AJ Lee Biography

April Jeanette Mendez (born March 19, 1987) is an American professional wrestler. She works for WWE under the ring name AJ Lee, where she is the current WWE Divas Champion.

Before signing with WWE, Mendez performed for several Northeast-based independent promotions as Miss April, including Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), where she held the WSU Tag Team Championship once.

After signing with WWE in 2009, AJ was part of the third season of NXT in 2010, placing third in the competition. In 2012, after being involved in several relationships with wrestlers feuding over the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship (CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, John Cena and Kane) while also being Raw General Manager for almost three months, AJ was named WWE's "Diva of the Year". At the Payback pay-per-view in June 2013, AJ won her first WWE Divas Championship by defeating her former best friend Kaitlyn.

A self-professed "nerd" and "tomboy", WWE adapted Mendez's comics and video game fandom to her on-screen character, endorsing her as different from the typical women in the WWE and promoting her as the "Geek Goddess".

Early life

Mendez grew up in Union City, New Jersey, describing her family's experience as having to live in motels and other people's houses. Mendez cited her brother's interest in WWE when they were children as an influence on her eventual decision to break into the male-dominated world of wrestling, and she cemented her ambition to pursue a professional wrestling career when she was twelve years old. Inspired by the female WWE stars that came before her, Mendez worked several jobs after graduating from high school (including being a janitor at day care, a cashier and a secretary at a fitness center) in order to save up the money she needed to both support her family and enroll in wrestling school.

Mendez attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City where she majored in film and television production, and writing, until family and financial issues led to her dropping out six months into her studies. As a tribute to her brother who was in the Army, Mendez previously wore camouflage wrestling attire.

Professional wrestling career

Training (2007)

Shortly after leaving university, Mendez researched wrestling schools and enrolled in one a mile away from her house. To pay the tuition she began working full-time and began training in March 2007 under Jay Lethal. She debuted on September 29, 2007 under the ring name "Miss April", wrestling on the New Jersey independent circuit.

Women Superstars Uncensored (2008"2009)

On October 10, 2008, Miss April made her debut for the New Jersey-based promotion Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), losing to Soul Sister Jana in a singles match. On the following night, she teamed with Malia Hosaka and participated in a tournament to determine the inaugural WSU Tag Team Champions. The team advanced to the second round by defeating the Soul Sisters (Jana and Latasha), where they lost to The Beatdown Betties (Roxxie Cotton and Annie Social). Miss April went on to form a tag team with Brooke Carter called the AC Express. On February 7, 2009, the AC Express defeated the Beatdown Betties for the WSU Tag Team Championships.

On April 10, Miss April competed in the third annual J-Cup Tournament, defeating Roxxie Cotton in the first round before losing to Rain in the second. On the following night, Miss April and Jay Lethal won the 2009 WSU/NWS King and Queen of the Ring tournament, defeating Jana and Danny Demanto in the final. Miss April left WSU in May 2009 upon signing with WWE, vacating her half of the WSU Tag Team Championships.

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE

Florida Championship Wrestling (2009"2011)

Mendez signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment on May 5, 2009, and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory. Mendez made her FCW debut at the August 14 television tapings under the name "April Lee" in a fatal four-way match won by Serena Mancini. In September 2009, her ring name was changed to "AJ Lee". She began challenging for the Queen of FCW title, and at the television tapings on February 4, 2010, AJ defeated Serena to win the crown. On the March 17 episode of FCW Televison, AJ successfully made her first title defense against Naomi Knight.

In the first round of a tournament to determine the inaugural FCW Divas Champion, AJ defeated Tamina on the May 16 episode of FCW Television, but was defeated by Serena in the semi-finals on June 6. On the June 27 episode of FCW Television, AJ challenged Naomi for the FCW Divas Championship, but was unsuccessful in their match the following week. On the July 11 episode of FCW Television, AJ and Serena interrupted Naomi during a promo, and AJ watched while Serena attacked Naomi, turning AJ into a heel. Naomi went on to retain her FCW Divas Championship by defeating both AJ and Serena in a triple threat match the following week. On the 100th episode of FCW Television (airing on August 29), AJ fought Naomi to a double countout in a match where both AJ's Queen of FCW title and Naomi's FCW Divas Championship were on the line. On the September 26 episode of FCW Television, AJ lost to Naomi in a Lumberjill match to end their feud.

At the November 18, 2010 television tapings, AJ dropped the Queen of FCW title to Rosa Mendes. At the December 16 television tapings, AJ defeated Naomi to win the FCW Divas Championship. Her victory made her the first FCW Diva to have held both the Divas Championship and the title of Queen of FCW. She held the championship until April 7, 2011 when she lost it to Aksana during a television taping.

