April Jeanette Mendez (born March 19, 1987) is an Americanprofessional wrestler and author. As of September 2025[update], she is signed toWWE, where she performs under thering nameAJ Lee.
Mendez began her professional wrestling career in 2007 inNew Jersey'sindependent circuit. She signed with WWE in 2009 and spent two years in its developmental branch,Florida Championship Wrestling, before her promotion to the main roster. In 2012, she rose to prominence throughstorylines with her "mentally unstable" character, such as high-profile relationships and a three-month stint as theGeneral Manager ofRaw. In subsequent years, she won theDivas Championship a record-tying three times[a] and held the title for an overall record of 406 days. She also won theSlammy Award for Diva of the Year in2012 and2014, and readers ofPro Wrestling Illustrated voted herWoman of the Year from 2012 to 2014. She initially retired from in-ring performing in April 2015, but returned to WWE over a decade later in September 2025.
Outside of wrestling, Mendez has focused on writing. Her 2017 memoir,Crazy Is My Superpower, was aNew York Times Best Seller. She formed a writing partnership with actressAimee Garcia in 2019, and the duo have written multiple comic books, as well as the 2022Netflix filmBlade of the 47 Ronin.
Early life
April Jeanette Mendez was born on March 19, 1987,[5] inUnion City, New Jersey.[6] Her mother, Janet Acevedo, was a homemaker and later ahome health aide, while her father, Robert Mendez, was anautomotive engineer.[7] She is the youngest of three children,[7][8] and is ofPuerto Rican descent.[9] In describing her childhood, Mendez said her family struggled with poverty, mental illness, and drug addiction.[10] They frequently moved between apartments, sometimes living in motels or their car when they could not afford rent.[9][11]
Mendez was diagnosed withbipolar disorder, a condition her mother also suffered from, around the age of 20.[17][18] She had previously experienced adverse effects from a misdiagnosis ofdepression, and overdosed on antidepressants and painkillers.[19] This event, which she considers a suicide attempt, caused her to seek proper treatment and the right diagnosis.[19] She credits the condition for giving her the bravery to achieve her goals.[10]
AJ delivering a farewell speech after being eliminated fromseason three ofNXT.
WWE signed Mendez to a contract in May 2009 after she paid US$1,500 to attend a tryout camp.[22][23] She reported toFlorida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE'sdevelopmental territory,[22] and debuted under the ring name April Lee at ahouse show in late July.[21] Shortly thereafter, her name was changed to AJ Lee.[24] In February 2010, AJ defeatedSerena Mancini to win theQueen of FCW title.[25] A few months later, AJ was eliminated from a tournament that determined the inauguralFCW Divas Champion;[21] she engaged in afeud with the winner,Naomi Knight, and her character became aheel (bad guy).[26] In November, AJ lost the Queen of FCW title toRosa Mendes.[27] AJ then defeated Naomi for the FCW Divas Championship in December, which made her the first to win both titles available to FCW's female wrestlers.[27][28] She held the championship until April 2011, when she lost it toAksana.[27]
While in FCW, Mendez took part in thethird season ofNXT beginning in September 2010. The show mixed professional wrestling andreality competition formats as six female participants from FCW competed to be WWE's "next breakout star".[29][30]Primo was assigned as her "WWE Pro", the role of her mentor in thestoryline.[29] She performed as aface (good guy) on the show[29] and WWE adapted her "nerd" fandom to her character.[31][32] Throughout the season, a relationship between AJ and Primo was teased,[33] with them ultimately kissing on the finale.[34] She also developed an on-screen friendship with fellow competitor,Kaitlyn.[35][36] On November 23, AJ was eliminated in third place.[37]
