AJ Lee
AJ at Fort Bragg in December 2011.
Ring name(s)	AJ[1] AJ Lee[2] April Lee[2] Miss April[2]
Billed height	5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[1]
Billed weight	107 lb (49 kg)[2]
Born	(1987-03-19) March 19, 1987 (age 25)[2]
Billed from	Union City, New Jersey[1]
Trained by	Jay Lethal[2]
Debut	September 29, 2007[2]

April Jeanette Mendez^[3][4] (born March 19, 1987)^[2] is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE, where she wrestles as part of the SmackDown brand under the ring name AJ.^[1]

Mendez enrolled in a wrestling school in March 2007, and debuted six months later. In the following years, she performed for several Northeast-based independent promotions including Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) as Miss April. In WSU, she was part of the AC Express alongside Brooke Carter and the duo held the WSU Tag Team Championship once. In May 2009, she signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE's developmental promotion, using the ring name AJ Lee.^[5] In FCW, she was Queen of FCW and FCW Divas Champion, and was the first person to have held both titles. In 2010, she was part of the third season of NXT, having dropped her last name, and became part of WWE's SmackDown brand in May 2011, forming a tag team with Kaitlyn known as The Chickbusters.^[6]

Early life[link]

Mendez has stated she is of Puerto Rican heritage.^[7] She attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City where she majored in Film and Television production.^[8] As a tribute to her brother, who was in the army, Mendez sometimes wears camouflage wrestling attire.^[8]

Professional wrestling career[link]

Training (2007)[link]

Shortly after graduating from high school, Mendez researched wrestling schools, and enrolled in one a mile away from her house. To pay the tuition, she began working full-time, and became an official wrestling student in March 2007.^[8]

Women Superstars Uncensored (2008–2009)[link]

On October 10, 2008, Miss April made her debut for Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), losing to Soul Sister Jana in a singles match. The following night, she teamed with Malia Hosaka and participated in the tournament to determine the inaugural WSU Tag Team Champions. The pairing 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). At the second taping later that same night, Miss April lost to Hosaka in a singles match. On February 7, 2009 Miss April teamed with Brooke Carter to defeat The Beatdown Betties and win the WSU Tag Team Championship. A month later, on March 7, they defeated The Beatdown Betties in a rematch to retain the championship. On April 10, Miss April competed in the third J-Cup tournament, defeating Roxxie Cotton in the first round before losing to Rain in the second.^[9] The following night, on April 11, Miss April and Jay Lethal were won the 2009 WSU/NWS King and Queen Tournament after defeating Jana and Danny Demanto in the final of the tounament.^[8]

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE[link]

Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2011)[link]

AJ addressing the audience on NXT in November 2010 after she was eliminated from the show.

Mendez signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment on May 5, 2009, and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory.^[5] Mendez made her FCW television debut at the August 14, 2009 tapings under the name April Lee in a fatal four-way match won by Serena Mancini, and also including Alicia Fox and Tiffany.^[10] In September 2009, her ring name was changed to 'AJ Lee'.^[11] She began challenging for the Queen of FCW title, and at the television tapings on February 4, 2010, Lee defeated Serena to win the crown.^[12] In the first round of a tournament to determine the inaugural FCW Divas Championship, Lee defeated Tamina on April 29, but was defeated by Serena in the semi-finals on May 20. At the June 10 television tapings, Lee challenged Naomi Knight for the FCW Divas Championship, but was unsuccessful.^[13] In June 2010, she appeared at Raw house shows, acting as the hostess, and also acted as the ring announcer at an FCW show.^[2][13] The following month, Lee and Serena interrupted Knight during a promo, and Lee watched while Serena attacked Knight, turning Lee into a heel (villainous character).^[14] Knight went on to retain her FCW Divas Championship by defeating both Lee and Serena in a triple threat match. On FCW's 100th episode, Lee fought Knight to a double countout in a match where both the Queen of FCW title and the FCW Divas Championship were on the line. At the September 2 tapings, Lee lost to Knight in a Lumberjill match to end their feud.^[13]

On November 18, she dropped the Queen of FCW title to Rosa Mendes.^[15] On December 16, AJ defeated Naomi to win the FCW Divas Championship.^[16] Her victory made her the first FCW Diva to have held both the Divas Championship and the title of Queen of FCW.^[17] She held the championship until the April 7, 2011, television tapings, when she lost it to Aksana.^[15]

[edit] NXT (2010–2011)

On August 31, 2010, it was announced that she would be part of the third season of NXT under the name AJ, with Primo as her Pro.^[18] She appeared on the first episode of season three on September 7, teaming with Primo to defeat rookie Diva Aksana and her Pro Goldust in a mixed tag team match.^[19] The following week she suffered her first loss when she and Primo were defeated by Kaitlyn and Dolph Ziggler.^[20] Over the next two weeks, AJ won three challenges, and on the October 5 episode of NXT she and Kaitlyn were tied for the number of challenges won.^[21][22] Kaitlyn received immunity from elimination in the poll based on crowd reaction.^[23] AJ was eliminated from the competition on the November 23 episode of NXT, despite winning a competition and a match earlier in the show.^[24][25] She returned to NXT for the season finale, where she teamed with The Bella Twins to defeat Alicia Fox, Aksana, and Maxine.^[26] AJ returned as a special guest on February 8, 2011, during the fourth season of NXT, modeling merchandise during a 'guess the price' challenge.^[27] She also made several appearances during NXT Redemption in mid-2011.^[28][29]