NXT (2010)

In September 2010, AJ became part of the third season of NXT, with Primo as her WWE pro. On the September 7 episode of NXT, AJ unsuccessfully competed in both a "Dance Competition" and "Capture the Flag", and made her televised in-ring debut in a mixed tag team match alongside Primo against Aksana and Goldust in a winning effort. The following week on the September 14 episode of NXT, she competed in another mixed tag team match, but was unsuccessful against Kaitlyn and Dolph Ziggler, and would also lose the "Joke Off" and the "Obstacle Course" challenge. On the September 21 episode of NXT, AJ won a "Musical Chairs" contest, and defeated Maxine in singles competition. The following week on the September 28 episode of NXT, AJ lost the "Wheelbarrow Challenge", but ended the show winning the "Diss the Diva" challenge.

The next week on the October 5, 2010 episode of NXT, AJ was unsuccessful in both the "Mechanical Bull Competition" and the "Talent Show" contest, and was tied with Kaitlyn in immunity points, but lost a crowd reaction poll to receive immunity from elimination. On the October 12 episode NXT, AJ won the "WWE Name that Tune" challenge, but would later that night lose the "Power of the Punch" challenge. The next week on the October 19 episode of NXT, AJ lost the "Who's That Body?" contest and the "Limbo" contest. On the October 26 Halloween-themed episode of NXT, AJ (dressed as Raphael) lost the "Halloween Costume Contest", a "Halloween Candy" competition, and in singles competition against Brie Bella. On the November 2 episode of NXT, AJ won the "Kissing Contest", and was later involved in a backstage segment with Primo, Kaitlyn, and Dolph Ziggler after she and Primo found Ziggler and Kaitlyn kissing, and would watch as Kaitlyn threw Aksana and Goldust's wedding cake in her pro, Vickie Guerrero's face. The following week on the November 9 episode of NXT, AJ lost the "Arm Wrestling" competition, but defeated Nikki Bella in singles competition and won the "High School Yearbook Competition". On the November 16 episode of NXT, AJ won a "How Well Do You Know Your Pro?" challenge, and defeated Aksana in singles competition via submission, but lost the "Diss the Diva" challenge. On the November 23 episode of NXT, AJ won the "WWE Trivia" challenge, and was victorious against Naomi in singles competition via submission, but would later that night be eliminated from the competition. She returned to NXT on the November 30, 2010 season finale episode, where she teamed with The Bella Twins against Aksana, Maxine, and Alicia Fox with AJ's team coming out victorious pinning Maxine, and would afterwards share a kiss with Primo; she also celebrated with her friend Kaitlyn after she was named WWE's Breakout Diva.

The Chickbusters (2011)

On the May 27, 2011 episode of SmackDown, AJ made her main roster debut alongside Kaitlyn as a tag team known as the Chickbusters, being accompanied by their mentor Natalya, in a tag team match against the team of Alicia Fox and Tamina in a losing effort, establishing herself as a face. The Chickbusters again lost in a rematch against Fox and Tamina the following week on the June 3 episode of SmackDown. Her first victory came on the June 10, 2011 episode of SmackDown, when she pinned Tamina in singles competition. On the June 13 episode of Raw, the Chickbusters picked up their first victory in a fourteen Diva tag team match alongside Natalya, Beth Phoenix, Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly, and Gail Kim against Alicia Fox, Tamina, Rosa Mendes, Melina, Maryse, and The Bella Twins with Kelly Kelly pinning Rosa. The Chickbusters and Natalya continued to feud with Alicia Fox and Tamina, who were soon joined by Rosa Mendes on the June 23 episode of WWE Superstars in a six Diva tag team match, with AJ pinning Fox. On the July 8 episode of SmackDown, AJ faced Tamina in a rematch and would once again defeat Tamina. The Chickbusters competed in another fourteen Diva tag team match on the July 18 episode of Raw in a winning effort after Beth Phoenix pinned Rosa Mendes. Both Chickbusters competed in their first number one contender Diva battle royal for the WWE Divas Championship on the August 1 episode of Raw, which was ultimately won by Beth Phoenix.