AJ made her main roster debut on the May 27, 2011, episode ofSmackDown as part of a tag team with Kaitlyn,[38] referring to themselves as "The Chickbusters".[31][39] Along with their mentorNatalya,[38] they feuded with the trio ofAlicia Fox,Tamina Snuka, and Rosa Mendes for two months.[40][41][42][43] In late July, AJ began a brief storyline onNXT Redemption as the girlfriend ofHornswoggle[44] and feuded withMaxine.[45] Meanwhile, onSmackDown, she was attacked by Natalya, whoturned on her protégé and allied withBeth Phoenix to formthe Divas of Doom.[46] AJ and Kaitlyn repeatedly lost to the Divas of Doom over the following months,[47][48][49] upsetting Kaitlyn.[50][51]
Various relationships and Raw General Manager (2011–2013)
By November 2011, AJ was featured in an on-screen relationship withDaniel Bryan,[52] who won theWorld Heavyweight Championship the following month and began portraying a villainous character.[53] Although AJ expressed romantic interest in Bryan,[54] he did not reciprocate.[55] On the January 13, 2012 episode ofSmackDown, she was accidentally knocked down byBig Show during Bryan's title defense and was taken out on a stretcher as part of the storyline.[56] She returned on the February 3 episode, preventing Bryan from being attacked by Big Show.[57] In the following weeks, Bryan began to mistreat AJ, though she continued to support him.[58][59] AtWrestleMania XXVIII on April 1, after AJ kissed Bryan before his match, he was defeated bySheamus in 18 seconds, losing the world title.[60] Bryan attributed the loss to AJ and ended their relationship.[61] AJ made repeated attempts to reconcile, but Bryan rejected her. She later attacked Natalya and Kaitlyn after they tried to comfort her,[62][63][64] marking the beginning of a new phase for her character, portrayed as increasingly unstable.[65][66]
AJ turned her affections to Bryan's rival andWWE ChampionCM Punk as well asKane.[62][67][68] AtNo Way Out on June 17, AJ interfered in atriple threat match for the WWE Championship between Punk, Bryan, and Kane, helping Punk retain his title by distracting Kane.[69] As Bryan and Punk's feud progressed, AJ was announced as thespecial guest referee for their title match atMoney in the Bank.[70] Bryan made advances on AJ in an attempt to influence her, however, she focused her attention on Punk. Enraged by his disinterest on the July 2 episode ofRaw, she interfered in his match and shoved him, along with Bryan, through a ringside table.[71] After they made amends, sheproposed to him but Bryan countered with a proposal of his own; Punk rejected her offer and she slapped both men.[72] At Money in the Bank on July 15, as referee, AJ counted Punk's pinfall on Bryan, resulting in a successful title defense for Punk; as Punk celebrated over a fallen Bryan, AJ was left alone.[73] The next night, Bryan proposed to her again and she accepted.[74]
During the exchange of vows atRaw 1000, AJ announced thatWWE chairmanVince McMahon had offered her the job ofRaw General Manager and left Bryan at the altar.[75] Her on-screen authority role began on July 30, where she alleged that Bryan only wanted the legal leverage to have hercommitted and forced him to undergo his ownpsychological evaluation.[76] AJ continued to exact revenge on both Bryan and Punk throughout her tenure, denying their requests andbooking them in matches against their wishes.[76][77] On August 27 and September 24, she was involved in separate altercations withVickie Guerrero andPaul Heyman, in which she attacked them.[78][79] AJ was reprimanded by theboard of directors, and the two demanded the General Manager position for themselves, deeming her too childish.[80]
