AJ Lee Says She’s Finally Wrestling Without Feeling Like She Has To Prove Herself

AJ Lee is walking into WrestleMania 42 with a completely different mindset than the one she had during her first WWE run, and she made it clear that growing up — both personally and professionally — changed everything about how she performs.

During an interview with Rick Ucchino for Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown on SI, AJ Lee opened up about how her mentality today is nothing like the one she had in her twenties. Back then, she felt like she had to fight for every opportunity and constantly prove she belonged. Now, after years away from the ring, she says confidence has replaced that pressure.

While talking about how maturity reshaped her approach to wrestling, AJ explained that she no longer feels like she’s scrambling to survive every day.

“I know who I am. I know what I’ve done. I can walk into this place with a new kind of confidence and a calmness of just being a grown-ass woman. And there is a different level to performing that way, with that mindset of, yeah, I know what I can do. And so it makes it a little bit more fun. I get to really just enjoy and soak up the moments versus feeling like you were scrapping every day back then.”

That statement says a lot about how much things have changed for her. During her original WWE run, AJ Lee was known for fighting tooth and nail to stand out in a division that didn’t always get much time. Now, she’s returning as someone who already knows what she’s accomplished and doesn’t feel the same pressure to prove herself.

With WrestleMania 42 around the corner and a huge match against Becky Lynch ahead, AJ Lee sounds like someone who isn’t just chasing moments anymore — she’s enjoying them. Instead of fighting for recognition, she’s walking into the biggest show of the year with confidence and a sense of calm that didn’t exist the first time around.

Do you think AJ Lee’s new confidence will make a difference at WrestleMania 42, or will the pressure of the big stage still take over once the match starts? Drop your thoughts below and let us know what you think.