Has AJ Lee retired after title loss against Becky Lynch at WWE WrestleMania 42?
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AJ Lee battled Becky Lynch in a rematch at WrestleMania 42.
After capturing the Women’s Intercontinental title at Elimination Chamber, AJ Lee defended it in a rematch against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 42 last month. Lee came up short in the rematch as Lynch defeated her to capture the title once again and register her first win in the feud.
However, since the loss, Lee has been absent from WWE programming, and a post on her IG has left many fans wondering if she has once again retired from pro-wrestling, ending her second stint after a handful of matches.
In the post, Lee thanked the women’s roster, her fans, and even broke kayfabe, praising her rival Becky Lynch despite suffering a loss in their Mania clash. This post further sparked rumors of her retirement.
Is it another goodbye?
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, WWE creative has essentially wrapped up plans for Lee following WrestleMania, as indicated by a company source.
The report also adds that there is internal hope that AJ returns for future programs and matches, with the 2026 edition of SummerSlam being eyed as a potential event for her return.
Lee made her return before the 2025 edition of Wrestlepalooza to join her husband, CM Punk, in the storyline against Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins, leading to a mixed-tag team match, where Lee and Punk bagged the win.
After the win, Lee and Becky branched out into their own feud, leading to multiple clashes, two of them being singles one, where both are now 1-1. WrestleMania 42 marked the end of their feud, and fans were hoping for AJ to engage in storyline with rising contenders and even veterans like Paige, The Bella Twins, among many others.
It remains to be seen when Lee will return to WWE programming, but with her various projects and commitments outside of pro wrestling keeping her busy, fans will have to wait until she’s ready to come back.
Has AJ Lee retired from WWE?
No, per WrestleVotes, a WWE source has indicated Lee’s creative at the moment is effectively done, but there is hope that she will return for future programmes, with SummerSlam eyed as a potential event for her return.
When and where will SummerSlam 2026 take place?
SummerSlam 2026 is scheduled to take place over two nights, on August 1 and August 2, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.