Triple H Drops Behind-The-Scenes Bombshell! AJ Lee Signs WWE Contract Before SmackDown Return News24 –
History was made on Friday night’s episode of SmackDown as former Divas Champion AJ Lee made her long-awaited return to WWE after a decade away from the squared circle. But what fans didn’t see on TV was just as powerful as what they witnessed in the arena.
In an emotional behind-the-scenes moment shared by Triple H on Instagram, the WWE Chief Content Officer posted exclusive footage of AJ Lee signing her new WWE contract just moments before her surprise entrance at the Allstate Arena.
“Ink to paper… the calm before the storm,” Triple H captioned the video, which showed Lee – poised, focused, and visibly emotional – putting pen to paper for the first time in ten years.
The footage has since gone viral, giving fans an intimate look at a career-defining moment: the official return of one of WWE’s most beloved and trailblazing Superstars.
A Decade in the Making
AJ Lee, a three-time Divas Champion and a key figure in WWE’s “women’s evolution” era, last appeared on WWE programming in March 2015, before retiring due to a serious neck injury. Since then, her name has remained iconic among WWE fans, with chants of “AJ Lee” echoing in arenas anytime her husband CM Punk or former rivals entered the ring.
That’s what made Friday’s return in her hometown of Chicago even more explosive.
With tensions boiling between Becky Lynch and CM Punk – including weeks of heated confrontations and multiple slaps across both RAW and SmackDown – it was AJ Lee who finally answered the call.
In the show’s closing moments, with Lynch once again taunting Punk inside the ring, “Light It Up” blared over the speakers. The crowd erupted. Out walked AJ Lee, staring down Lynch, making her presence known, and shifting the momentum of WWE’s hottest storyline heading into Wrestlepalooza.
Behind the Curtain: The Real Return
Triple H didn’t stop with just video footage. After SmackDown went off the air, he also shared backstage photos of himself flanked by both AJ Lee and CM Punk, flashing his classic finger-point pose. The smiles said it all: relief, joy, and a sense of homecoming.
“WWE isn’t just a company – it’s a family. Tonight, AJ Lee came home,” read one fan comment that echoed the sentiment of millions watching around the world.
You can always come home…Welcome back @TheAJMendez! pic.twitter.com/NDPNKQVCj4
— Triple H (@TripleH) September 6, 2025
The Road to Wrestlepalooza
AJ Lee’s return isn’t just a nostalgic pop – it’s leading directly into a blockbuster matchup.
At Wrestlepalooza on September 20, the returning AJ Lee will team up with CM Punk in a mixed tag team match against none other than Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. It marks Lee’s first official match in over 10 years, and her first in-ring appearance since recovering from a career-threatening injury.
With personal history, real-life relationships, and championship implications all in play, this match promises to be can’t-miss.
What’s Next for AJ Lee?
While her contract details remain private, AJ Lee’s presence suggests she’s back for more than just a one-night pop. Whether she’s stepping into full-time competition or picking her spots carefully, the women’s division and WWE as a whole just got a major jolt of electricity.
The crowd in Chicago said it loud and clear: “Welcome back, AJ!”