WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee recently said that her fans ultimately convinced her to return to WWE. The former Divas Champion opened up about her decision ahead of WrestleMania 42.
Speaking with The Takedown on SI, Lee described the moment she realized fan appetite for her comeback remained strong. She pointed to the reception she received at meet-and-greet events as the turning point.
I knew that coming back was the right decision because of my fans. I was getting these lines that were legitimately seven hours long and that’s when I realized, ‘oh, they’re still here.’ There’s still this hunger here. This support that only comes with wrestling.
She added:
It only comes with this really loyal fanbase who watched me from day one, were a part of the mission statement of underdogs for the win and stuck with me, and were waiting for me to come back. And to be able to give them a title run and a Mania match, has been incredibly meaningful.
Lee had last competed in WWE in 2015 before stepping away from wrestling. Her return marks an 11-year absence from the company.
AJ Lee defeated Becky Lynch to capture WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship and it marked her first singles WWE title in over a decade. On the March 23 edition of Raw, Lee issued a challenge for a rematch which Lynch accepted. They will now battle for the title at WrestleMania 42.