On the August 5, 2011 episode of SmackDown, AJ lost a singles match to Natalya, who then turned on her protégé, attacking her and declaring war on the "perky little princesses" that comprised the rest of the Divas division. The following week on the August 12 episode of SmackDown, the Chickbusters lost to the Divas of Doom (Natalya and Beth Phoenix) in a tag team match, and were attacked by both members after the match. They would again lose in a rematch the following week on the August 19 episode of SmackDown. Throughout the next few months, the Chickbusters continued to feud with the Divas of Doom, losing both singles and tag team matches to them. On the August 23, 2011 episode of NXT Redemption, AJ also began to feud with the returning Maxine after Maxine attacked her from behind, leading to a match between the two later that night with AJ being defeated after Maxine's boyfriend Derrick Bateman made the distraction. On the September 6 episode of NXT Redemption, AJ competed in a mixed tag team match alongside Titus O'Neil in a winning effort against Maxine and Bateman. The following week on the September 13 episode of NXT Redemption, AJ again lost to Maxine in singles competition. On the September 20 episode of NXT Redemption, AJ would finally defeat Maxine in singles competition. On the October 12 episode of NXT Redemption, AJ again defeated Maxine in singles competition. On the October 19 episode of NXT Redemption, AJ accompanied fellow Chickbuster Kaitlyn in singles competition against her rival Maxine, with Kaitlyn coming out victorious, thus ending their feud.

On the November 18, 2011 episode of SmackDown, the Chickbusters lost another tag team match against the Divas of Doom, causing tension between the Chickbusters, with Kaitlyn upset at their repeated losses to The Divas of Doom. The following week on the November 25 episode of SmackDown, the Chickbusters lost their rematch against the Divas of Doom, ending with Kaitlyn leaving AJ in the ring.

Various relationships and Raw General Manager (2011"2013)

Also in November 2011, AJ began a romantic storyline with Daniel Bryan. In December 2011, Bryan won the World Heavyweight Championship and he began to display villainous traits. Despite AJ's declaration of love for Bryan, Bryan avoided saying that he loved her in return. On the January 13, 2012 episode of SmackDown, AJ accompanied Bryan for his World Heavyweight Championship defense against Big Show. During the match, Big Show accidentally collided with AJ, injuring her (kayfabe) and causing her to be taken out on a stretcher. AJ returned to SmackDown on February 3, saving Bryan from the Big Show.

In March 2012, Bryan began to mistreat AJ, publicly demanding that she "shut up" and claiming that she always got in his way. Despite these actions, AJ continued to stand by Bryan. At WrestleMania XXVIII, Bryan's reign as World Champion ended when Sheamus defeated him in 18 seconds due to Bryan being distracted after a "good luck kiss" from AJ. On the April 6 episode of SmackDown, Bryan blamed AJ for his loss of the World Heavyweight Championship and ended their relationship. Despite AJ's attempts to mend their relationship, Bryan rebuffed her multiple times, leaving AJ distraught. On the April 27 episode of SmackDown, fellow Chickbuster Kaitlyn attempted to comfort AJ backstage, until she slapped Kaitlyn and left her confused. Kaitlyn again attempted to comfort AJ the following week, but was again assaulted. On the May 11 episode of SmackDown, AJ defeated Kaitlyn in singles competition, and was afterwards visited by Bryan, who stated he was moving on from her and going after Kaitlyn. Two days later on Twitter, Kaitlyn announced she was officially breaking up the Chickbusters.

AJ then turned her affections to Bryan's rival, WWE Champion CM Punk, as well as fellow WWE title contender Kane. At the No Way Out pay-per-view on June 17, 2012, AJ interfered in a triple threat match for the WWE Championship between Punk, Bryan and Kane, helping Punk retain his championship by distracting Kane. As the feud between Bryan and Punk continued, AJ was announced as the special guest referee for their title match at Money in the Bank. While Bryan made advances on AJ in an attempt to influence her, AJ continued showing interest in Punk, but Punk let her down by not watching her match. A vengeful AJ then sent Punk and Bryan crashing through a ringside table during their match on Raw on July 2. The following week, AJ proposed to Punk, prompting Bryan to propose to her in return; Punk rejected her proposal and AJ slapped both men. At Money in the Bank, as guest referee, AJ counted Punk's pinfall on Bryan resulting in a successful title defence for Punk; as Punk celebrated over a fallen Bryan, AJ was left alone. The following night on the July 16 episode of Raw, Bryan once again proposed to AJ, who accepted.

During the exchange of vows at Raw 1000, AJ announced she had been offered the job of Raw General Manager by WWE chairman Vince McMahon and left Bryan at the altar. Her first official day began July 30, where she alleged Bryan only wanted the legal leverage to have her committed, forcing him to undergo his own psychological evaluation. Later, AJ modified Punk's WWE Championship bout at SummerSlam into a triple-threat match due to his interference during a number one contender match between John Cena and the Big Show. Meanwhile, AJ continued to exact her revenge on Bryan by denying him a WWE Championship shot and instead forcing him to face Kane at SummerSlam. Concurrently, she began feuding with Vickie Guerrero, who demanded AJ's General Manager role, deeming AJ too childish. Punk later humiliated AJ for her past affections, leading to Paul Heyman also demanding the General Manager position alongside Vickie.

On October 22, 2012, AJ stepped down from her General Manager duties due to the stress of false allegations of fraternizing and having an affair with a wrestler on the Raw roster, which was later revealed to be John Cena. In the following weeks, Vickie showed evidence of Cena and AJ going to a business dinner, AJ walking into Cena's room and more. At Survivor Series, AJ tried to show "evidence" of Vickie fraternizing, but was attacked by the returning Tamina Snuka. On the following episode of Raw, Cena and AJ passionately kissed each other to give Vickie and Dolph Ziggler something "to talk about". On the November 26 episode of Raw, AJ kissed Cena again after his match against Ziggler, starting a relationship between the two. On the December 3 episode of Raw, AJ defeated Tamina in a singles match.

On December 16, 2012 at the TLC pay-per-view, AJ turned heel after interfering in John Cena's ladder match against Dolph Ziggler on behalf of Ziggler, pushing Cena off the ladder. The following night on a special Slammy Awards episode of Raw, AJ won the Slammy award for "Kiss of the Year" with Cena, which was presented by Vickie Guerrero. AJ and Vickie started arguing, which led to Ziggler intervening and AJ kissing him in front of Vickie, officially solidifying her heel turn and relationship with Ziggler. In the main event, AJ teamed up with Ziggler to take on Cena and Vickie, with Cena and Vickie emerging victorious via disqualification after the debuting Big E Langston interfered and attacked Cena on AJ's behalf. The next day, on a special live episode of SmackDown, AJ justified her actions on MizTV, saying that Cena did not care about anyone but himself and that he broke her heart like Bryan and Punk did before, so she helped Ziggler break him. After The Miz insulted AJ, Langston laid him out on AJ's behalf.

On the March 8, 2013 episode of SmackDown, AJ re-entered a feud with her ex-boyfriend Daniel Bryan, after they traded insults backstage. AJ and Langston would then help Ziggler defeat Bryan and his tag team partner Kane in singles competition on the March 11 episode of Raw, and the March 18 episode of SmackDown. On the March 18 episode of Raw, AJ challenged Team Hell No (Bryan and Kane) to defend their WWE Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 29 against Ziggler and Langston, which they accepted. On the March 25 episode of Raw, AJ got into a brawl with Divas Champion Kaitlyn after Kaitlyn called her crazy. Later that night, AJ defeated Kaitlyn in a non-title match via count-out after Kaitlyn's attempt to spear her through the barricade backfired. On the March 29 episode of SmackDown, AJ and Ziggler were defeated by Kaitlyn and Bryan in a mixed tag team match, after AJ was speared and pinned by Kaitlyn. On April 7 at WrestleMania 29, AJ accompanied Ziggler and Langston to their title match against Team Hell No, where they were unsuccessful in their bout. The following night on Raw, AJ and Langston accompanied Ziggler as he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Alberto Del Rio to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

Divas Champion (2013"present)

On the April 22, 2013 episode of Raw, AJ won a Diva battle royal by last eliminating Layla to become the number one contender to Kaitlyn's Divas Championship. AJ challenged Kaitlyn to a title match on the April 24 "Clash of the Champions" episode of NXT, where Kaitlyn won. On the June 10 episode of Raw, AJ was revealed to be Kaitlyn's secret admirer after setting up Big E Langston to pose as the admirer before revealing the truth, berating Kaitlyn and leaving her in tears. Six days later at the inaugural Payback pay-per-view, AJ defeated Kaitlyn to capture her first Divas Championship. AJ celebrated her championship win the following night on Raw, but was confronted by Stephanie McMahon and eventually attacked by Kaitlyn. In the following weeks, AJ and Langston continued to mock Kaitlyn, with AJ ultimately retaining her Divas Championship against Kaitlyn in a rematch at Money in the Bank on July 14. Later that night, AJ cost Dolph Ziggler his rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio, after she prematurely snuck into the ring and and hit Del Rio with her Divas title, prompting a disqualification.

The following night on Raw, Ziggler ended his relationship with AJ due her actions the previous night. AJ would gain a measure of revenge when she emerged from the timekeeper's table and wildly clanged the ring bell to distract Ziggler and cost him his non-title rematch with Del Rio. Adding insult to injury, AJ attacked Ziggler and unleashed Langston to give the Big Ending on Ziggler. On the August 2 episode of SmackDown, it was announced that Langston would not be allowed to accompany AJ to her matches anymore. However, AJ went on to successfully defend her title against Kaitlyn after Kaitlyn's ally, Layla, stopped her from spearing AJ. On August 18, 2013 at SummerSlam, AJ and Langston were defeated by Kaitlyn and Ziggler in a mixed tag team match, putting an end to their feud.

