Back in September 2025, AJ Lee shocked the world when she made a return during the September 5th episode of WWE SmackDown. Her comeback, which saw her confront and take down Becky Lynch before grabbing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, instantly reignited excitement in the women’s division.
Shortly after, a report from BodySlam.net claimed AJ had signed a multi-year, full-time WWE contract, and that the company was positioning her as a key figure moving forward.
“AJ’s full-time status signals something bigger. WWE is investing in her as a cornerstone of the division again.”
But now, just four months later, that narrative has taken a sharp turn. During the Fightful Select Q&A Show on January 3, 2026, Sean Ross Sapp poured cold water on the idea that AJ Lee is operating under a true full-time status.
“That’s why when AJ Lee came back and people reported, ‘Oh, she’s back and it’s full-time,’ I think—back in December—I was like, well, hold on. That is not what is being relayed to me. Which doesn’t mean that it’s not true… but this was very clearly not going to be a full-time run.”
Despite talk of a WrestleMania match with Becky Lynch, Sean clarified why WWE has kept AJ’s appearances spaced out and Sean also noted the current working assumption behind the scenes:
“She’s done two matches since she came back in—what was it, September or something? And when it was hinted at me, ‘Oh, well, she’ll probably be facing Becky at Mania’—and that’s a probably, it’s not worth reporting—but I was looking at it and I was like, well, how on Earth are they going to stretch that out seven months if she’s full-time? Well, she’s not full-time. That’s why.”
“I haven’t heard that definitively, but that’s the match that everyone I’ve talked to felt like would be the match.”
This update throws the “multi-year, full-time” contract narrative into question, suggesting AJ’s WWE run may be more limited or part-time than initially believed—potentially more about moments than matches.
What do you think about AJ Lee’s real WWE status? Should she stay a part-time attraction, or do fans deserve a full-on run? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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