SmackDown (2011–present)[link]

AJ made her main roster debut on the May 27, 2011, episode of SmackDown when she and Kaitlyn (known as The Chickbusters) lost to the team of Alicia Fox and Tamina. The duo were accompanied by Natalya, who became a mentor of sorts to the pair.^[6] AJ and Kaitlyn lost a rematch to Fox and Tamina the following week.^[30] Her first victory came on the June 10 episode of SmackDown, when she pinned Tamina in a singles match, a feat she repeated on the July 8 episode.^[31][32] AJ, Kaitlyn, and Natalya continued to feud with Fox and Tamina, who were joined by Rosa Mendes.^[33][34]

AJ (right) with her on-screen boyfriend Daniel Bryan as World Heavyweight Champion.

On the August 5 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.^[35] The following week, AJ and Kaitlyn lost to Natalya and Beth Phoenix, before AJ teamed with Kelly Kelly to defeat Natalya and Fox.^[36][37] Throughout the next few months, The Chickbusters continued to feud with the so-called Divas of Doom, losing both singles and tag team matches to them.^[38][39] In November, tension began to be teased between The Chickbusters, with Kaitlyn upset at their repeated losses to The Divas of Doom.^[40]

Also in November, AJ began a romantic storyline with Daniel Bryan,^[41][42] In December, Bryan won the World Heavyweight Championship and he began to display villainous traits.^[43] Despite AJ's declaration of love for Bryan,^[44] Bryan avoided saying that he loved her in return.^[45] On the January 13 episode of SmackDown, AJ accompanied Bryan for his World Heavyweight Championship defense against Big Show. During the match Show accidentally collided with AJ, injuring her (kayfabe) and causing her to be taken out on a stretcher.^[46] AJ returned to SmackDown on February 3, saving Bryan from the Big Show.^[47]

In March, Bryan began to mistreat AJ, publicly demanding her to shut up and claiming that she always got in his way.^[48] Despite these actions, AJ continued to stand by Bryan.^[49] AJ also went on a winning streak defeating both Bella Twins on the March 13 and March 23 episodes of SmackDown.^[50][51] At WrestleMania XXVIII, Bryan's reign as World champion ended when Sheamus defeated him in eighteen seconds at WrestleMania XXVIII due to Bryan being distracted with receiving a good luck kiss from AJ.^[52] On the April 6, episode of SmackDown, Bryan blamed AJ for losing the World Heavyweight Championship and ended their relationship.^[53]

Despite AJ's attempts to mend their relationship, Bryan cruelly rebuffed her multiple times, leaving AJ an emotional wreck.^[54] Throughout the next couple of weeks, fellow Chickbuster Kaitlyn tried to console AJ about her feelings towards Bryan. However, this only angered AJ, causing her to slap Kaitlyn week after week. On the May 11 episode of SmackDown, AJ quickly defeated Kaitlyn. Afterwards, Bryan came out, seemingly impressed with AJ's new ruthless behavior, but then he revealed that he would rather move on to Kaitlyn, further jilting AJ.^[55]

Personal life[link]

Mendez was previously in a relationship with her trainer Jay Lethal.^[56] Mendez is a self-described tomboy and geek^[57] and enjoys comic books and video games.^[1]

In wrestling[link]

AJ performing a roll-up on Natalya

• Finishing moves
  • Octopus hold^[25][58] - FCW
  • Shining wizard^[2][8] - 2010-present
  • Shiranui^[2][8] - 2011

• Signature moves
  • Hurricanrana, sometimes to an oncoming opponent^[2]
  • Missile dropkick^[8]
  • Multiple arm drags^[8]
  • Spinning heel kick^[2]
  • Diving crossbody^[59]
  • Low dropick^[60]
  • Monkey flip^[61]

• With Kaitlyn
  • Corner clothesline (AJ) / Backbreaker (Kaitlyn) combination^[62][63]
  • Aided splash^[62]

• Managers
  • Natalya^[6]
  • Kaitlyn^[64]
  • Daniel Bryan^[65]

• Wrestlers managed
  • Kaitlyn^[66]
  • Daniel Bryan^[46]

• Nicknames
  • "Geek Goddess"^[67]
  • "The Thunder and Lighting Combination"^[62] — with Kaitlyn

• Entrance themes
  • "Right Now" by Tyler van den Berg (June 10, 2011–October 2011)^[68]
  • "Let's Light It Up" by Jim Johnston and performed by Kari Kimmel (October 2011–present)^[69]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Florida Championship Wrestling
  • FCW Divas Championship (1 time)^[16]
  • Queen of FCW (1 time)^[12]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked her #48 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2011^[70]

• Women Superstars Uncensored
  • WSU Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brooke Carter^[8]
  • WSU/NWS King and Queen Tournament (2009) – with Jay Lethal^[8]

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

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