-awaited return. Wearing her signature casual style — though swapping out her usual Chuck Taylors for Vans — AJ stormed toward the ring, skipping in her trademark fashion. She attacked Becky Lynch, then embraced Punk in a nostalgic nod to their on-screen pairing from a decade ago. The crowd's reaction was deafening. Fans flooded social media with comments about how much they missed her, how she hadn’t lost her trademark playfulness and spunk, and how hearing her theme song “Light It Up” brought back waves of nostalgia.

Saraya, formerly Paige and one of AJ’s fiercest rivals during the Divas Era, shared an emotional message on X.

Their shared history is legendary, with the two trading the Divas Championship back and forth between 2014 and 2015, before AJ’s retirement brought their rivalry-turned-partnership to an end.

Online, the buzz was undeniable. Within an hour of her appearance, the return clip had amassed over 1.7 million views and 95,000 likes. For a superstar who had been away from the ring for a decade, that kind of reception proves AJ Lee hasn’t lost a step in her popularity. Whatever comes next remains to be seen, but with AJ back and immediately stepping into the Punk vs. Seth and Becky storyline, WWE has just added another massive layer to an already heated feud.