On the August 26 episode of Raw, AJ interrupted the celebration over Brie Bella's victory in a rematch against Natalya, cutting a worked shoot promo on the cast of Total Divas. The following week on Raw, AJ interfered in a triple threat match between Natalya, Naomi, and Brie Bella, which was to determine the number one contender for her Divas Championship, leading to the match being stopped and her getting beat down afterwards. Later that night, Stephanie McMahon announced that AJ would defend her Divas Championship in a fatal four-way match against Natalya, Naomi and Brie Bella at Night of Champions, where AJ went on to successfully retain her championship. On the September 27 episode of SmackDown, AJ aligned herself with Tamina.

Filmography

In 2013, AJ along with John Cena and several other members of the WWE voiced the production of Scooby-Doo! Legend of WrestleMania premiering in 2014.

Personal life

Mendez is of Puerto Rican heritage. Mendez is best friends with fellow WWE Diva Kaitlyn. Mendez is an avid Chuck Norris fan; her favorite show is Walker, Texas Ranger. She actively donates and supports the Humane Society, and has adopted dogs from there. She has a cupboard dedicated entirely to her collection of Chuck Taylor shoes. Her favorite color is green. She has a tattoo in tally marks on the back of her neck, which read as "6-16-13", commemorating the date on which she won her first WWE Divas Championship.

Mendez became a fan of comic books in the fourth grade and claims that comics gave her a sense of creativity that carried over to her later life. Her favorite series are X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four. As for characters, some of her favorites include Harley Quinn, Cyclops and Jean Grey. Mendez enjoys video games and was the first female winner of WWE's "Superstar Challenge", defeating Mark Henry in the final round of a WWE '12 tournament at WrestleMania XXVIII Axxess to finish in first place out of 16.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Black Widow (Octopus hold, sometimes transitioned into a headscissors armbar) "? 2009"present
  • Shining wizard "? 2010"present
  • Shiranui, sometimes while standing "? 2008"2013

• Signature moves
  • Back elbow, used as an counter to an oncoming opponent
  • Bridging backhammer
  • Clothesline, sometimes to a cornered opponent
  • Diving crossbody
  • Drop toe-hold
  • Fujiwara armbar
  • Hurricanrana, sometimes to an oncoming opponent
  • Inside cradle, used as a counter to an opponent's move
  • Monkey flip, sometimes from out of an corner
  • Multiple kick variations
    • Back
    • Low-angle front drop
    • Missile drop
    • Roundhouse
    • Spinning heel
    • Yakuza
  • Multiple arm drags
  • Multiple swinging neckbreakers
  • Reverse crossbody, to an oncoming opponent
  • Schoolgirl, sometimes out of a corner
  • Sleeper hold, sometimes with bodyscissors
  • Snapmare
  • Tilt-a-whirl DDT
  • Tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown
  • Wheelbarrow bulldog

• With Kaitlyn
  • Aided splash
  • Corner clothesline (AJ) / Backbreaker (Kaitlyn) combination

• Managers
  • Primo
  • Natalya
  • Kaitlyn
  • Daniel Bryan
  • Big E Langston
  • Layla
  • Tamina

• Wrestlers managed
  • Kaitlyn
  • Daniel Bryan
  • Dolph Ziggler
  • Big E Langston

• Nicknames
  • "The Thunder and Lighting Combination" "? with Kaitlyn
  • "Geek Goddess"
  • "Crazy Chick"
  • "Black Widow"

• Entrance themes
  • "Feelin' Ya" by Jim Johnston (FCW; September 9, 2009"May 15, 2011)
  • "Right Now" by Jim Johnston and performed by Tyler van den Berg (June 10, 2011"October 12, 2011)
  • "Let's Light It Up" by Kari Kimmel (October 26, 2011"present)

Championships and accomplishments

• Florida Championship Wrestling
  • FCW Divas Championship (1 time)
  • Queen of FCW (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked her #48 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2011
  • PWI Woman of the Year (2012)
• Women Superstars Uncensored
  • WSU Tag Team Championship (1 time) "? with Brooke Carter
  • WSU/NWS King and Queen of the Ring (2009) "? with Jay Lethal

• World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Divas Championship (1 time, current)
  • Slammy Award for Diva of the Year (2012)
  • Slammy Award for Best Kiss of the Year (2012) "? with John Cena