It looks like the long-awaited return of AJ Lee is finally on the horizon. Nearly a decade after her WWE retirement, the former Divas Champion is rumored to be lacing up the boots again—this time teaming with her husband, CM Punk, at the upcoming WrestlePalooza event.
According to Fightful Select, WWE has penciled in Lee’s comeback for September 20, when the company launches its first premium live event on ESPN’s new streaming platform. Sources indicate her on-screen return is “imminent.”
Speculation caught fire this past weekend at Clash in Paris when Becky Lynch got involved in Seth Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship match, delivering a low blow to Punk. Things escalated further on Raw, where Punk warned Lynch she’d “regret putting her hands on him.” That storyline direction points strongly toward a mixed tag showdown: Punk and Lee vs. Rollins and Lynch at WrestlePalooza.
Wrestling journalist Bryan Alvarez also backed up the report, noting WWE has indeed been planning the match. Fightful added that creative pitches for AJ’s return have been floating around for some time. Punk himself hinted at something brewing when he teased GM Adam Pearce on Raw about this week’s SmackDown being in Chicago—the couple’s hometown.
Perhaps the biggest note: insiders stress that Lee’s comeback might not be a one-time deal. WWE reportedly has bigger hopes for her beyond WrestlePalooza. While many on the roster haven’t seen AJ since her 2015 exit, there’s no bad blood between her and the company, and word is several of today’s top female stars—who grew up as AJ fans—are thrilled about the possibility of finally sharing the ring with her.
If the reports hold true, WrestlePalooza could mark one of the most talked-about WWE returns in years.
