AJ Lee Pays Tribute to Late Dog Larry in Heartbreaking Post

CM Punk honored his late dog Larry with a pizza campaign earlier this month—but now AJ Lee is opening up for the first time since Larry’s passing, and her words are nothing short of heartbreaking.

In an Instagram post on January 13, 2026, AJ shared several personal photos featuring Larry alongside herself and CM Punk, including custom artwork and never-before-seen moments from their life together. She also thanked fans and supporters who donated to PAWS Chicago in Larry’s memory, the same rescue where Larry was adopted in 2015.

AJ revealed that Larry had been surrendered to the shelter over a decade ago, labeled by fosters and professionals as “a lost cause” and “chaos.” But to her and Punk, he was perfect. In a deeply personal caption, AJ wrote:

“He survived abuse and abandonment and was just misunderstood. We knew he was perfect for us. He snuggled on his terms, like a prickly cat. He stole entire pizzas and donuts off countertops and swallowed them whole like a snake.”

AJ recalled Larry’s rise from an unwanted stray to a beloved part of the wrestling community, featured on billboards, ASPCA campaigns, Rolling Stone, and even getting action figures and fan art made in his image. She described him as “the center of my happiest days”, and someone who helped her survive “the deepest depressive cycles”. Now that Larry is gone, AJ says she’s struggling.

“I am not okay, half my heart is gone. I get really quiet and private during the hard stuff but I wanted to come on here and say, if you need a best friend who will make every day brighter, who will save your life right back, please adopt don’t shop. Rescue dogs are a special kind of magic.”

She ended the post by imagining Larry reunited with her late pets Mugsy and Nacho, “causing absolute f-ing mayhem” in the afterlife.

The post follows Punk’s announcement of “The Larry” pizza as part of the Slice to Meet You charity campaign, raising money for rescue animals in Larry’s honor. Now, AJ’s tribute adds an even deeper emotional resonance to the initiative—reminding everyone that every rescue has the power to become a legend.

Have you ever adopted a rescue pet that changed your life as it did for AJ Lee? Share your story in the comments below and let us know how your furry friend made your world brighter.