AJ Lee has long been regarded as one of the cornerstones of the Women’s Evolution in WWE history. However, in 2015, The Black Widow stepped away from the spotlight. The former Divas Champion teamed up with Paige to face The Bella Twins at WrestleMania 31 in her swansong and bid farewell to the WWE Universe to begin a new chapter in her life.
According to reports, her retirement was due to her lingering back issues. While other sources reported that she quit the company owing to her husband, CM Punk’s sour relationship with the WWE at that time. But since then, she has remained out of the ring and away from the wrestling limelight. Recently, though, strong rumors have surfaced about a possible return for the former Divas Champion, with fans speculating that she could make her comeback at the anticipated Evolution 2 event.
There’s growing speculation that Lee could make her long-awaited return during the Women’s Battle Royal at Evolution this weekend. This speculation is arising after the company dropped multiple videos about Lee on their ‘WWE Vault’ YouTube channel. First, they uploaded her clash with Paige at SummerSlam 2014, and then they uploaded a whole video titled ‘Rise of AJ Lee,’ hinting at the prospect of the former champ’s return.
WWE often releases this type of video when it intends to remind fans of a particular star. In this case, it’s Lee, someone fans have long been eager to see back in the ring. With the winner of the Battle Royal earning a guaranteed World Title opportunity at Clash at the Castle, the legendary Diva could make a huge statement by securing the victory and setting her sights on championship gold in Paris next month.
What Has CM Punk Said About AJ Lee’s Potential Return Over the Years?
CM Punk has frequently spoken about his wife, AJ Lee, and her contributions to wrestling in interviews and on social media. He often expresses his admiration and love for her through heartfelt posts on Instagram. Over the years, Punk has also addressed the possibility of her return to WWE, keeping fans hopeful with his supportive and occasionally teasing remarks.
The Best in the World has stated in interviews that Lee’s potential return largely depends on her schedule. In a conversation with Cheap Heat, Punk mentioned that Lee is involved in numerous projects that keep her busy, leaving little time for in-ring preparation. He emphasized that if a comeback were ever to happen, it would ultimately be her decision to make.
“It’s a workload thing for her. She’s very, very busy. I’m not trying to not talk about it, but I’m also trying to temper people’s expectations. If she wraps up some stuff that she’s working on and she has the time, and she feels like dipping her toe back in or jumping back in the pool, she’ll let us know.”
CM Punk on his wife AJ Lee via Cheap Heat
There were also rumors earlier this year that Lee might return during the Women’s Royal Rumble match. However, Punk quickly shut down those speculations, stating that she would be watching the action from home. As for Evolution, The Second City Sain has remained silent so far, leaving fans hopeful that Lee’s long-awaited comeback could still be on the horizon.