From the moment they met during NXT Season Three, Kaitlyn and AJ Lee were best friends. They tagged together, hung out backstage together and appreciated the things they had in common with one another. Neither was the prototypical Diva and they were perfectly fine with that. Unfortunately, AJ's choice in men and her rapid descent into madness created a schism between them that never quite healed. While AJ and Kaitlyn had matches against one another prior to 2013, it was in the spring and summer of that year that the rivalry became heated. Kaitlyn had been receiving Tweets, letter and text messages from what seemed to be a secret admirer. Finally, when it was time for the admirer to reveal him or herself, it turned out to be Big E Langston, AJ's friend and bodyguard. It turned out to be one big ruse, however, as Langston and AJ left Kaitlyn crying and humiliated in the center of the ring. The ordeal ignited a fire in Kaitlyn, who unleashed her anger and fury on AJ. The contract signing for their match at Payback turned into a brawl and for the first time in years, there was a legitimate buzz surrounding a Divas rivalry. At the June pay-per-view, they tore the house down with a superb match that saw Kaitlyn try so desperately to fight out of AJ's Black Widow but, ultimately, have no choice but to tapout to the hold. AJ would capture the title and successfully defend it the following month at Money in the Bank. That match was very good but did not quite live up to the quality of its predecessor. The feud would rage on, incorporating Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston into the equation before culminating in a Mixed Tag Team match at SummerSlam. Kaitlyn would get the last laugh, teaming with Ziggler to take down AJ and Langston in a brisk match that could have been better with increased time. The two heated rivals would clash in matches throughout the rest of the year, including in Kaitlyn's farewell bout. Her departure from the company signaled the end of the Kaitlyn-AJ saga and left the division to be dominated by the cast of Total Divas, which has never been involved in anything near the quality of what AJ and Kaitlyn accomplished for three months last year.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
