WWE TLC 2012 saw AJ Lee cost John Cena in a ladder match with Dolph Ziggler with the Show-Off’s Money within the Bank contract swinging within the balance.
The betrayal of Cena, who had been an on-screen ally of AJ’s marked Lee’s first time working as a heel on WWE TV since her introduction two years earlier.
Speaking on a recent edition of “The Matchup” podcast, Lee recalled being cheered by a young fan before the heel turn and the much different response lower than an hour later. She said,
“I’ll always remember like happening the doorway ramp and this dad and a bit of boy were like, ‘yay,’ they were so completely happy to see me, after which I turned on John Cena and I used to be coming to the back and this little boy like said essentially the most foul curse word at me, after which his dad was like, ‘yeah, that’s right!’ Like his dad was so pleased with him.”
Lee and Ziggler became an on-screen couple after the turn however the pair were split after Ziggler was turned babyface in the summertime of 2013.
Lee would remain with WWE until 2015. She returned to the promotion in 2025 and is a former WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion.