Nick’s Quick Wits-A Hall of Fame Diva

I’ve noticed that since I started this column, I haven’t focused much on the divas. With the recent retirement of AJ Lee, I’m going to talk about her and why I believe she had a hall of fame career.

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AJ Lee made her WWE debut on the third season of NXT in 2010. She was the fan favorite to win because she brought a uniqueness to her character that was easy for fans to relate to. She didn’t call herself a diva or model or superstar, she was just playing her gimmick based off real life, a nerd who loved wrestling. In the end, Kaitlyn was the winner of NXT and AJ Lee went back to developmental.

In 2011, AJ Lee debuted on Smackdown teaming with Kaitlyn. They were somewhat over as a team and it lead to AJ eventually breaking away from Kaitlyn and going off on her own. It was also around this time that she was put into her first major program, as Daniel Bryan’s girlfriend. Bryan was the World Heavyweight Champion during this time, giving both of them a great deal of time on television, and more attention than either of them had up until that point.

This came to an end after WrestleMania 28, Bryan lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus in 18 seconds. He blamed AJ for the loss and broke up with her. Bryan actually became insanely over in the process and AJ began her crazy gimmick, also becoming one of the most over superstars on the roster. AJ was the object of affection for Bryan, CM Punk, and Kane during their months of fueding for both the WWE Championship, and AJ’s love. Bryan and AJ were set to be married on the historic 1000th episode of Raw, but that came to an end was AJ was shocking named the new General Manger of Monday Night Raw.

AJ as general manager lasted for three months and I may be in the minority here, but I enjoyed her GM run and wish it lasted longer, it was fresh and different than other GM runs. Her run was ended when she was forced to step down because she was rumored to be having an affair with John Cena. This lead to her turning on Cena and joining up with Dolph Ziggler. In two years, AJ Lee went from being a rookie second runner up on NXT, to being involved with the face of the company in a high profile storyline. Needless to say, AJ Lee was now a big time diva.

However, one thing was missing, and on June 16, 2013, that changed when AJ Lee won the Divas Championship from her former tag team partner and best friend Kaitlyn. This began the longer reign in the history of the divas championship. Along the way, AJ Lee cut perhaps the best promo in the history of divas promo by attacking the cast of total divas. She would go on to defeat several cast member in various matches throughout this time, even retaining her title against the entire divas division at WrestleMania XXX, it was AJ Lee against the world, and AJ won.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIjpBEsKAaI[/youtube]

Her record setting title reign ended the next night on Raw when she was defeated by the debuting Paige. AJ would take three months off, return and feud with Paige for months, where she would win two more divas championships. AJ lost her third and final divas championship to Nikki Bella at Survivor Series 2014. She lost the rematch and again took time off. She would return to team with Paige at WrestleMania 31 defeating the Bella Twins. A few days later, AJ announced her retirement.

AJ Lee was a diva who loved the business. That was one of the reason I was a fan of hers. She wasn’t someone who was in WWE to become famous, she wrestled because she loved it. She was a one of a kind diva and her accomplishments show that she more than deserves a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame someday. I’ll miss watching her perform and wish her and her husband CM Punk nothing but the best as they move forward.

Until next time, don’t call her crazy, just AJ
-Nick

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