{"id":363996,"date":"2026-07-10T10:45:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T05:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=363996"},"modified":"2026-07-10T10:45:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T05:15:26","slug":"aj-lees-wwe-comeback-gives-hope-to-female-wrestlers-apprehensive-about-ageism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/10\/aj-lees-wwe-comeback-gives-hope-to-female-wrestlers-apprehensive-about-ageism\/","title":{"rendered":"AJ Lee’s WWE Comeback Gives Hope To Female Wrestlers Apprehensive About Ageism"},"content":{"rendered":"
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AJ Lee returned to WWE in 2025 after over a decade away from the corporate, in an enormous moment that countless fans had been wanting for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

AJ\u2019s return to WWE saw her work with top names, including defeating Becky Lynch for the WWE Women\u2019s Intercontinental Championship in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before her WWE return, the closest AJ had come to a return to wrestling was her time as a producer\/commentator for WOW \u2013 Women of Wrestling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chatting with \u201cThe A2theK Wrestling Show\u201d, indie wrestler Madisyn Maxxwell, who worked on WOW, spoke about AJ\u2019s role with the corporate. She said,\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAJ and I didn\u2019t really work quite a bit together, nevertheless it was still really cool. She was there [and I was] around women which have done what I would like to do. My end goal obviously is to be a WWE Superstar. So having her there was really cool.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The response to AJ\u2019s return to WWE showed her unwavering popularity with pro wrestling fans, even a decade away from the promotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Maxxwell, the response AJ received proved that ladies can still be seen as credible despite being older than other Superstars. She explained,\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHer returning, I believe it also just gives hope. One in every of my biggest fears in wrestling is I grow up and someday I\u2019m going to be aged out essentially. So seeing women, not that she\u2019s old, but seeing women do that beyond the years that I assumed I’d give you the chance to do it is de facto, really inspiring.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo her return just gives hope for all of the indie wrestlers on the market that haven\u2019t made it yet that it\u2019s okay. We haven\u2019t had a contract yet. We still have time. We\u2019re not aged out.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For years, pro wrestling has had an age bias, with older male wrestlers being pushed in top roles for for much longer than their female counterparts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lee wrapped up her most up-to-date on-screen run with WWE at WrestleMania 42, where she lost the Women\u2019s Intercontinental Title to Lynch.\u00a0<\/p>\n