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. Recognized for her unique persona and wrestling style, she became a three-time WWE Divas Champion. Since retiring from professional wrestling, Mendez has focused on her writing career, including authoring a memoir and working as a screenwriter.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

March 2007: Enrolls in Wrestling School

In March 2007, Mendez enrolled in a wrestling school near her home and began training with Jay Lethal.

2007: Professional Wrestling Career Begins

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

October 2008: Joins Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU)

In October 2008, she joined the New Jersey-based promotion Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU).

February 2009: Wins WSU Tag Team Championship

In February 2009, Miss April and Brooke Carter won the WSU Tag Team Championship.

May 2009: Signs WWE Contract

In May 2009, Mendez paid to attend a WWE tryout camp and subsequently signed a contract with the company.

2009: Signs with WWE

In 2009, Mendez signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and spent two years in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), their developmental branch.

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 mixing professional wrestling and reality competition formats.

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, known as "The Chickbusters".

November 2011: On-Screen Relationship with Daniel Bryan

By November 2011, AJ Lee was featured in an on-screen relationship with Daniel Bryan.

January 13, 2012: Knocked Down on SmackDown

On January 13, 2012, AJ Lee was accidentally knocked down by Big Show during Daniel Bryan's title defense on SmackDown.

2012: Rises to Prominence in WWE

In 2012, AJ Lee rose to prominence in WWE through storylines featuring her "mentally unstable" character, high-profile relationships, and a stint as the General Manager of Raw.

2012: Wins WWE Superstar Challenge

In 2012, AJ Mendez became the first female winner of WWE's annual Superstar Challenge video game tournament, competing in WWE '12 at WrestleMania XXVIII Axxess.

March 2013: Storyline Rivalry with Daniel Bryan Reignited

In March 2013, AJ Lee's storyline rivalry with ex-boyfriend Daniel Bryan was reignited backstage.

April 22, 2013: Wins Battle Royal

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 at the time

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

2015: Retires from In-Ring Performing

In 2015, Mendez retired from in-ring performing in WWE.

April 4, 2017: Crazy Is My Superpower Published

On April 4, 2017, Mendez's memoir, Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules, was published by Crown Archetype.

Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules

Check it on Amazon

2017: Memoir Becomes a Best Seller

In 2017, Mendez's memoir, Crazy Is My Superpower, became a New York Times Best Seller.

Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules

Check it on Amazon

2018: Awarded NAMI Multicultural Outreach Award

In 2018, Mendez was awarded NAMI's Multicultural Outreach Award for her advocacy for mental health awareness.

November 2019: GLOW Comic Book Series Published

In November 2019, Mendez and Aimee Garcia's first project, the comic book series GLOW vs. The Babyface based on the television series GLOW, was published by IDW Publishing.

November 2020: Dungeons & Dragons Comic Series Published

In November 2020, the first issue of the Dungeons & Dragons four-issue limited series At the Spine of the World, co-written by Mendez and Aimee Garcia, was published by IDW.