Massive Pop - AJ Lee Returns To The WWE For The First Time In Over A Decade

Last night's SmackDown in Chicago was one for the ages. Not only did it feature the final appearance of John Cena on the blue brand - where he had a fantastic match with Sami Zayn before Brock Lesnar came out to spoil the fun - but the main event segment saw the long-awaited return of AJ Lee to WWE programming. 

It had been over a decade since AJ's last match in 2015, when she left the company on very unfortunate terms (considering her husband, CM Punk, was actively involved in a lawsuit with her employer - which I'm sure made things AWKWARD), and I always thought it was a shame she never got to fully experience the women's wrestling revolution that she practically started. 

In case you didn't know, back when she was running the "Divas" division, she was the first woman in the WWE to have merch for sale in over a decade, she was constantly featured prominently in main event angles, and she wasn't afraid to stand up to her bosses publicly....

She was a unique character, great in the ring, especially great on the mic....

….and just felt like a breath of fresh air in regards to the presentation that women in the company would usually get.

AJ left the company right as the "revolution" was truly taking off, though - and never got to step in the ring with many of the stars we know and love today; Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Bianca Belair, Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, etc. That was always a hard pill to swallow for the fans, and I'd imagine for AJ as well! It was always abundantly clear how much she loved wrestling and how it was her lifelong dream, and then that was soured for her in a pretty shitty way.

Once CM Punk came back to the WWE, many hoped that would open the door for AJ to follow - and it took a few years, but we finally got what we wanted last night! They played it perfectly as well. 

Seth Rollins (arguably Punk's biggest rival since returning) had his real-life wife Becky Lynch cost Punk the WWE World Heavyweight Championship last weekend….

….and then Becky put her hands on him repeatedly this week….

….and it got to the point where Punk basically said, "Listen, you know I'd never put my hands on a woman, but I know someone who will." and evvvverybody knew who he was talking about.

cue AJ Lee's music

MASSIVE POP

….and I'd imagine the ultimate payoff will be a mixed tag team match between husbands and wives. I'm not sure where they'll do that yet, but it will be a huuuuge match when it happens. Like I don't think anyone would bat an eye if that main evented WrestleMania Night 1 next year.

Then AJ can start working her way through the current roster, knocking dream matches off one at a time - because she's reportedly back on a full time basis for the next few years….

Oasis have reunited, Punk and AJ are back together in the WWE - what a world we're living in.