AJ stepped down from her General Manager duties on October 22, becoming embroiled in ascandal storyline withJohn Cena.[81] Vickie Guerrero alleged that they had an affair and presented various material over the next month to support her claim.[82][83] AJ and Cena denied the accusations and eventually formed a relationship,[84][85] though Cena grew reluctant due to her behavior.[86] Meanwhile, Cena feuded with Vickie Guerrero's client,Dolph Ziggler, over Ziggler'sMoney in the Bank contract.[87] During their match atTLC on December 16, AJ turned heel by interfering and pushing Cena off a ladder, causing him to lose.[88] She solidified a relationship with Ziggler the next night onRaw and they teamed together against Cena and Guerrero in the main event, which ended indisqualification after the debutingBig E Langston attacked Cena on her behalf.[89] Subsequently accompanied by Langston as her bodyguard,[90] she explained that Cena had "toyed with" her emotions and "broke her heart", so she helped Ziggler "break" him.[91]
In March 2013, AJ's storyline rivalry with ex-boyfriend Daniel Bryan was reignited when they traded insults backstage.[92] AJ and Langston assisted Ziggler in victories over Bryan and his tag team partner Kane,[93][94] which led to Ziggler and Langston losing to them in aWWE Tag Team Championship match atWrestleMania 29 on April 7, despite her interference.[95] The next night onRaw, AJ and Langston accompanied Ziggler as he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract onAlberto Del Rio to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[96]
Divas Champion and initial retirement (2013–2015)
AJ won abattle royal on April 22, 2013, to become the number one contender to Kaitlyn'sWWE Divas Championship.[97] Kaitlyn soon began a storyline where she received gifts from a secret admirer.[98] On June 10, after setting up Langston to pose as the admirer, AJ revealed it to be a mind game, berated Kaitlyn and left her in tears.[99] Six days later atPayback, AJ defeated Kaitlyn to capture her first Divas Championship.[100] While she continued to mock Kaitlyn,[101][102] they participated in the first ever in-ring contract signing for a Divas Championship bout.[103] AtMoney in the Bank on July 14, AJ won their rematch[104] but later in the show caused Ziggler to lose his own rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship. AJ hit his opponent, Alberto Del Rio, with her title belt to protect him from further head injury, prompting a disqualification.[105] Angered by her unwanted action, Ziggler ended their relationship. AJ exacted revenge by costing him another match, then attacked him with Langston.[106] On August 2, Langston was banned from attending her matches. However, AJ again retained the title from Kaitlyn, who was betrayed byLayla.[107] Kaitlyn and Ziggler ultimately joined to defeat AJ and Langston in amixed tag team match atSummerSlam on August 18.[108]
In January 2014, AJ became the longest-reigning Divas Champion at the time.[117][c] After fending off title contendersCameron[120] and Natalya,[121] AJ renewed her on-screen rivalry withSmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero, who forced her to defend the Divas Championship in a 14-woman match atWrestleMania XXX.[122] AJ won the match on April 6,[123] marking the first time the championship had been contested for at WWE's flagship event.[124] The next night onRaw, AJ challenged the debutingPaige to an impromptu title match and was defeated, ending her then-record reign at 295 days.[125][d] Mendez was subsequently granted time off.[126]
AJ andPaige were rivals throughout 2014 (left) before they allied together in March 2015 (right).
