Published: 25 seconds ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 25 seconds ago by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
WWE
Last seen at WrestleMania 42 in April of this year, AJ Lee hasn’t ruled out a return to the ring in WWE, though she has a specific focus.
Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 on April 18 saw AJ Lee the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship to Becky Lynch.
A recent interview with iHeart Women’s Sports, saw the absent WWE star address a potential return, stating “if there’s a story there” as a driving thought behind that process.
With AJ Lee also indicating that a return would need to feel “like something new”, while also considering that it would have to “be a thing that excites” here, there are options, old and new, available to the star.
Renew The Paige Feud
It may not fit AJ Lee’s search for something new, but there’s certainly interest in revisiting her feud with Paige. Prior to making her own return to WWE, Paige commented that their rivalry was “never over” and both stars have clearly demonstrated that they have to ability to continue to perform within a stacked women’s roster.
A New Women’s Revolution
With Kevin Owens backing up Grayson Waller’s comment that the NXT women’s roster is doing better than the men, there’s opportunity to bring a cohort of new stars to the main roster, entering the orbit of AJ Lee.
Lee had parted ways with WWE earlier in 2015, seeing the star absent from the Women’s Revolution movement that would see the term ‘Divas’ retired and the Women’s Championship introduced. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks would all be brought up from NXT, going on to become top stars on the main roster (with Banks being reborn as Mercedes Mone in AEW).
Opportunity exists for Lee to be instrumental in a new revolution, seeing new stars either as a leader or antagonist.
AJ Lee: WWE Women’s Champion
A three-time Divas Champion and former Women’s Intercontinental Champion, AJ Lee’s title haul is somewhat thin on the ground.
With Chelsea Green as the interim WWE Women’s Champion and Rhea Ripley no doubt returning from injury to reclaim it, AJ Lee could very well be the star to claim the title on either side of its current standing.
Retirement Run
The iHeart interview saw AJ Lee suggest she was taking a “we will see” approach to a potential return, with her focus being on “writing and working out and staying ready.”
It’s probably too early to suggest that the star’s interests elsewhere may override her desire to rush back to the ring, but a retirement run could be in her future, allowing her to engage in feuds with stars new and old before hanging up her boots.
Whether WWE choose to give her the John Cena retirement tour treatment or not, it’s bound to be quite a moment for generations of fans.
WWE Hall Of Fame
Having signed a WWE contract in May 2009, AJ Lee would part ways with the company in April 2015, retiring as an in-ring competitor after just under six years.
Her return in September of last year marked over a decade since the star had last been seen in WWE, meaning that she had been away for longer than her original run, yet the fan reaction proved that there was much love that continues to this day.
With no names announced, at the time of writing, for the 2027 WWE Hall of Fame, it would be a surprise if AJ Lee wasn’t being considered for induction; if not next year, then likely in the near future.
Options Aplenty For WWE
Using AJ Lee sparingly has been a bold move for WWE, particularly given the full-time status of CM Punk, her real-life husband and Undisputed WWE Champion. It would have been an easy pitch to see them both back on the road together, yet that was clearly not the plan.
Just five matches since her return, AJ Lee has competed mostly on PLEs, with one episode of Raw back in March of this year seeing a victory over Bayley.
Bringing AJ Lee in to set up feuds, as was done with her return, is likely to be a factor in future plans, and seeing the opportunity to revisit her rivalry with Paige or elevate an up-and-coming star makes a lot of sense when it comes to bang-for-your-buck moments.
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