For a good chunk of her career, AJ Lee had a secret. Sports Illustrated writes that she — much like her mother — has bipolar disorder, which was diagnosed when she was 19 or 20. Then, the gimmick that made her famous ended up being that of a “crazy chick.” Outlets like Bleacher Report expressed some criticism toward the character’s arc, but “crazy” AJ still propelled Lee to main event status. However, the character was probably not an intentional dig on the WWE’s part. In fact, Lee had kept the WWE in the dark about her personal struggles with mental health, which eventually got awkward when the company started trying to make her perform skits that made light of mental health. 

In 2012, the New York Post wrote that the WWE wanted Lee to up the “craziness” ante in comedic sketches that would see her make out with leprechauns, as well as hallucinate and dance with “dinosaurs from outer space.” This didn’t sit well with Lee, who was still in the closet with her own mental health issues but had already spoken about those of her mother’s. While she realized that the company was attempting to make a joke, she couldn’t help but feel that the whole thing disrespected both her and her mom. In the end, Lee refused to take part in the skit, and the WWE punished her by taking her off TV for two months. 

AJ Lee may not be around as much as she used to, but AJ Mendez Brooks is very much still with us. Operating under her real name, Lee has transitioned from a successful in-ring performer to an equally successful author with her memoir, Crazy Is My Superpower. The 2017 book turned out to be so triumphant that after one week, Lee’s official website could proudly announce it was a New York Times bestseller, having reached #10 on the “Hardcover Nonfiction” list and #7 on the “Sports and Fitness” list.  

When you think about it, it’s not a huge surprise that Lee struck gold with her book. After all, she was one of the most popular female wrestlers around, and the book was released just a couple of years after she exited the WWE at the peak of her powers. What’s more, she certainly has a story to tell. She comes from an extremely poor family that had to move around a lot because they couldn’t afford the rent, and the mental health issues she (and her mother) lived with proved difficult to treat in the macho environment of the culture she was living in. Cageside Seats says the book has a “great message,” and notes its significant openness about an outsider’s climb to the top of her profession while struggling with her personal issues.

Though AJ Lee seems to be largely done with pro wrestling, there is one way she’s still involved with the “sport.” As The Hollywood Reporter tells us, in 2019, the former wrestling star got involved with one of the hottest wrestling-teamed franchises around. Yeah, we’re talking about GLOW, the popular Netflix show that’s loosely based on a real-life, all-women promotion from the 1980s called the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Wrestling fans shouldn’t get too excited, though, as it looks like Lee isn’t about to join the show’s cast. Instead, she’s joining forces with actor Aimee Garcia to write a comic book series based on the show. 

With a four-part series called GLOW vs. the Babyface, Lee and Garcia are both making their debut as comic book writers. However, they’re both huge fans of the show, and they believe that their collective talents and attitudes make them perfect for the job. As Lee puts it, “Aimee’s experience in acting and my experience in pro-wrestling makes us a formidable tag team with a unique perspective to truly channel the voices of these hilarious heroines. Our mission as writing partners is to represent diverse, complex, and unbreakable female characters, which is why GLOW feels like the perfect fit.”

One of the biggest reasons wrestling fans don’t really hear from AJ Lee anymore is simple. She’s chosen to stay away from the squared circle. Apart from the myriad of reasons for her leaving the WWE, Lee is still one of the most popular female wrestlers around and easily young enough for a comeback, should she so desire and should her health permit. 

And the fans certainly want her. In 2018, Sportskeeda reported that Lee “dominated” the polls when fans were asked who they’d like to make a comeback for the female-driven Evolution pay-per-view. According to Sportskeeda, even Vince McMahon himself allegedly reached out to ask if Lee would like to re-emerge in the WWE Universe. (She ultimately didn’t.) There have been rumors of her signing with the WWE’s emergent competitor, All Elite Wrestling, though Ringside News notes that these appear to be incorrect. Oh, and as Forbes points out, it doesn’t exactly hurt the rumor mill that Lee isn’t just a major player in her own right. She’s also connected to arguably the biggest free agent in the business, CM Punk. 

Though Lee seems perfectly happy pursuing her other interests for now, it’s clear that her comeback would be most welcome. As for Lee herself, she hasn’t entirely ruled out a return in the ring, explaining, “I say that I don’t know what the future holds — to not hold your breath. But never say never.”