Shocking developments took place during the September 8 edition of Monday Night RAW (via wwe.com) in Milwaukee. However, one of the most noticeable ones was the discussion around mental health during AJ Lee’s maiden promo segment in a decade. Highlighting the details around what she was doing after her official retirement from WWE, AJ Lee shared:
I wasn’t healthy. I needed to take care of myself. I went to therapy. I found a way to turn all of this mental chaos into my superpower.
AJ Lee had suffered with mental health issues due to the trauma and stigmatization she suffered in her family and later on, in the WWE during the Vince McMahon era. The prolific wrestler now claims that she has treated all that and realized her self-worth with time.
AJ Lee Had Earlier Revealed Details of Mental Abuse in Her Memoir
AJ Lee’s mental struggles started way back when she was a child. She had a difficult childhood with her mother, Janet Acevado, over-policing her at all times. Lee revealed in her book, Crazy is My Superpower, the absolutely horrifying details of mental trauma that her mother inflicted upon her.
Lee’s mother often made derogatory remarks about her s*xuality. As per the Sportser, Lee’s difficult childhood led to bipolar disorder. Her struggles with the disease were so severe that she attempted s*icide when she was only 20.
A horrifying incident she shared in her book was when her mother woke her up at 3 a.m. and forced her to pull down her pants because she wanted to check if she really had her first period. Lee was just a teenager back then.
The reasons behind this behavior from her mother were that she herself was suffering from mental health issues. During an interview with the A.V. Club, she remarked that mental health problems generally go untreated in Hispanic and minority communities because they have to be tough at all times.
It was because of this reason that when her mother had a mental breakdown, she had to be hospitalized, and that is when her family accepted that she was indeed mentally unstable.
However, this is the point that became a common meeting ground later in her life with CM Punk. The Second City Saint himself had a troubled childhood with his father being an alcoholic. But his relationship with his mother was particularly troublesome. So much so that he had to file a restraining order against her in 2013, as per a report by TMZ Sports.
Punk’s mother reportedly struggled with bipolar disorder and frequently asked him for financial assistance. Despite already giving her over $100,000, she continued to demand more. When he refused, she allegedly threatened to take her own life and reveal damaging details from his past. These incidents surfaced the real-life tensions within Punk’s family.
However, the troubles both of these WWE superstars had and their difficult childhoods brought them closer together.
Both Lee and Punk had a profound understanding of what it was like to grow up in unstable situations, dealing with emotional upheaval, tense familial relationships, and the never-ending pressure to succeed in spite of the odds.
Because of these common experiences, they developed a strong bond based on empathy and fortitude, which is difficult to find in the demanding world of professional wrestling. They were able to connect on a personal level and support one another through difficult times in their careers.
Additionally, in her memoir, AJ Lee recalls the dire economic condition of their family when she was a child. According to the Sportster, this triggered further issues within the family. AJ Lee had two other siblings in a family of 5 people. But her parents often switched apartments when they went several months without paying the rent. This, according to her, further isolated the mental health issues of her mother.
After several years, Lee now states that she has considerably healed herself. This was evident from the kind of promo she delivered at Monday Night RAW upon her return to the squared circle.
AJ Lee Said Everything Right During Her Promo Segment in Milwaukee
AJ Lee’s maiden promo segment following her return during the September 5, 2025, edition of Friday Night SmackDown (via wwe.com) had interesting twists and turns. Lee made an entrance with the Women’s Intercontinental title around her waist and introduced herself to the younger generation of WWE fans in case they were wondering why their millennial parents were excited last Friday.
The crowd erupted in cheers and therapy chants in response to what Lee said. The former Divas Champion addressed those who are currently facing mental health issues, acknowledging the everyday struggles they have to bear. However, Lee filled the arena with hope when she remarked that the fight against mental issues is worth fighting for.
Her promo was interrupted by Seth Rollins, who entered the ring trying to get her wife’s title back. Becky Lynch was on the ringside when she stumbled upon CM Punk, who attempted a GTS on Rollins. The World Heavyweight Champion, however, escaped in the final moments.
With this, the mixed tag team match at Wrestlepalooza is now official. The question now remains: which wrestling couple manages to dominate the other and establish their supremacy as a power-packed couple in the company?
Do you think CM Punk and AJ Lee will win over Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch at Wrestlepalooza? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Wrestlpalooza 2025 will be streaming live on September 20, 2025, on ESPN in the United States and on Netflix Internationally.
