After ten long years away from a WWE ring, one of the most influential and beloved superstars of her generation is making her return. AJ Lee is officially back and is set to compete in a massive mixed tag team match this Saturday at the inaugural ESPN premium event, Wrestlepalooza.

In a bout that has the entire wrestling world buzzing, Lee will team with her husband, CM Punk, to take on the formidable duo of the reigning WWE World Champion, Seth Rollins, and the Women’s Intercontinental Champion, Becky Lynch.

What Sparked the Return?

For years, a return seemed like a fantasy for WWE fans. AJ Lee had moved on, becoming a successful author and producer, and appeared perfectly content with her wrestling career in the rearview mirror. So, what changed? Speaking with ESPN’s Vibe Check, Lee revealed the powerful motivation behind her decision to lace up the boots one more time.

“When I retired, I was very sure that was the end. I felt very complete. I had sort of this pitch-perfect career and executed all of my dreams that I felt like I manifested because it was done so perfectly. I was done,” she explained. However, the passion of her fanbase never waned, and that loyalty ultimately tipped the scales. “Over the past couple of years, since my husband has been back, it’s sort of been in the air as an option. I wasn’t super considering it until I started to get back on the Comic Con circuit… I realized that there are so many fans out there who are so loyal, kind, and have been with me for a decade. To go to Comic Con and have a seven-hour line of people, I realized, I owe them a little something because they stayed with me. I would like to give them something in return.”

The unique nature of the event was also a major draw. “This opportunity, being a new event with ESPN, that was interesting. That is a new mountain to climb. That’s not just jumping back into the fold. That’s building something brand new and that’s exciting. I like a challenge,” she said.

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Confronting the Mental Hurdles

A return to the global stage of WWE comes with immense pressure, a fact not lost on Lee, who has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness. She candidly discussed the personal challenges she faced in preparing for this comeback, noting that her biggest struggle was internal.

“Quite honestly, managing my anxiety. I get a little nervous with the tension and I’ve been very comfortable as a writer and producer the past ten years, being behind the scenes and creating worlds where I don’t have to be the art. I kind of liked being the artist,” Lee shared. “Now, to be both and 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 even. The mental part has been the biggest hurdle so far.”

This Saturday is set to be a monumental night. The clash of two of wrestling’s most prominent real-life couples is a main event anywhere in the world. As a big AJ Lee fan, I cannot wait to see her skip down that ramp, hear her music hit, and watch her compete in a WWE ring once again. Welcome back, AJ.

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