Upon her return on June 30, AJ switched to a face role and was no longer accompanied by Tamina. She challenged Paige to an impromptu rematch and won back the Divas Championship.[127] They started pretending to be best friends in afacetious manner.[128][129] When AJ retained the title from Paige atBattleground,[130] their act escalated into unprovoked attacks.[131][132] AtSummerSlam on August 17, AJ lost the championship to Paige.[133] Their storyline was then intertwined with that ofNikki and Brie Bella, at the behest ofStephanie McMahon, who granted Nikki a championship opportunity.[134] A triple threat match ensued atNight of Champions on September 21, where AJ became a record-tying three-time Divas Champion.[135][4][a] Her feud against Paige concluded with a victory atHell in a Cell in October.[136] She changed focus to Nikki Bella, whose sister, Brie, was involved as her "personal assistant".[137] AJ quickly lost the championship to Nikki atSurvivor Series on November 23, due to a distraction by Brie.[138] After losing the rematch atTLC the following month,[139] Mendez took time off to heal a pre-existing neck injury.[140]
In February 2015, Mendez criticized WWE's treatment of its female wrestlers, stating they receive only a fraction of the wages and screen time of their male counterparts despite having generated record-selling merchandise and several top-rated segments. Her comments addressed WWE executive Stephanie McMahon, who thanked her for the public statement. WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon acknowledged the issue.[141][142]
AJ returned on the March 2 episode ofRaw, saving her former rival Paige from an attack by Nikki and Brie Bella.[143] AJ and Paige allied together and defeated the Bella Twins atWrestleMania 31 on March 29.[144] A six-woman tag team match the next night onRaw wound up being her final match, as WWE announced her retirement from in-ring competition on April 3.[145][146] Inher memoir, Mendez said permanent damage to hercervical spine and the fulfillment of her goals led to the decision. She had also "felt caught in the middle" between WWE and her husbandCM Punk followinghis controversial departure in January 2014 but continued to wrestle for as long as she could.[147]
Women of Wrestling (2021–2023)
After six years away from the wrestling industry, Mendez joined theWOW – Women of Wrestling promotion as an executive producer in October 2021, serving alongsideJeanie Buss. This announcement coincided with WOW entering into a multi-year distribution agreement withViacomCBS, the biggest distribution opportunity in the U.S. and abroad in the history of women's professional wrestling.[148] Beginning in September 2022, Mendez provided color commentary for WOW'ssyndicated weekly television program.[149] By August 2023, Mendez said she would be departing WOW at the end of her season-long contract.[150]
Return to WWE (2025–present)
In a 2021 interview, Mendez said she had healed from the injuries sustained during her career and that she could "technically" return to the ring.[151] Two years later, in November 2023, her husband, CM Punk, returned to WWE after a nearly ten-year hiatus, amplifying speculation that she would also return.[152][153] By September 2025, as part of his storyline withSeth Rollins, Punk began fueding with Rollins's wife,Becky Lynch, who attacked him on multiple occasions. Unwilling to strike a woman, Punk sought a partner to even the odds.[154][155] On the September 5 episode ofSmackDown, Mendez, again under the ring name AJ Lee, returned to WWE after a decade of absence, and attacked Lynch.[155]
AJ's first return match took place atWrestlepalooza on September 20, where she and Punk defeated Lynch and Rollins in a mixed tag team match after she forced Lynch to submit.[156] On the November 17 episode ofRaw, AJ distracted Lynch in her match againstMaxxine Dupri, costing Lynch theWomen's Intercontinental Championship.[157] As a result, AJ and Lynch joined opposing teams forSurvivor Series: WarGames on November 29, where AJ again forced Lynch to submit to secure the win for her team.[158][159] AJ is scheduled to face Lynch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship at the upcomingElimination Chamber event on February 28, 2026.[160]
Professional wrestling persona
AJ performing her finishing maneuver, the "Black Widow", onPaige
Mendez's character is prominently associated with her mentally unstablegimmick used during her time in WWE.[10][18][22] This persona, labeled the "crazy chick",[9][161] caused Mendez to feel that she "was hiding in plain sight" due to her bipolar disorder.[9] Her diagnosis was not publicly disclosed until the publicity for her memoir,[162] nor was WWE aware of her condition.[17]
