AJ Lee’s ‘bonus round’ in WWE exceeding her expectations on journey to WrestleMania By Joseph Staszewski Published April 8, 2026, 11:54 a.m. ET AJ Lee enters the ring during WWE Elimination Chamber at the United Center on February 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. WWE via Getty Images AJ Lee was one of the loudest voices for change in WWE before she retired from wrestling 10-plus years ago as the pain of her neck injury became too much. Lee knew then there was no guarantee she was going to be part of that next chapter — until now
Her tweet in February 2015 directed at then WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon asking for more equitable pay for the women was one of the catalysts around the public outcry for the women’s evolution that soon after occurred in the company, putting the female performers on a more level footing with the men for the first time.
The Union City, N.J. native, now back with WWE, said the hope at the time was to advance things for the next generation. During her retirement, there was speculation for years of whether she would return, and the question was constantly posed to her — something she did not mind.
“The questions were actually quite enduring,” Lee said in a phone interview. “It would have been sad if no one wanted me back. I was always flattered. It felt like I had created something bigger than me and a lot of people just connect to that mission statement of just underdogs being able to succeed in their own way and not change.”
