AJ Lee
Edit
Enlarge Image
Early Life and Personal Background
AJ Lee, born April Jeanette Mendez on March 19, 1987, in Union City, New Jersey, is a retired American professional wrestler best known for her time with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.). She grew up in a financially struggling household, often moving frequently and at times living in motels or out of the family car. Despite these hardships, she remained determined to pursue her dreams.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 19 Mar, 1987
- Age
- 33 yrs
- Occupations
- Professional wrestler
Actor
Writer
Show all facts
- Citizenship
- United States of America
- Birth Place
- Union City
- residence
- Chicago
Milwaukee - Education
- Memorial High School
New York University Tisch School of the Arts - Gender
- Female
- Description
- American professional wrestler
- Spouse
- CM Punk [M. 2014]
- Net Worth 2021
- 4 million
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 20 after years of being misdiagnosed with depression, AJ faced significant personal challenges, including a suicide attempt due to her untreated mental health condition. Her experiences with mental illness would later become a powerful theme both in her wrestling persona and her post-wrestling advocacy and writing.
Professional Wrestling Career
AJ Lee began her professional wrestling career in 2007 and signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2009. She initially trained and performed in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE’s former developmental territory. She rose to prominence on WWE’s main roster for her unique personality, charisma, and in-ring skills, and she became one of the most popular female wrestlers of her era.
AJ Lee’s on-screen character often portrayed a mentally unstable yet captivating figure, a gimmick that closely paralleled her real-life advocacy for mental health awareness. She was known for her work in prominent storylines and for breaking traditional gender roles in WWE. From 2012 to 2014, readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated named her Woman of the Year for three consecutive years.
