Report: AJ Lee Returning To WWE Imminently, CM Punk Wrestlepalooza Tag Expected (WWE News)

More on AJ Lee's imminent WWE return.

by Andrew Pollard
AJ Lee
WWE.com

Another day, another update on AJ Lee's potential WWE return...

Following the events of WWE Clash in Paris and this week's Raw, there has been plenty of online chatter that AJ is set to return to WWE imminently to assist her husband CM Punk against the nefarious Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins.

Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez noted that AJ Lee is indeed expected back in WWE ahead of a big mixed tag match at Wrestlepalooza on 20 September. Not just that, but this return isn't intended to be a one-off, as WWE is hopeful of doing more with the former Divas Champion. However, if it does end up being just the one match at Wrestlepalooza, WWE would still just be happy to have had her involved in that.

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Fightful Select adds that, of the many staff and talent they've spoken to about AJ Lee, they hadn't seen or spoken to AJ since she left the company back in 2015, but that she maintained "very pleasant exchanges" with them over those years. Likewise, the women's roster is said to be very excited about this news, particularly those who grew up watching AJ. Also, one veteran talent who never got the chance to work with Lee during her previous run was surprised that this return is happening, as CM Punk had previously always played down any talk of AJ Lee returning - though that was more him being respectful and supportive of what his wife wanted.

As for when AJ Lee could be back in the fold, all signs seem to point to this Friday's SmackDown, which takes place in Chicago. That'd be the same Chicago that's CM Punk's hometown, and the same Chicago where Punk and Lee live.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.