Career Timeline of AJ Lee: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of AJ Lee, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

April Jeanette Mendez, known professionally as AJ Lee, is an American author, screenwriter, and retired professional wrestler. She gained prominence during her time in WWE as AJ Lee, where she became known for her unique personality and in-ring skills. After retiring from wrestling, she transitioned into writing and screenwriting.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

March 2007: Enrollment in Wrestling School

In March 2007, AJ Lee enrolled in a wrestling school close to her home, where she received training from Jay Lethal.

2007: Professional Wrestling Career Begins

In 2007, Mendez started her professional wrestling career in the independent circuit of New Jersey.

October 2008: Joins Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU)

In October 2008, AJ Lee joined Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), a New Jersey-based promotion.

February 2009: Wins WSU Tag Team Championship

In February 2009, AJ Lee, teaming with Brooke Carter, captured the WSU Tag Team Championship.

May 2009: Signs WWE contract after tryout

In May 2009, Mendez paid $1,500 to attend a WWE tryout camp where she successfully signed a contract with the company.

2009: Signs with WWE

In 2009, Mendez signed with WWE and spent two years in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which is WWE's developmental branch, before being promoted to the main roster.

February 2010: Wins Queen of FCW Title

In February 2010, AJ Lee defeated Serena Mancini to win the Queen of FCW title.

September 2010: Participates in NXT Season 3

In September 2010, AJ Lee participated in the third season of NXT, a show that mixed professional wrestling and reality competition formats. She was assigned Primo as her "WWE Pro" and ultimately finished in third place.

April 2011: Loses FCW Divas Championship

In April 2011, AJ Lee lost the FCW Divas Championship to Aksana.

May 27, 2011: Main Roster Debut on SmackDown

On May 27, 2011, AJ Lee made her main roster debut on SmackDown as part of a tag team with Kaitlyn, referring to themselves as "The Chickbusters."

November 2011: On-Screen Romance with Daniel Bryan Begins

In November 2011, AJ Lee began an on-screen romance with Daniel Bryan.

January 13, 2012: Accidentally Struck by Big Show

On January 13, 2012, while accompanying Daniel Bryan for his title defense, AJ Lee was accidentally struck by Big Show and carried off on a stretcher as part of the storyline.

2012: Rise to Prominence in WWE

In 2012, AJ Lee rose to prominence in WWE through storylines featuring her character as "mentally unstable", which included high-profile relationships and a three-month tenure as the General Manager of Raw. She also won the Slammy Award for Diva of the Year.

March 2013: Rivalry with Daniel Bryan reignited

In March 2013, AJ's storyline rivalry with ex-boyfriend Daniel Bryan was reignited when they traded insults backstage. She and Langston assisted Ziggler in victories over Bryan and his tag team partner Kane.

April 22, 2013: Becomes Number One Contender

On April 22, 2013, AJ Lee won a battle royal to become the number one contender to Kaitlyn's WWE Divas Championship.

January 2014: Longest-Reigning Divas Champion

In January 2014, AJ Lee became the longest-reigning Divas Champion at the time.

2015: Retirement from In-Ring Performing

In 2015, AJ Lee retired from in-ring performing.

2018: NAMI Multicultural Outreach Award

In 2018, AJ Lee was awarded NAMI's Multicultural Outreach Award for her advocacy work.

November 2019: GLOW vs. The Babyface Comic Book Series Published

In November 2019, AJ Lee's first project with Aimee Garcia, the comic book series GLOW vs. The Babyface, was published by IDW Publishing.

November 2020: Dungeons & Dragons Comic Book Series Published

In November 2020, the first issue of the Dungeons & Dragons four-issue limited series At the Spine of the World, co-created by AJ Lee, was published by IDW.

2020: Made Black List's Latinx TV List

In 2020, AJ Lee made the Black List's inaugural Latinx TV list for her television pilot script, Home.

June 2021: Writes Story for DC Comics' Wonder Woman: Black and Gold

In June 2021, AJ Lee wrote a story in the first issue of DC Comics' Wonder Woman: Black and Gold, an anthology mini-series celebrating Wonder Woman's 80th anniversary.

Wonder Woman Black & Gold

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October 2021: Joins WOW – Women of Wrestling as Executive Producer

In October 2021, after six years away from the wrestling industry, AJ Lee joined the WOW – Women of Wrestling promotion as an executive producer, serving alongside Jeanie Buss.