WWE Career and Impact of AJ Lee

WWE SmackDown Debut

AJ Lee made her main roster debut on the May 27, 2011, episode of SmackDown alongside Kaitlyn and Natalya. They feuded with Alicia Fox, Tamina Snuka, and Rosa Mendes before Natalya betrayed Lee and her tag partner. This led to a storyline, but The Chickbusters broke up after Kaitlyn grew frustrated with their frequent losses.

The Lackluster Booking

After this, WWE derailed AJ Lee’s momentum, casting her as a sidepiece in romantic storylines involving Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, and John Cena. WWE even appointed her as Raw General Manager at Raw 1000. When Lee stepped down from the role, she, alongside Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston, targeted John Cena.

Lee showcased drastic measures to avenge Cena’s rejection of her romantic advances. Vickie Guerrero was part of this storyline and presented videos depicting Lee and Cena in a romantic context. This storyline significantly demeaned CM Punk’s wife, portraying her in an unfavorable light.

The Final Years of WWE Superstar AJ Lee in the Company

AJ Lee regrouped and won the women’s battle royal on the April 22, 2013, episode of Raw to become the number one contender for the WWE Divas Championship. At Payback 2013, Lee dethroned Kaitlyn to become the new WWE Divas Champion. She retained her title at Money in the Bank 2013. While champion, her relationship with Dolph Ziggler fell apart, leading to a match alongside Big E against Dolph and Kaitlyn at SummerSlam 2013.

Lee went on to retain her title against Brie Bella, Naomi, and Natalya at Night of Champions 2013. She also defended her title against 14 women at WrestleMania XXX, successfully retaining it. Her record-setting 295-day championship run ended the following night on Raw against a debuting Paige.

AJ Lee’s Criticism of WWE and Eventual Departure

Like her husband, CM Punk, AJ Lee has been vocal about her concerns. She openly criticized WWE’s treatment of female superstars during a period when she was sidelined to heal a pre-existing neck injury. Stephanie McMahon and Vince McMahon acknowledged this sentiment.

Lee returned to form a tag team with Paige, defeating The Bella Twins at WrestleMania 31. She wrestled on the March 30, 2015, episode of Raw before stepping away from the ring to focus on her health. WWE publicly announced her departure on April 3, 2015, months after CM Punk left the company.

Why AJ Lee Matters

AJ Lee has been a pivotal figure in WWE’s women’s division. Her influential approach and candid feedback to the company elevated the division, making it more dynamic. As Michael Cole stated during her September 5, 2025, SmackDown return, “Crazy is her superpower,” and Lee effortlessly embodies this.

She speaks her mind and delivers in the ring. In 2025, she addressed ongoing mental health issues, articulating her thoughts clearly for all to understand. It remains to be seen whether she and CM Punk will unsettle Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins’ mental health during their mixed tag team match at Wrestlepalooza.