AJ Lee stunned the wrestling world with her comeback to WWE after a ten-year absence. The former Divas Champion and trailblazer of the women’s revolution signed a multi-year deal, signaling that her return was more than just a special appearance. Despite the excitement, in less than six months since her comeback at Survivor Series, AJ Lee has only competed in two matches and been on TV once. Given her star power and the buzz around her return, many are left wondering what WWE’s plans really are for her.
Since leaving WWE, Lee has focused on various outside ventures. Her return in September 2025 saw her team up with CM Punk to face Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. Before her Wrestlepalooza 2025 match, she made several television appearances that received mixed reactions. After a brief hiatus, she came back at Survivor Series: War Games 2025 to join the victorious side, but she has been mostly absent from WWE programming since then.
Over the past six months, AJ Lee’s presence in WWE has been limited to only a few matches. The initial excitement surrounding her comeback has dwindled, losing much of its momentum and impact. Despite being one of the most eagerly awaited returns in recent memory, WWE hasn’t fully leveraged her potential or made her feel like a standout part-time performer. Instead, her sporadic appearances have led to an inconsistent and unsatisfying booking.
In November, AJ Lee made a surprising return on RAW, assisting Maxine Dupri in defeating Becky Lynch for the Intercontinental Championship—a moment that electrified Madison Square Garden. However, Lynch reclaimed the title after Dupri struggled to defend it effectively in the following months. Lee’s lack of active involvement in continuing the rivalry led to a reversal that made the title change feel meaningless and squandered.
Fans hoped Lee and Lynch would engage in a significant feud post-title change, but Lee’s absence allowed Lynch to regain prominence, leaving the Intercontinental Championship scene stagnant. WWE’s handling of this storyline has wasted the momentum built in the division and weakened Dupri’s character, as he seems unable to succeed without Lee’s interference. Overall, the booking for this division has been underwhelming, and Lee’s brief role appeared forced and ineffective.
Many expected AJ Lee to participate in the 2026 Royal Rumble to reignite interest in her WWE run. Fans were excited about the possibility of her either losing to or eliminating Lynch to intensify their rivalry. Instead, Lynch was eliminated early by Natalya, and Lee did not enter the match at all. Given her recent return, a Royal Rumble appearance would have been a prime moment for Lee, but now fans will have to wait another year.
Since coming back, WWE’s treatment of AJ Lee has been disappointing, partly because she hasn’t been consistently present. This could have been better handled—Lynch could have attacked Lee after Survivor Series to explain her absence, build suspense, and create anticipation for a revenge storyline. Instead, it seems likely Lee will make a casual return on a random RAW ahead of WrestleMania 42. Though there remains potential for exciting moments ahead, WWE’s booking of AJ Lee so far has raised many questions.
Fan Take: WWE fans see AJ Lee’s return as a major opportunity to revitalize the women’s division and create compelling storylines. However, the company’s reluctant use of her talent risks wasting her star power and disappointing the audience eager for meaningful progress in women’s wrestling.
