AJ Lee has returned to WWE after over a decade away, and her boss, Triple H, and close friend Paige (Saraya) are among those celebrating. The 38-year-old came to CM Punk‘s rescue on SmackDown, taking out Becky Lynch with a slap after the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion had slapped her real-life husband.
Triple H & Paige Welcome AJ Lee Back
AJ Lee soaked in the moment at Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, skipping to the ring before ending the show with a huge smile on her face. A post-SmackDown video released by WWE shows the former three-time Divas Champion pick up Lynch’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship and parade it around the ring while celebrating with Punk.
Another video that WWE’s media team have dropped shows chief content officer, Triple H, presenting AJ with her contract to sign. They embrace before she signs on the dotted line.
Triple H inevitably grabbed a traditional photo opportunity with the Geeky Goddess and her husband and penned a message:
“You can always come home…Welcome back (AJ Lee).”
AJ Lee is a pioneer of the women’s division, and her iconic first stint with the company came while a rival and a partner to Paige (now known as Saraya). Her last match in WWE came in April 2015 when she teamed up with Paige and Naomi to defeat The Bella Twins and Natalya.
Paige, currently a free agent, was emotional after seeing her friend return:
“F**k, my heart is so full watching (AJ Lee) come back. Love you sister. Go show ‘em why you’re the best in the world.”
Now attention turns to AJ’s future plans now that she’s back in the WWE, and it shouldn’t be too long until we get confirmation of her first match since the six-woman tag at WrestleMania 31. It’s thought that she’ll be teaming with Punk to take on Lynch and Seth Rollins in a mixed-tag match at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.
WWE Past & Present Hail AJ Lee Return
AJ Lee’s return opens the door for some exciting matches against the current generation, and undoubtedly, at the top of the wishlist is a rivalry with Roxanne Perez. The Judgment Day member looked up to AJ during her childhood and took inspiration from her heel persona.
Roxanne was elated to see ‘Mommy’ (not Rhea Ripley) back, first stating:
“MOMMYS HOME”
The former two-time NXT Women’s Champion then corrected a fan account by calling the return:
“(The greatest)**in wrestling history”
Naomi has been hilarious throughout the speculation over AJ Lee’s return as she once explained how she’s been haggling CM Punk to make it happen. But the former Women’s World Champion, who is sitting out for at least year due to pregnancy, sent out a series of hysterical tweets to try and avoid “crashing out”:
“I’m pulling out the last few strands of hair I have left…I’ve waited a decade for this return just to be sitting on the couch now looking crazy.”
She jokingly warned her partner Jimmy Uso
“Big Jim sleeping outside with the fleas tonight.”
Naomi concluded:
“The only thing keeping me from crashing out tonight is this banofee (Alba Fyre) and (Piper Niven) made just for me.”
One former WWE star who won’t get the chance to live her dream of facing AJ is Cora Jade (Elayna Black). She was still thrilled, though:
“All is right in the world.”
Bayley, who Punk had teased as a possible alternative to AJ, posted a video inside Allstate Arena:
“LIGHT IT TF UP.”
AJ Lee’s return has evidently gone down well, not just with WWE talent but also with fans who are over the moon to see her back. Her husband wore a face of pride watching his wife be heroically welcomed back, and his Instagram story showcases his admiration.
