AJ Lee Reveals the Hardest Part of Her WWE Return

AJ Lee made her shocking WWE return on September 5, 2025, during SmackDown in Chicago after being away from wrestling for ten years.

On Monday Night Raw, September 8, AJ Lee stepped back into the ring for her first promo in a decade, marking the beginning of her new chapter in WWE. Lee’s first promo on Raw was more personal than storyline-driven.

She introduced herself to the new generation of fans and shared openly about her life away from wrestling. She spoke about her ten-year mental health journey, stating that she found peace and strength through therapy, which became a turning point in her personal growth.

During her promo, the audience started chanting “therapy,” showing solidarity and appreciation for her openness about mental health. She responded with humility, saying she was grateful for the support and encouraged everyone to turn their mental chaos into a superpower. She acknowledged that every day is a fight, and her journey taught her to channel struggles into strength.

Returning to WWE Has Been Stressful for AJ Lee

In a recent interview with ESPN’s SportsCenter, AJ Lee reiterated this sentiment when they asked her about the hardest part of her WWE comeback.

Quite honestly, managing my anxiety. I get a little nervous with attention, and I’ve been very comfortable as a writer and a producer the past 10 years, sort of being behind the scenes and creating worlds, and I don’t have to be the art. I kind of liked being the artist.

But now to sort of be both and to create this cool world and have people looking at me is a little stressful. But I am very good at managing my anxiety now, and I can balance it and keep myself sort of even. But the mental part has been uh the biggest hurdle so far. (From 4:30)

The Geek Goddess is scheduled to have her in-ring return match at Wrestlepalooza on September 20. She will join her husband, CM Punk, in a mixed tag team match against the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and his wife, the Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch.

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