WWE Diva AJ Lee shocked the world earlier this month when she announced that she was retiring from the squared circle and will no longer be an active competitor in the company.
WWE Monday Night RAW Preview and Rumors: Final Show Before Extreme Rules
Lee's husband CM Punk's impending legal battle with WWE's Dr. Chris Amann may have been the final straw that led to her departure, but regardless of what caused her to leave, she left an impact on the Divas division throughout her time in the WWE.
Lee revealed on April 3 that she was hanging it up and that she would no longer be a part of the WWE, but she leaves behind a lasting legacy.
The Bella Twins Want Total Divas Spin-Off Show
Here are our top five moments in the career of AJ Lee.
Honorable Mention: In the early portion of her career, Lee had a revolving door of romantic interests on WWE television including Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, CM Punk, Kane and John Cena, but there always seemed to be a storyline swerve wherever she went. One of the best turns saw Lee betray Cena during his Ladder Match with Dolph Ziggler with a Money in the Bank briefcase on the line at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2012. The ending of the match saw Lee push Cena off the ladder to help Ziggler win the bout. Lee also had a very memorable arc as general manager of Monday Night RAW.
5) Diva of the Year: Lee won the Diva of the Year Slammy Award on two separate occasions. The first saw Lee beat out Kailtyn, Layla and Eve for the honor in 2012 and the second time around she topped Paige and The Bella Twins to win the prestigious award in 2014.
4) Pipe Bomb: Lee's husband Punk is known for dropping "pipe bombs" on the microphone, but Lee showed the world she wasn't too shabby with the mic either back in August of 2013. Lee cut a promo about the cast of Total Divas and criticized the Divas division for taking part in the reality television show. Lee then led a crusade against the cast of the show, revitalizing the division.
3) Out with a Bang: While the WWE Universe didn't realize it at the time, Lee's last high-profile bout came on the biggest stage as she teamed with Paige to take on The Bella Twins at WrestleMania 31 on March 29 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Lee got the win for her team after she made Nikki Bella, the reigning WWE Divas Champion, tap out to the Black Widow in what proved to be (at least for now) her final WrestleMania moment. It was a tremendous way for her to go out on a high note in the WWE. Lee announced her retirement from the organization five days later.
2) 3-Peat: Lee became just the second Diva to win the Divas Championship three times since the belts inception in 2008, joining Eve Torres. Lee first won the gold in 2013 after defeating Kailtyn (more on that later). She won it for a second time when she returned to WWE television after a hiatus and won her gold back from Paige in an impromptu bout. Lee's third and final reign came when she overcame Paige and Nikki Bella in a Triple Threat Match last September at Night of Champions.
1) 295 Days On Top: Lee's first Divas Championship reign was arguably her best as she won the gold after a fantastic match with Kailtyn on June 16, 2013 at the inaugural Payback event. Lee made Kailtyn submit in a match that lasted nearly 10 minutes and could be Lee's best contest with the company. Lee went on to hold the belt for 295 days, surpassing Maryse's previous record of 216 days that was established in 2008. Lee would take on all comers and eventually dropped the belt to the debuting Paige on the episode of RAW that aired on April 7, 2014, the night after WrestleMania XXX.
Lee had an excellent in-ring career and left her mark as a two-time Diva of the Year and three-time Divas Champion.
For more content, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN or LIKE US on Facebook
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
