Former Divas Champion AJ Lee returned to WWE with a thunderous bang after ten years, being seen on SmackDown in Chicago in the final portion with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. Her surprise return immediately ignited the wrestling universe, with her standing alongside her husband CM Punk and rekindling one of the fiercest feuds in WWE today.
AJ Lee’s Surprise Return in Chicago
The audience went wild when AJ Lee’s theme music rang out, her first WWE appearance since 2015. The timing could not have been more dramatic Rollins and Becky were deep in the middle of an intense standoff with Punk when AJ appeared. The Chicago faithful’s pop reinforced the weeks of buildup and especially after Lynch had directly been involved in Punk’s loss of the World Heavyweight Championship at Clash in Paris.
AJ LEE IS BACK!!!!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UPsT7EcVdE
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025
Effect on Punk vs Rollins Narrative
Punk’s rivalry with Seth Rollins has been one of the showcase WWE storylines of 2025. The feud increased after Becky Lynch’s interference in Paris at the cost of Punk’s title. With AJ Lee entering the fray now, WWE has smartly transformed the storyline from a singles rivalry into a complicated, personal vendetta involving spouses on both sides. This opens up the possibility of intergender tag matches, surprise encounters, and a blockbuster payoff at Wrestlepalozaa on September 20.
Becky Lynch vs AJ Lee: A Dream Rivalry
Fans have long debated a dream AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch showdown. Both are the best of different times for WWE AJ, the Divas Era trailblazer, and Becky, the Women’s Evolution standout who headlined WrestleMania. AJ’s comeback makes that fantasy matchup an actuality on the horizon, as a singles match or as part of a mixed-tag angle with Punk and Rollins.
Mess with @cmpunk, you mess with AJ Lee! 🤭 pic.twitter.com/VVKqL73BMx
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025
What’s Next Before Wrestlepalozaa
WWE has already teased AJ Lee’s in-ring involvement, with her confrontation with Becky setting the stage for a high-stakes storyline. Whether it leads to AJ’s first official match in 10 years or simply builds tension for Punk vs Rollins, her presence adds star power and nostalgia to WWE’s biggest event of the year.
AJ Lee’s return is a nostalgia move it’s a WWE storytelling game-changer. By linking her return to Punk’s storyline against Rollins and Becky, WWE has laid the groundwork for one of its best feuds in years.
