WWE Roster SHOCKED By Recent Stephanie McMahon Podcast With AJ Lee (WWE News)

Fightful Select is reporting that some behind the scenes at WWE "were very surprised" that Stephanie McMahon and AJ Lee acknowledged their old beef from 2015 during the latter's appearance on McMahon's podcast recently. On the show, AJ even addressed the idea they wouldn't by noting it wasn't something she wanted to skirt past.

Stephanie also confirmed that Lee only agreed to do the pod if they brought up 2015's Twitter incident.

According to Fightful, "a number of WWE talent" couldn't believe their eyes and ears when that made it into the interview after all. Stephanie and AJ flashed up posts they'd made 10 years ago, then spoke about them one by one. That included Lee mocking McMahon's "#UseYourVoice" hashtag when quoting a tweet by Patricia Arquette about equal pay for women.

AJ noted that WWE's women regularly appeared in some of the highest rated segments on shows like Raw and SmackDown, but yet weren't paid the same rate as male superstars. She also complained about a disproportionate amount of screen time compared to the guys, and pointed out that the then-Divas sold a truckload of merchandise as well.

McMahon admitted that she wasn't happy with Lee at the time, if only because she felt like the tweets were aimed at her directly. However, she did think it was cool that somebody had the guts to speak up 'against the machine' and try to enforce change. That's something AJ added that she's extremely passionate about, and she's proud that she "stormed the gates" so others after her might benefit.

Apparently, many within WWE thought the duo would gloss over prior tension and focus on the here and now.

AJ's Return To WWE Was Huge

AJ returned to WWE programming on the 5 September episode of SmackDown. That got a booming pop from the live crowd in attendance, and it helped set up a mixed tag-team encounter pitting AJ and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. WWE booked that immediately for the upcoming Wrestlepalooza PLE, but then Lee practically vanished from the air.

She wouldn't return until the 17 November edition of Raw. There, AJ distracted Lynch and caused her arch rival to lose the Women's Intercontinental Title to underdog Maxxine Dupri. Since then, Lee has been put on the babyface squad for WarGames at this weekend's Survivor Series PLE.

After that, who knows? There's a chance that AJ will sit out again until January's Royal Rumble over in Saudi Arabia. Or, failing that, maybe she won't be seen until Elimination Chamber-into-WrestleMania time. Either way, it's becoming clear that Lee will be more of a part time attraction for the company rather than a weekly full-timer.

Her appearances/matches will always play before significant interest, at least.