AJ Lee’s 2025 Return Had Other Possibilities
Credit: WWE / Edited: STAY TRUE LUT
CM Punk Talks AJ Lee’s Return to WWE in 2025 on ESPN
CM Punk has shared that WWE had multiple options on the table for AJ Lee’s comeback. Speaking with ESPN ahead of Wrestlepalooza, Punk explained that even if AJ hadn’t been cleared for an in-ring return, WWE was prepared to welcome her back in a different role.
“I think even if the door was closed for her to come back and be a competitor or be an on-screen talent... I think the idea was, hey, if you want to do anything here, if there’s anything you want to promote, you can come back to be an ambassador.”
AJ Lee returned on the September 5th episode of SmackDown. While her in-ring comeback tonight will mark her first match in over a decade, Punk emphasized that WWE valued her contributions both inside and outside the ring.
Why Did AJ Lee Leave WWE
AJ Lee originally retired in 2015, citing injuries and her belief that she had accomplished all she wanted in the business. In the years away, she became an author and mental health advocate, focusing on work outside of wrestling before finally deciding to make her WWE return in 2025.
CM Punk and AJ Lee Storyline at Wrestlepalooza
Tonight’s Wrestlepalooza card features AJ teaming with Punk in a mixed tag match against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. The bout will be part of WWE’s landmark inaugural streaming event on ESPN in the U.S, Netflix worldwide and in select movie theatres within the United States.
For AJ, tonight isn’t just about her first match since 2015; it’s the culmination of a long journey back to WWE, standing side by side with her husband Punk on one of the biggest stages of the year, and a reminder that her influence on the company still carries weight a decade later.
Official WWE news available via WWE.com
