10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About AJ Lee

9. Flipping Out On Michelle Beadle

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WWE.com

ESPN sportscaster Michelle Beadle was invited to attend WWE's annual Tribute To The Troops show in 2013. A guest of the company, she was invited to hang out backstage, and got to participate in an in-ring angle with John Cena, but ran into trouble with CM Punk and AJ Lee later in the evening.

As the story goes, Beadle and her entourage bumped into the couple backstage. She greeted Punk (whom she considered a friend at the time) with a flippant "what's up, f***-face?", but neither 'The Voice Of The Voiceless' nor AJ saw the funny side. Moments later, Lee was apparently up in Beadle's face yelling at her "not to disrespect [my] boyfriend," leaving the guest shaken.

Punk has since downplayed the incident, acknowledging that while Beadle did greet him as reported, the confrontation between her and AJ was blown out of proportion. On the other hand, Michelle has stated that the situation was so bad, it prompted WWE to personally apologise to her, and that her existing friendship with Punk ended that day.

The he said/she said nature of this story means it is best taken with a hint of cynicism, but it's something that WWE would love to sweep under the rug regardless.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.