AJ Mendez: The Untold Story of CM Punk's Wife and Former WWE Superstar
AJ Mendez: The Untold Story of CM Punk's Wife and For...
By Jocelyn Alano August 27, 2024 12:01
April Jeanette Mendez was born on March 19, 1987, in Union City, New Jersey. She was raised in a working-class family and has faced trials, including periods of homelessness and financial strain. Over the years, watching Professional Wrestling and escaping into Comic Books and Video games helped her through some challenging times.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Mendez was hooked on the sport as a child due to its over-the-top bouts and hype-filled storylines. She became interested in professional wrestling after trying out several other sports and hobbies, as she called herself a tomboy. This passion would ultimately guide her to work in the industry, though the journey was easy.
Armbar Breaking Into Pro Wrestling
Mendez entered the professional wrestling scene in 2007 at the age of 20 by attending a WWE Diva Search casting call. Under the guidance of none other than Jay Lethal, one of the top names in independent wrestling, Mendez fine-tuned her rasslin' acumen and crafted a ring character that would become AJ Lee.
Mendez subsequently used the ring "Miss April" after moving to action on the New Jersey independent circuit in late 2007. She quickly had a head turn with her striking combination of skill and sporting charisma despite being a petite girl. She debuted with Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) in October 2008, a prominent northeast all-female promotion.
Mendez found success at WSU. Her resume is extensive from her time as a student-athlete for the Cougars in Pullman. She began teaming with Brooke Carter and won the WSU Tag Team Championship in February 2009. She also won the annual WSU/National Wrestling Superstars King and Queen of the Ring tournament with her former trainer, Jay Lethal, solidifying their status as one of several breakout stars in independent wrestling.
Rise to Fame in WWE
WWE scouts noticed Mendez's talent and dedication, setting up a tryout camp in May 2009. The $1,500 investment in paying her way to the camp paid off when she secured a WWE contract.
Mendez began her career performing on the New Jersey independent circuit as Miss April, mostly in Women Superstars Uncensored. Eventually, signing a contract with WWE and was sent to its developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in Tampa, Florida, for training. There, she adopted the ring name AJ Lee. Before long, she had won first the Queen of FCW title in February 2010 and then again later that year for the FCW Divas Championship. These achievements showcased what she could and set the floor for her arrival in the main division.
The NXT premiere in 2011 was the night AJ Lee debuted nationally on WWE's main roster. While she didn't win, her larger-than-life personality and prowess in the ring enamored fans and WWE honchos. It also spawned her move to the main roster for good in late 2016.
The "Crazy Chick" Character & Success as a Champion
If anything, AJ Lee's career kickstarted in 2012 with a storyline that brought out her acting skills and gave us the real voice behind how she would finally get to express her "crazy chick" character. She was mixed up in a love triangle between Daniel Bryan and CM Punk, resulting in her character growing increasingly unhinged, culminating in the iconic moment of proposing to CM Punk on air while leaving her boyfriend at the altar during an episode of Raw.
This would propel AJ Lee to the top of WWE programming and make her one of its most popular characters. However, her complete immersion into the character saw Jericho win over both fans and critics as she delivered genuine performances in and out of the ring.
Capitalizing on the surge of greatness, AJ Lee would go from a boisterous distraction to a top-ranked contender in women's wrestling. She won her first Divas Championship in June 2013 and kept the title for a record-setting 295 days. In her time on the throne, AJ Lee left a legacy for hard-fought matches and epic war of words in WWE Women's Wrestling.
Trailblazer and Advocate
During her time in WWE, AJ Lee was one of the best to ever play women's wrestling and subsequently became a known voice for improving female wrestler treatment and representation. In 2015, she called out WWE for the reportedly significant pay gap between male and female talent in terms of screen time. That shocking change in course instigated various talks concerning gender equality and representation within professional wrestling, inevitably creating a pathway for what would later be dubbed WWE's Women's Revolution.
Personal Life & Relationship with CM Punk
Though AJ Lee's on-screen storyline with CM Punk was strictly related to scripted layers, the two fell for each other. They became a couple back in 2013, and Lucero tried to capture their relationship together despite both being household names at that point at WWE.
They finally got married in a private wedding on June 13, 2014. The pair have long been supportive and had common interests, with outspoken personalities unafraid to stand by their principles.
CM Punk would exit the WWE in January 2014 under controversial circumstances, putting a nice strain on their relationship. Barring some way-over-the-top faith in her husband, AJ Lee had a tough spot trying to keep face for WWE. She recalled feeling "caught in the middle," she wrote in her memoir.
In spite of it all, AJ Lee and CM Punk made it through the work. The two have had each other's backs in numerous pursuits, CM Punk translating pro wrestling stardom into a career inside the cage and AJ Lee emerging as an author and mental health spokeswoman.
Retirement and After Wrestling Life
On April 3, 2015, WWE announced Lee's retirement from in-ring competition. In her autobiography, Mendez disclosed plans to retire from active competition due in part to permanent damage to cervical vertebrae suffered earlier. Although her goals in wrestling had been met, she wanted to look into other avenues.
Since retiring from professional wrestling, AJ Mendez has devoted herself to writing and helping others with mental health issues. In 2017, she published her New York Times best-selling memoir Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules. The book chronicles her time in wrestling but also explores mental health issues, specifically bipolar disorder and self-acceptance. Mendez has also dabbled in writing for comics as a co-writer of the GLOW vs. The Babyface, a comic book series, and other media projects. This passion for storytelling and creation powers her to this day.
AJ Mendez has made an unforgettable impact as a performer and a person in the world of professional wrestling. She has come a long way from barely out of school and hungry to make her mark into one of the most successful female professional wrestlers of her generation. Even though she did not compete for long, her legacy still motivates and influences the professional wrestling scene.
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