Union City Native AJ Lee Returns to WWE

A Hometown Hero

April Jeanette Mendez—better known by her ring name AJ Lee—was born on March 19, 1987, in Union City, New Jersey. Raised as the youngest of three children, she grew up amid challenging circumstances, including financial struggles and mental health issues in her family  . Encouraged by her brother’s interest in WWE and inspired by trailblazers like Lita, young April pursued wrestling by age 12  .

After attending Memorial High School in neighboring West New York, she briefly enrolled in film and television production at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts but left due to family and financial pressures  .

Entering the Ring

AJ Lee began her wrestling career in March 2007, training under Jay Lethal and performing under the ring name “Miss April” on New Jersey’s independent circuit. She found early success in Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), capturing tag team gold alongside Brooke Carter and winning the “King and Queen of the Ring” tournament with Jay Lethal  .

In May 2009, she signed with WWE and trained in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), the company’s developmental territory, before debuting on the main roster via NXT’s third season in 2010, where she placed third  .

Rise to Stardom in WWE

AJ Lee quickly became one of WWE’s most compelling Divas, known for her “mentally unstable” character, sharp promos, and dynamic in-ring style. She captured the WWE Divas Championship three times, tying for the most reigns ever, and held the title for a combined 406 days—a significant record  . She also earned Diva of the Year honors in 2012 and 2014, plus Woman of the Year from readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated from 2012–2014  .

As her popularity soared, AJ served as General Manager of Raw and was pivotal in shifting the perception and portrayal of female wrestlers in WWE  .

Retirement and Life Beyond Wrestling

In April 2015, AJ Lee retired due to lasting cervical spine injuries and feelings of being caught between WWE and her husband, CM Punk  . She quickly pivoted to writing and creative work—publishing her memoir, Crazy Is My Superpower (2017), which became a New York Times bestseller  . She later co-founded Scrappy Heart Productions and co-wrote the Netflix film Blade of the 47 Ronin (2022), along with other comic and television projects  .

The Long-Awaited Return

On September 5, 2025, after a decade away from the ring, AJ Lee made her dramatic return to WWE during a backstage segment on Friday Night SmackDown. Accompanied by husband CM Punk, she was welcomed back warmly—including by WWE executive Triple H, who conducted a traditional contract-signing photo op  .

Her return sparked widespread excitement and nostalgic joy. Wrestlers like Bayley, Big E, Saraya, and Naomi publicly reacted—calling the comeback emotionally resonant and meaningful for women’s wrestling  . Fans witnessed AJ and Punk unite in the storyline amid a brewing feud with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, leading to speculation about tag-team showdowns and appearances at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event  .

Additionally, WWE inadvertently fueled speculation with a now-deleted Shop social media post teasing AJ Lee merchandise timed for Wrestlepalooza, which heightened fan anticipation  .

Full-Circle Moment

AJ Lee’s return marks a vivid full-circle journey—from a Union City dreamer to WWE icon, author, and creative force. It’s a powerful moment not just for her fans, but also for the evolution of women in professional wrestling—a legacy that began right where she grew up and now continues with renewed purpose.