AJ Lee is one of the biggest names in WWE history, a former Divas Champion, a trailblazing performer, and now a bestselling author who is also widely known as CM Punk’s wife.
The world of professional wrestling constantly evolves, but few stars have managed to rise above the scripted drama and leave a lasting legacy like April Jeanette Mendez, famously known as AJ Lee.
Her journey is one of fierce determination; growing up in a childhood marked by financial and emotional instability, she fought her way to becoming a record-breaking WWE champion and a New York Times bestselling author.
Though she has officially retired from in-ring competition, AJ Lee’s influence continues to resonate. Today, she is recognised not only as CM Punk’s wife but also as a powerful advocate for mental health and one of the most impactful voices to emerge from WWE.
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AJ Lee Biography
April Jeanette Mendez was born on March 19, 1987, in Union City, New Jersey. She was born into a life characterised by profound financial and familial struggles.
Her family, who are of Puerto Rican descent, grappled with poverty, mental illness, and drug addiction.
Her mother, Janet Acevedo, played her motherly role while handling her job as a home aide during her much active days.
Her father, Robert Mendez, had his struggles in life despite building a professional life as an automotive engineer.
Mendez also grew up alongside her siblings, named Erica and Robert Jr. She is the youngest of their family of five, who faced a lot in life.
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She has spoken candidly about her formative years, describing a chaotic upbringing where her family frequently moved between apartments, motels, and sometimes were forced to sleep in their car.
The instability, though traumatic, instilled in her a deeply ingrained sense of resilience and a constant drive to escape her circumstances.
Despite the chaos, a seed of ambition was planted early inside her. She grew up inspired by her older brother’s love for the sport and the athleticism of female WWE stars like Lita.
Mendez cemented her aspiration to become a professional wrestler at the tender age of 12. Wrestling became her escape and a world where the underdogs could become heroes.
She graduated from Memorial High School in West New York, New Jersey, in 2005. CM Punk’s wife enrolled at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts to major in film and television production.
However, financial and family issues forced her to drop out just six months into her studies. AJ Lee began working multiple full-time jobs, dedicating every spare dollar to afford professional wrestling training.
Her decision to prioritise the ring over the classroom marked the true beginning of her journey from a scrappy girl with a dream to a world-renowned athlete.
Crucially, Mendez was diagnosed with bipolar disorder around the age of 20. Her condition runs in her family, and it later became central to her life’s advocacy work.
CM Punk Wife: Marriage & Family
The connection between AJ Lee and Phil “CM Punk” Brooks began on screen while being put into WWE storylines that saw her character involved in a high-profile love triangle.
However, the on-screen chemistry soon transitioned into a private and real-life romance.
April Jeanette Mendez and Phil Brooks married in a private ceremony on June 13, 2014.
Their relationship gained significant media attention not only due to their combined professional wrestling celebrity but also for the circumstances surrounding their departure from WWE.
Notably, CM Punk received his official termination papers from the company on the very day of their wedding. He later shared publicly, highlighting the turbulent environment both stars navigated.
The couple is known for fiercely protecting their privacy, a stark contrast to their highly scrutinised public lives in WWE.
They rarely make joint public appearances or give interviews about their marriage. Today, CM Punk’s wife is often asked about a potential return to the ring, particularly since her husband returned to wrestling.
Punk has commented that he would love to see her back, but that they maintain a two-part rule where they prioritise their private life and creative endeavours outside of their in-ring careers.
Their nearly decade-long partnership has seen them achieve so much together, but no children of their own for the time being. The couple have been doing things just between themselves and is not ready to start having kids.
However, the fans have been asking the same questions about them having kids of their own. They have remained silent about that part of their lives, while rumours have also gone around about them having kids but hiding them.
We can confirm that CM Punk’s wife is not the mother of those children who have been making the rounds on the internet.
WWE Rise And Diva Success
Mendez began wrestling on the independent circuit in 2007 under the name Miss April before signing with WWE in 2009. She eventually adopted the ring name AJ Lee.
Unlike the traditional “Diva” persona of the time, CM Punk’s wife embraced a “geek-chic” identity, celebrating her love for comic books, video games, and counter-culture.
Her authenticity resonated deeply with a segment of the audience that felt overlooked, rapidly transforming her into one of the most popular female wrestlers in the company.
AJ’s success was not just based on charisma, but it was built on a series of memorable and often controversial storylines.
She was frequently involved in dramatic, main-event storylines with WWE’s top male superstars, including Daniel Bryan and CM Punk. It was a level of involvement unprecedented for a female talent in that era.
A highlight of her WWE career was the surprise appointment as the General Manager of Monday Night Raw in 2012, due to her ability to command attention both in and out of the ring.
Her crowning achievement came on June 16, 2013, when she defeated her former friend, Kaitlyn, to capture her first WWE Divas Championship.
Her reign lasted for an astonishing 295 days, setting a record for the longest Divas Championship reign in history at the time.
She would go on to win the title two more times, cementing her legacy as a three-time WWE Divas Champion and consistently being voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Woman of the Year from 2012 to 2014.
Her technical skill and unique character are widely credited with laying the groundwork for the Women’s Revolution that followed her retirement.
AJ Lee’s Retirement And Bestselling Author
Despite being at the peak of her popularity and ability, she announced her abrupt retirement from in-ring competition on April 3, 2015.
While a neck injury was cited as a primary factor, the decision allowed her to channel her energy and passion into a new creative outlet, which was writing.
Her transition was immediate and highly successful. In 2017, she released her memoir titled ‘Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules.’
The book was a critical and commercial success, earning her the title of a New York Times Bestselling Author.
The primarily served as a raw, unflinching look at her struggles with bipolar disorder, her poverty-stricken childhood, and the relentless drive that propelled her to success.
Her literary career continued with her dive into comic book writing, co-authoring the four-issue comic book series GLOW vs. The Babyface based on the hit Netflix show GLOW.
Her creative pivot not only reinforced her “geek goddess” persona but also demonstrated her talent as a versatile storyteller.
Her involvement in writing also went on to confirm that her greatest accomplishments would occur outside the wrestling ring.
AJ Lee is still respected today for her achievement as WWE Diva Champion and also being able to play a role in society.
