Latest update on AJ Lee's WWE future amid absence since WrestleMania 42
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The former Women’s IC Champion has been absent from WWE since April.
AJ Lee defended the Women’s Intercontinental title in a rematch against Becky Lynch at Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. AJ lost the match, with Becky picking up the final and only win against Lee to conclude the feud.
Since Mania, Lee has been absent from WWE programming. She initially returned to WWE in September 2025 before Wrestlepalooza to kick off her feud with Becky and competed at major PLEs, including Survivor Series, Elimination Chamber, and even a title defense on Monday Night Raw.
The speculation about Lee’s return arose after Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, and Paige lost to Fatal Influence at SummerSlam, with the Bella Twins turning on Paige following the loss.
This quickly sparked speculation about Lee’s return, as the storyline naturally calls back to 2015, when Lee and Paige feuded with the Bella Twins and defeated Nikki and Brie at WWE WrestleMania 31.
AJ Lee’s return was not planned for the Bella-Paige angle
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According to a report from Fightful Select, sources close to the situation do not believe AJ Lee has wrestled her final match. However, members of WWE’s creative team had no knowledge of any plans to introduce Lee into the Bella Twins–Paige storyline at SummerSlam.
Even before Brie Bella suffered an injury during the six-woman tag team match at SummerSlam, the talent involved in the angle was also unaware of any potential plans to bring Lee back.
Brie Bella sustained a scapula injury and is expected to be out of action for roughly three to six months. In the meantime, WWE is proceeding with the Nikki Bella–Paige feud, with the latter returning during the August 28 SmackDown pre-taping in Ottawa, Ontario, this Monday, and attacking Paige.
What is the latest update on AJ Lee’s WWE return?
Per Fightful Select, sources they spoke with believe AJ Lee has not wrestled her final match. However, there is currently no confirmed return date or creative plan for her. Fightful also reports that WWE creative had not heard of any plans to add Lee to the Bella Twins–Paige storyline at SummerSlam.
When was AJ Lee’s last WWE appearance?
AJ Lee’s most recent WWE appearance was at WrestleMania 42, where she defended the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch. Lynch defeated Lee to win the title and conclude the feud.
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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.