The following contains spoilers for tonight’s WWE SmackDown from Chicago.
The rumors of former WWE women’s star AJ Lee returning to join husband CM Punk against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch appear to be more than just rumors based on new intel from PWInsider.
The outlet reported Friday that Lynch is set to close tonight’s SmackDown. That comes after Punk’s name was removed from the official preview for the show earlier in the day.
Punk and Lee famously reside in the Windy City with Punk throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field Friday for his beloved Cubs.
Lynch helped cost Punk his shot at regaining the WWE World Heavyweight title at Clash in Paris, aligning with Rollins in The Vision. She then confronted and slapped Punk repeatedly on this past Monday’s Raw — the same show where Lee’s return was teased. During the aforementioned match, Rollins made a point to yell “I hate your family!” to Punk.
It’s expected that Punk and Lee will face Rollins and Lynch at this month’s Wrestlepalooza PLE that kicks off the ESPN era for WWE.
Lee hasn’t wrestled since March 2015 and had retired that same year. In a September 2021 interview, Punk said his wife would not return to the ring.
It is shaping up to be a big edition of the show with John Cena schedule, a rumored appearance by Brock Lesnar, and the potential for Lee’s return. Triple H himself tweeted earlier in the day that the Allstate Arena “is magic…let’s make some more tonight.”
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 PM Eastern.