A Decade in the Making: AJ Lee and CM Punk’s Emotional WWE Reunion

 The roar of the Chicago crowd was deafening as the opening chords of "Let's Light It Up" echoed through the Allstate Arena on September 5, 2025. After a decade-long absence, AJ Lee stood once again in a WWE ring, not as a nostalgic novelty but as the missing piece in a story years in the making. This wasn't just a wrestling return; it was a emotional culmination of personal and professional journeys for both Lee and her husband, CM Punk, who watched with visible pride as his wife reclaimed her place in the spotlight .

The Perfect Storm

A Decade in the Making: AJ Lee and CM Punk’s Emotional WWE Reunion

The stage had been meticulously set across multiple WWE programs. At Clash in Paris 2025, Becky Lynch's shocking interference cost CM Punk the World Heavyweight Championship in a controversial finish that left fans reeling. The drama escalated on Monday Night Raw when Lynch confronted Punk, delivering multiple slaps as The Second City Saint restrained himself, refusing to lay hands on a woman despite intense provocation. With Seth Rollins (Lynch's real-life husband) lurking in the background, Punk teased that he had "shooters in Chicago" who would even the odds .

The wrestling world immediately began speculating about AJ Lee's potential involvement. Punk fueled these rumors with cryptic social media posts, including a three-word message—"All is well"—accompanied by a photo of his beloved dog Larry . The pieces fell perfectly into place when Punk learned this week's SmackDown would emanate from his hometown of Chicago, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated moments in recent wrestling history .

The Moment of Return

A Decade in the Making: AJ Lee and CM Punk’s Emotional WWE Reunion%

During Friday night's main event segment, Punk and Lynch stood face-to-face in the ring, recreating their Raw confrontation with heightened tension. As Lynch arrogantly declared Punk had "nobody" to save him, the Chicago crowd began chanting "AJ Lee!" with increasing volume. Punk then delivered the perfect setup line: "Thankfully, I got somebody who will" .

The arena erupted as Lee's signature music hit, marking her first WWE appearance since April 2015. Lynch's jaw dropped in perfectly sold shock as Lee made her way to the ring, all smiles and confidence despite her decade away. Without exchanging words, Lee immediately engaged Lynch in a physical confrontation, slapping the taste out of her mouth before scrapping around the ring as Rollins rushed in to help his wife retreat .

The emotional peak came when Punk and Lee were finally left alone in the ring, sharing a warm embrace and kiss as the Chicago crowd gave them a thunderous ovation. For the first time in over ten years, the power couple stood together on WWE television, creating an iconic moment that transcended scripted entertainment .

Behind the Emotion

The raw emotion displayed throughout the segment was genuine. Backstage footage captured by CM Punk's close friend Ace Steel showed the WWE star visibly emotional watching his wife's reception extend beyond the arena. The following day at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs honored Lee by playing her entrance music during Punk's scheduled appearance, prompting Punk to post proudly on Instagram: "When you roll up to Wrigley and they're blasting your wife's song" .

The emotional impact resonated throughout the WWE roster as well. Charlotte Flair, who came up alongside Lee during the early days of the Women's Evolution, posted the Face Holding Back Tears emoji (🥹) on her Instagram Story in reaction to the return. This sentiment was shared by many who viewed Lee as a pioneer who helped pave the way for the current women's division despite retiring before fully seeing the fruits of her advocacy .

Historical Significance

A Decade in the Making: AJ Lee and CM Punk’s Emotional WWE Reunion

AJ Lee's retirement in 2015 came under complex circumstances. She left while dealing with a serious neck injury—later revealed to be three herniated disks in her cervical spine—sustained at SummerSlam 2014 . Her departure also followed CM Punk's controversial exit from WWE more than a year earlier, creating what many believed would be a permanent separation between both stars and the company .

Lee's legacy as a catalyst for change in women's wrestling cannot be overstated. Her February 2015 promo criticizing Stephanie McMahon and WWE's treatment of female performers—specifically pointing out how women received "a fraction of the screentime & wages" despite strong merchandise sales and ratings—is credited by many as sparking the #GiveDivasAChance movement that evolved into the Women's Evolution .

Looking Forward

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While the emotional high of the return moment is undeniable, questions remain about Lee's long-term role in WWE. Veteran writer Vince Russo has expressed skepticism, comparing her potential trajectory to Nikki Bella's recent return which he claims left her "just another name on the roster" . The immediate future, however, appears set: a mixed tag match pitting Punk and Lee against Rollins and Lynch at Wrestlepalooza on September 20 .

Regardless of what comes next, the image of CM Punk and AJ Lee standing together in a WWE ring after all these years—soaking in the adulation of their hometown crowd—will endure as one of wrestling's most genuinely emotional moments. It represents not just the culmination of a well-booked storyline, but the reconciliation of past conflicts and the joyful return of a beloved star who left too soon. In the words of CM Punk himself: "All is well" .