AJ Lee is back in WWE and the women's division is about to explode

The Queen of the Divas Era is Back

Pour me a double of the cheapest whiskey in the well and don't bother with the ice. We need to talk about AJ Lee, the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship, and a return that has turned the entire industry upside down. If you had told me a year ago that the geek-chic pioneer of the Divas era would be holding gold in 2026, I would have laughed you out of the building. Yet, here we are, and AJ Lee is the most compelling thing on professional wrestling television.

She made her jaw-dropping return on the September 5, 2025 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The pop from the crowd was loud enough to rattle the cheap seats. It wasn't just a nostalgia pop; it was a declaration that the division's spiritual godmother had returned to claim her inheritance.

She didn't just come back to wave to the crowd and sign autographs. She went straight for Becky Lynch, culminating in a title win at Elimination Chamber in early 2026. For the last five months, she has held that title like a shield against the new generation. But the sharks are circling the tank, and they are hungry.

The roster she returned to is vastly different from the one she left in 2015. Back then, the women were lucky to get three minutes on Raw to do a roll-up finish. Today, they are main-eventing premium live events and putting on physical clinics. AJ Lee was the bridge between those two worlds, and now she has to prove she can still cross it.

The Icons Who Missed the Train

First up on the list of potential targets is Asuka. The Empress of Tomorrow has been noticeably absent lately. In fact, her last major outing was a loss to IYO SKY at Backlash where they shared an emotional post-match embrace.

With her current absence from WWE TV, a return against AJ Lee is the ultimate marquee clash. This isn't just a match; it is a battle of the two women who dragged the division out of the dark ages.

Asuka is the standard-bearer for work rate in the modern era. Her matches are a flurry of spinning heel kicks, armbars, and stiff forearm strikes. When IYO SKY pinned Asuka at Backlash, it felt like the end of an era. But a clash with AJ Lee would revitalize both women. Imagine AJ locking in the Black Widow, only for Asuka to counter into the Asuka Lock. It is a wrestling nerd's dream, and the story of two trailblazers would write itself.

Then there is Charlotte Flair. When AJ Lee packed up her boots in April 2015, the Divas era died and the Charlotte Flair era began. Charlotte went on to become a 14-time champion, racking up accolades like she was collecting stamps. These two have both held the old Divas Championship but have never shared a ring. It is the wrestling equivalent of Michael Jordan playing against Kobe Bryant in their primes.

Would the match be a technical masterpiece? Probably not, since AJ's neck is held together by hope and Charlotte's knees have seen better days. But the drama would be off the charts. The Queen versus the Geek Goddess is a story that writes itself.

Flair's size advantage and power moves would present a massive challenge. We are talking about a woman who executes moonsaults to the floor and locks in the Figure-Eight leglock with ease. AJ would have to play the ultimate underdog, a role she perfected during her original run. It is a license to print money for WWE.

The Prodigies and the Predators

If we are talking about passing the torch, all roads lead to NXT. Specifically, they lead to Roxanne Perez. Perez has been vocal about how AJ Lee inspired her to step into the ring. She even refers to the legend as her 'pro wrestling mother.'

Pitting the Prodigy against the Legend is the easiest booking decision Triple H could make this year. It would be a high-speed, emotional rollercoaster that could cement Perez as the face of the future. The dynamic is already built in, and the promos would write themselves.

Perez works a fast, athletic style that is heavily influenced by AJ's own arsenal. Watching Perez execute a Russian leg sweep or transition into a crossface would feel like looking in a mirror for the champion. It is the ultimate passing of the torch match that the fans have been begging to see.

Then there is Tiffany Stratton. The Center of the Universe won the WWE Women's United States Championship by defeating Giulia on the SmackDown after WrestleMania. She has been an absolute revelation since her call-up.

With rumors circulating that her husband CM Punk potentially heading to SmackDown, AJ Lee could easily find herself drafted to the blue brand. That puts her right in Stratton's crosshairs for a title-versus-title program.

Stratton's Prettiest Moonsault Ever against AJ's Black Widow submission is a visual that needs to happen. Tiffany represents everything the office wanted the Divas to be, but with the actual athletic ability to back it up. That is a dangerous combination for an aging champion.

Stratton's athleticism is unmatched in the division right now. She can hit a handspring back elbow into the corner with the speed of a gymnast and follow it up with a codebreaker. AJ would have to wrestle a smart, defensive match to survive Stratton's onslaught.

And let's not overlook Lyra Valkyria. After turning on Bayley, the former Intercontinental Champion is looking for a victim to solidify her heel turn. What better way to get cheap heat than by trying to break the neck of a beloved pioneer?

Valkyria has the work rate to push AJ to her limits in a physical, hard-hitting affair. Her spinning heel kicks and northern lights suplexes are crisp, and she brings a level of intensity that would force AJ to step up her game. It is a classic clash of generations that could benefit both women.

The Ghosts of Divas Past

If WWE wants to lean fully into the nostalgia well, they have Paige waiting in the wings. Paige recently returned in spectacular fashion. She teamed up with Brie Bella to win the Tag Team Championship in a chaotic three-way tag match.

it should open the door for her to rekindle the rivalry with Lee sometime soon. Their feud in 2014 was the only thing worth watching in a barren women's division.

Seeing them stand opposite each other in 2026 would feel like a time warp. But let's be honest: Paige's ring work is not what it used to be. Putting two injury-prone veterans in a physical singles match might be a recipe for disaster.

Then we have Alexa Bliss. Bliss is a five-time women's champion and has been a cornerstone of the division for a decade. Yet, remarkably, she and AJ have never crossed paths.

Bliss has been described as a major inspiration for many young talents, and she is one of the most decorated stars regardless of gender on the WWE roster today. A feud between these two would be a masterclass in character work and promo segments.

Bliss's character work is legendary. Whether she is playing the Goddess or a playground psycho, she commands the screen. AJ Lee is one of the few women who could match her on the microphone, making their potential promos must-watch television.

And we cannot forget the reigning WWE Women's World Champion. Liv Morgan recently won the title by defeating Stephanie Vaquer. The win cemented her position at the top of the Raw brand.

Morgan's entire career has been a series of comparisons to AJ Lee, from her Jersey roots to her manic, chaotic energy. A champion-versus-champion match between the two would be a massive draw. But let's be real: Morgan's current heel run has been heavily reliant on interference and shenanigans. Putting her in a straight wrestling match against a beloved babyface like AJ could expose some of her in-ring limitations.

Nostalgia is a Hell of a Drug

Now, let's get real for a second because I am not here to just blow smoke. AJ Lee's return has been great for business, but the in-ring reality has been a bit of a mixed bag. In 2013, her athletic style and character work made her stand out because the rest of the division was doing bra-and-panties matches. In 2026, the division is populated by absolute athletes who can go twenty minutes without breaking a sweat.

At times, AJ has looked a step slow. Her matches against Becky Lynch, while dramatic, had moments where the rust was clearly visible. If she gets in the ring with a worker like Tiffany Stratton or Roxanne Perez, she will not be able to hide behind character work. She will have to keep up, and at 39 years old, that is a big ask.

There is also the booking problem. Having Paige and Brie Bella win the tag titles feels like a step backward for a company that should be building new stars. If AJ Lee dominates the division at the expense of younger talent, this run will go from historic to frustrating real quick.

Still, the excitement is undeniable. The pops are real, the merchandise is flying off the shelves, and the matches feel like big deals. WWE has a golden opportunity here to construct some truly memorable programs before AJ decides to hang up the boots for good.