AJ Lee is officially back in WWE after ten years away, and her return is about more than nostalgia. The former three-time Divas Champion has signed a multi-year, full-time contract, signaling that she will once again be a central figure in WWE’s storylines.
The Storyline Side of Her Return
WWE thrives on scripted drama, rivalries, and shocking twists, and AJ’s comeback fits perfectly into that formula. She surprised fans on SmackDown in Chicago, appearing alongside her husband CM Punk to confront Becky Lynch. The moment instantly set up a new chapter in WWE’s ongoing rivalries, with AJ and Punk now lined up for a high-profile mixed tag match against Lynch and Seth Rollins at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event.
This is classic WWE storytelling—using surprise returns and dramatic confrontations to hook the audience and build toward a marquee showdown. But what happened next was something much rarer.
A Real Moment in the Middle of the Drama
On Raw, AJ addressed the crowd in a promo that felt different from the usual script. Instead of only hyping her upcoming match, she spoke candidly about her past struggles. She explained that when she left WWE in 2015, it was because she “wasn’t healthy.” She opened up about going to therapy, how it helped her, and encouraged fans to take care of themselves.
What made the moment stand out was the reaction. The crowd responded with chants of “therapy,” a genuine and supportive response that briefly broke through the performance and created a rare moment of authenticity in the middle of a storyline-driven show.
AJ Lee’s History with Mental Health
This wasn’t the first time AJ has spoken openly about mental health. In her bestselling memoir Crazy Is My Superpower, she revealed her bipolar II diagnosis and described how therapy gave her the tools to manage both her personal life and her career. For years, she has been vocal about normalizing conversations around mental health, and now she is carrying that same message onto WWE’s biggest stage.
Why This Resonates Beyond Wrestling
For a general audience, it’s important to understand how rare this type of moment is in WWE. The company is built on performance and spectacle, but AJ Lee used her return to blur the line between her character and her real life. It turned what could have been a simple nostalgia act into something far more meaningful.
By speaking openly in front of a live arena and millions watching at home, she helped normalize therapy in a setting that usually celebrates toughness and larger-than-life personas. It showed that even in the world of scripted rivalries, a real message can shine through.
What’s Next
With her multi-year contract confirmed, AJ Lee is not just back for one storyline—she is back as a full-time performer. The immediate focus is her mixed tag match with Punk against Lynch and Rollins, but fans are already speculating about future rivalries and whether she could once again become a defining figure in the women’s division.
What’s certain is that AJ Lee’s return is already about more than titles and rivalries. By blending her role in a scripted storyline with a genuine conversation about mental health, she has made an impact that resonates beyond WWE’s usual audience.
