Former multi-time WWE Diva’s Champion AJ Lee returned to the WWE recently. The return is by no means a one-off, as she will be back for the foreseeable future. That has understandably made professional wrestling fans excited to see her wrestle some of the best women on the roster today. The main issue AJ faced in her time was that the WWE did not treat women’s wrestling very well, constantly giving them 5 minute matches or less.
Today, however, the women are given as much time as the men and the whole “WWE Diva” concept has since been retired. We now have the most talented female roster in the history of WWE, so who are the top people AJ Lee should face off with? We narrowed down a list of the 12 best!
Becky Lynch
While AJ Lee will face off with Becky Lynch at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza PLE, it will be in a tag team match. Becky teams with her husband Seth Rollins while AJ will compete alongside her husband, CM Punk. As a result, we won’t see a one on one match yet. That said, we need to see this match sooner rather than later. Honestly, it could be one of the best women’s matches in a long time.
Naomi
Naomi and AJ Lee have been friends for a while and sort of came up together from FCW over a decade ago. Due to this, there is a real need to see the two face off as they are both in a completely different place in their lives. As we proceed with caution around today’s version of Naomi, we’re yet to see what this new AJ Lee will look like. By the time Naomi returns to the ring, however, all of that will be settled. It’ll then be a fun time to see these two face off.
Charlotte Flair
AJ Lee only ran into Charlotte Flair a few times before she left WWE. That was entirely while Flair was at NXT in her early development. We’re not sure if the two ever locked up, but if they did, it was not when Charlotte was at the top of her game. Seeing “The Queen” of today face off with one of the best she has yet to defeat gives Charlotte, weirdly, another mountain to climb. Which is necessary for someone like Flair, after doing everything else.
Asuka
Asuka is perhaps one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time. Hands down, she might be the best to ever come out of Japan and that is saying quite a lot. Her success in the WWE is on another level. Despite all of AJ Lee’s success in WWE years ago, the roster was not flooded with a ton of international stars. Having Asuka on the roster, still as great as ever, gives AJ the chance to face off with one of the greatest international wrestlers the WWE has ever had. The two could put on a clinic together!
Natalya
If there is one constant in WWE for all these years, it’s Natalya Neidhart. She was already a veteran during AJ Lee’s time with WWE. The two locked up a good bit but unlike AJ, Nattie never left. Sort of the equivalent to The Undertaker for the women’s locker room, Nattie has been around for a while and is heavily respected by every woman on the roster. A match with AJ Lee only helps her have a story worth telling. Especially in an era we do not see her as often. Referencing how Nattie never left while all these other women left and came back could be quite compelling.
Bayley
Before AJ Lee left WWE, she had an interesting connection with Bayley. Their first time together on television was when Bayley was on NXT and in her “huge fan of everyone” phase. Today, Bayley has become a legend in her own right. To see that version of Bayley face off with someone she idolized could be so interesting and well worth it. Especially for fans who remember where the two come from and how different the industry is today.
Rhea Ripley
Personally, we feel this is a match that needs to be saved for a little while. At least until WWE has decided to turn AJ Lee into a heel, which they cannot for a while. However, when they do, having AJ Lee take on Rhea Ripley could be must-see television. “Mami” is perhaps the most popular full-time WWE Superstar of our time outside of Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. That automatically makes the AJ/Rhea match a major event worth seeing. Rhea’s friendship with AJ’s husband might also be an interesting story to use for a crazed lunatic version of AJ that we all know and love.
Stephanie Vaquer
It’s rare that WWE has one of the greatest female wrestlers on the planet outside of the United States on the roster in their prime. Yet they have that in Stephanie Vaquer, who WWE fans seem to adore today. The Chilian-born wrestler can do everything and that makes her a really fun opponent for AJ Lee. Most would say that AJ is often considered more of a story-telling performer. Stephanie can match that, while also mixing in grappling and submissions as well as strikes, making this one heck of a fun match to see.
Nikki Bella
A lot of things changed when AJ Lee left WWE. One thing became sort of a shot at her by the company. Before leaving, AJ had the longest reign with the Diva’s Championship…a record Nikki Bella beat by roughly a week. The two never really had the chance to prove who was the true best, especially as AJ was left soon after and did not get the chance to win back the title. That said, with Nikki back in WWE too, it only makes sense for the two to run it back. Nikki has also proven to be in top form, having wrestled relatively well against the likes of Becky Lynch and Asuka in recent weeks.
Raquel Rodriguez
“Big Mami Cool” Raquel Rodriguez has started coming into her own over the last year. While Raquel has held championships before, she never wrestled to fit her size. As in, she was always taller and stronger, but only recently has she been showing that off. AJ Lee rarely had a female like this to work with in her time, therefore, a match with Rodriguez could be a stylistically awesome match to watch!
Tatum Paxley
While Tatum Paxley is still on NXT right now, it’s clear that a match against AJ Lee has to happen eventually. AJ was always known for being a crazy girl. Seriously, she did total lunatic stuff. Tatum is known for that today herself. Who is the truly craziest of them all? We need to find that out! The opportunity to see an escalating series of matches, each getting more insane, could be the stuff of legend.
Roxanne Perez
Look, we all know this match has to happen right? Mother must face off with daughter now that mom is back in WWE. While AJ Lee is not the legitimate mother of Roxanne Perez, she and husband CM Punk have adopted her as their “wrestling daughter.” Probably because she is literally a combination of the two. AJ “must” face off against Roxanne eventually, as fans are already demanding to see it!