The "Lee" in her ring name was derived fromWendee Lee, a voice actress in her favoriteanime,Cowboy Bebop.[163] She wore various ring attire styles throughout her career, but settled on a T-shirt, jean shorts, andChuck Taylor All-Stars, as it reflected her practical style.[164] She also wanted her look to be distinctive and easily replicated forcosplay.[164][165] When performing, sheskips as she enters ringside,[18][166] and sometimes uses it to taunt an opponent during a match.[136] She primarily performs theoctopus hold submission as her finishing maneuver,[3] named "Black Widow" in reference to theMarvel Comicscharacter.[167][168]
Legacy
Mendez is regarded as one of WWE's most popular female wrestlers of all time.[169][170][171] She was described by Paul Weigle ofPro Wrestling Torch as "a standout of theDivas era due to her charisma, in-ring ability, and status as an anti-Diva".[172] Wrestling performers who have cited Mendez as an inspiration or influence includeBayley,[173]Cathy Kelley,[174]Cora Jade,[175]Julia Hart,[176] andRoxanne Perez.[177] Mendez's WWE character was portrayed byThea Trinidad in the 2019 biographical filmFighting with My Family, which depicted the life of her rival,Paige, and recreated their first Divas Championship match.[178]
Writing and advocacy
Mendez wroteCrazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules, amemoir published byCrown Archetype on April 4, 2017.[179] The book covers her upbringing and career in professional wrestling.[10] It debuted at No. 10 onThe New York Times Best Seller list forhardcover non-fiction.[180] Upon release, she described writing as "very much the next chapter" of her life.[10]
Mendez formed a writing partnership with actressAimee Garcia in 2019. Their first project was thecomic book seriesGLOW vs. The Babyface, based on the television seriesGLOW; the first of four issues was published byIDW Publishing in November 2019.[181] In 2020, they created the production company Scrappy Heart Productions, dedicated to elevating diverse voices through storytelling.[182] They wrote theDungeons & Dragons four-issuelimited seriesAt the Spine of the World; the first issue was published by IDW in November 2020.[183][184] Alongside John Swetman, they co-wrote the screenplay for the 2022Netflix filmBlade of the 47 Ronin.[185][186]
In 2020, Mendez madethe Black List's inaugural Latinx TV list for hertelevision pilot script,Home.[187] In June 2021, she wrote a story in the first issue ofDC Comics'Wonder Woman: Black and Gold, an anthology mini-series celebratingWonder Woman's 80th anniversary.[188]
Mendez regards herself as atomboy[16] and has an interest in comic books, anime, and video games.[11][192][193] She has the numerical date of her first WWE Divas Championship win tattooed intally marks on the back of her neck.[167][194]
Wonder Woman: Black and Gold #1: "Mother's Daughter", illustrated byMing Doyle (co-feature,DC Comics, June 2021)[188]
Dungeons & Dragons: At the Spine of the World, with Aimee Garcia, illustrated by Martin Coccolo and Katrina Mae Hao (IDW Publishing, July 2021,ISBN978-1-68405-791-7)
Day of the Dead Girl, with Aimee Garcia, illustrated by Belén Culebras (Magma Comix, October 2024)[206]
^Wortman, James (April 4, 2013)."WrestleMania Diary: AJ Lee, Day 2". WWE.Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. RetrievedApril 6, 2016.her older siblings Robert and Erica
^Caldwell, James (November 23, 2010)."Caldwell's WWE NXT Results 11/23: Season 3, Week 12".Pro Wrestling Torch.Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2015.Mathews dramatically tried to build up a talking point of the interesting relationship between A.J. and Primo lately.
^Keller, Wade (January 27, 2012)."Keller's WWE SmackDown Blog 1/27".Pro Wrestling Torch.Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. RetrievedMarch 24, 2012.Bryan's avoidance of saying that he loves A.J. while bragging about how much she loves him is very heelish and also very funny.
^Caldwell, James (June 25, 2012)."Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 6/25".Pro Wrestling Torch.Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. RetrievedJanuary 29, 2015.[Kane] said he finds [AJ] mentally unstable
^WWE After The Bell with Corey Graves & Kevin Patrick (March 11, 2021).Bayley Sheds the Snakeskin. Event occurs at 49:42. RetrievedOctober 2, 2025 – viaSpotify.I always have to give credit to AJ [Lee] because she changed my life when she said it's okay to be myself. And I know her whole thing was "Stay weird" and "Be yourself". And she dressed how she wanted to and it inspired so many girls, but for me, that was the first change for me too.
Mendez Brooks, AJ (April 4, 2017).Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules.Crown Archetype.ISBN978-0451496669.
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