Former Divas Champion AJ Lee is reportedly headed back to WWE ten years after her retirement from the corporate to tag together with her husband, CM Punk at Wrestlepalooza. Based on Fightful Select, WWE is planning to have Lee return to the ring at their first premium live event on ESPN’s recent streaming service on September 20, and her on-screen return is imminent.
Rumors about Lee’s return began swirling on Sunday after Becky Lynch appeared to low blow Punk during her husband, Seth Rollins’, fatal four-way World Heavyweight Championship match at Clash in Paris. Rumors ramped up after “WWE Raw” on Monday when Punk told Lynch she’d “be sorry she put her hands on him.” The Wrestlepalooza match will reportedly see Punk and Lee tackle Rollins and Lynch.
Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline also reported on Tuesday that WWE was planning the match. Fightful reported over the weekend that there had been pitches internally for Lee to return. It was also heavily implied by Punk on “Raw” when he asked General Manager Adam Pearce where “WWE SmackDown” is on Friday. The blue brand will emanate from Punk’s hometown of Chicago, Illinois, where he and his wife reside.
Fightful reported they were told Lee’s Wrestlepalooza match “is not necessarily a one-off,” and the corporate hopes they will do more together with her. Staff and talent the outlet spoke with said they hadn’t spoken to or seen Lee since she left the corporate in 2015, but the connection remained nice over time. There have been also a lot of women who grew up watching Lee, but never started working together with her, who were shocked her return is reportedly happening, and are very excited.