10 Things You Didn't Know About AJ Lee
7. Her FCW Accolades
A few years after completing her training and pottering about on the independent scene, Lee paid the requisite $1500 to attend a WWE tryout in 2009. Impressed with the pint-sized rookie, the company offered AJ a contract, and sent her straight to their Florida Championship Wrestling developmental territory.
The finishing school had a novel approach to their female division. Rather than a traditional championship, the group's women battled it out for the title of 'Queen of FCW', crown and all. Shortly after alighting in Tampa, Lee claimed the crown from her future husband's future Straight Edge disciple Serena.
FCW eventually got with the times, and in 2010 introduced a women's championship to create parity with the men's. That December, Lee defeated former NXT rival Naomi for the strap, becoming the only woman to scoop up all the region's gold. WWE, clearly, had big things planned for her.