‘Getting fired’ – WWE account appears to ruin major return as deleted post sends fans wild

WWE fans are used to getting a peek behind the curtain, but one major surprise might just have been leaked in the most unexpected of ways.

The latest stir came not from a scripted segment or a well-timed backstage pre-tape, but from the company’s own retail arm.

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A tweet exchange that began as a joke about missing merchandise suddenly tipped over into something much bigger, according to eagle-eyed fans who’ve picked up a now deleted-tweet.

After a decade away from WWE, it appears AJ Lee is set for a sensational comeback to align with real-life husband CM Punk, who himself returned after years in the wilderness back in 2023.

The popular performer has yet to be seen on screen but all signs in recent days have pointed to it happening – and now WWE Shop, of all sources, appears to have accidentally confirmed it.

Social media blunder threatens to ruin major WWE surprise

It started when a prominent wrestling account on X demanded to know where the AJ Lee gear was, joking about the prospect of having to watch SmackDown in “normal clothes” in readiness for what they hoped would be the star’s return.

What followed was a response that raised eyebrows everywhere: a post from the official WWE Shop account, which openly referenced AJ Lee’s return to the ring and promised merchandise was on the way.

The post read: “With AJ Lee’s return to the ring, we are looking to have some fire gear, hopefully in time for WrestlePalooza.”

The message was quickly deleted, but not before it was seen, shared and screenshotted several times, picked up by several noted outlets including Fightful.

For a fanbase that thrives on speculation, it was enough to send social media into meltdown, with some branding it a monumental slip and others already calling it the leak of the year.

Fightful had already reported that WWE was working on pitches for AJ Lee’s return, with sources describing her comeback as more than just a fleeting cameo.

Their report read: “There were a number of pitches internally for AJ Lee, who is poised to return to the ring after ten years.

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“It was heavily implied by WWE sources that AJ would be appearing or referenced on this week’s Smackdown, which seems like a forgone conclusion at this point.”

The Wrestling Observer has added that match plans were actively being put together, with the intimation that a return for Lee to a WWE ring might not be just a one-shot affair.

Even so, there was still a level of disbelief among those who hadn’t seen her in years, with one veteran saying they never thought it would happen given CM Punk’s past habit of brushing off questions about his wife’s potential return.

Then came Monday Night Raw. Becky Lynch launched a physical attack on Punk in a segment that drew thunderous AJ Lee chants from the crowd.

Her sharp line that “she doesn’t work here” was delivered with enough sting to cut through, but it also acted like a neon sign pointing to where things might be heading next.

With SmackDown taking place in Chicago this Friday – the city synonymous with both Punk and Lee – anticipation has reached fever pitch that Head of Creative Triple H is about to pull the proverbial trigger.

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Fans react as WWE star AJ Lee’s return draws near

Add in the accidental tweet from WWE Shop, and it now feels less like fantasy booking and more like a countdown.

Fans are already having their fun thanks to the apparently mis-timed social media post, one saying in reply: “Wow! They just confirmed it!”

Another said: “They just outright spoiled it!,” while a third quipped someone responsible could be in hot water, saying: “WWEshop Admin getting fired.”

In another reply, one fan bemoaned the surprise being rumbled, referring to the behind-the-scenes WWE documentary Unreal already doing enough to ruin the mystique of pro wrestling.

“WWE Unreal is cool and all but we do like to be surprised sometimes,” the user stated.

Lee’s track record in WWE explains the buzz. A three-time Divas Champion, she was one of the most prominent women of her era, holding the belt for a then-record 295 days in a single reign and a combined 406 days overall.

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Ready to return: AJ Lee's WWE career so far

• Burst onto WWE screens in 2010 on NXT’s all-female season three.
• Hit the main roster in 2011, first managing Primo & Epico
• Exploded in 2012 with her “crazy chick” persona – tangled with Daniel Bryan, CM Punk and Kane
• Briefly became Raw General Manager in July 2012,
• Won her first Divas Championship at Payback 2013, defeating Kaitlyn.
• Three-time Divas Champion overall, including a then-record 295-day reign (406 days across all reigns).
• Known for fiery promos, especially shots at the Total Divas cast, and seen as a spark for the women’s revolution.
• Retired from in-ring competition in April 2015, the night after WrestleMania 31.

She became renowned for her fiery promos and unpredictable style, making her a key figure in WWE’s early 2010s landscape before stepping away in 2015.

For fans who thought the book on AJ Lee’s WWE career was long closed, it now looks ready for an unexpected new chapter.