AJ Lee Teaming Up with Dragon Ball Z Studio Toei Animation for New Feature Film

LOS ANGELES, CA — In a major crossover event that has wrestling and anime fans buzzing, former WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee (real name AJ Mendez) has announced a new feature film project with Toei Animation, the iconic Japanese studio responsible for some of the world's most beloved anime franchises, including Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon.

Mendez, a New York Times best-selling author and co-founder of Scrappy Heart Productions, broke the news during a recent interview on WWE's "What's Your Story?" podcast with Stephanie McMahon. She confirmed that she and her writing partner, actress Aimee Garcia, have been tapped to pen a movie for the animation giant.

"We just wrote our second feature," Mendez revealed. "I think this is the first time anyone's hearing this. So we're breaking news."

Mendez openly shared her lifelong connection to the studio's work, stating, "One of my favorite—I love anime so much, and one of my favorite companies growing up was Toei. They did Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z, and like these things that raised me."

A Creative Force Beyond the Ring

This project is a testament to AJ Lee's successful transition into a prolific writing career alongside her creative partner, Aimee Garcia (Lucifer, Dexter). Their Scrappy Heart Productions has quickly established itself as a home for diverse, action-oriented, and complex female-led narratives.

Mendez's previous writing credits include:

• Feature Film: Co-writing the screenplay for the 2022 Netflix film Blade of the 47 Ronin, a cyberpunk martial arts sequel to the 2013 film.

• Memoir: Her 2017 autobiography, Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules, was a New York Times Best Seller.

• Comic Books: Co-writing a range of popular titles, including the official tie-in comic series GLOW vs. The Babyface (based on the Netflix series), Dungeons & Dragons: At the Spine of the World, and a Wonder Woman short story for DC Comics. The duo also created the original graphic novel, Day of the Dead Girl.

For AJ Lee, whose career has consistently centered on powerful, unconventional female characters, the collaboration with Toei is a "dream come true."

While Mendez was hesitant to disclose any specific details about the film's plot, she did mention the inspirational atmosphere of her meetings. "We are writing a movie for Toei Animation. I think that's all I can say. But just such a dream come true to be in their office and see, like all Dragon Ball Z figures everywhere."

The film's genre, release date, and whether it will be an animated or live-action production remain under wraps. However, the involvement of a major studio like Toei and the proven storytelling talent of AJ Lee has instantly elevated anticipation for her next blockbuster endeavor.