From Motels to the Main Event: The Unstoppable Ascent of AJ Lee

In the world of professional wrestling, stories are often made up by writers. But for April Mendez—known to fans as AJ Lee—the struggle was very real. Long before she was a champion in WWE, she was a young girl in New Jersey just trying to find a warm place to sleep. Her journey is a true "rags to riches" story. She didn't get to the top because of luck; she got there because she refused to quit when life was hard.

​For April’s family, life was a daily battle. Growing up, she didn't always have a house. Instead, she lived in cheap motels, the back of a car, or on the couches of friends. Her family dealt with extreme financial hardship, and they were often forced to move because they couldn't pay rent.

Even when she was hungry or tired, April had a dream. She loved watching wrestlers like Lita on TV. Seeing a strong woman succeed inspired her to change her own life. Looking back on those tough years, April once said:

​"I grew up in poverty and lived in motels and cars and on people's couches. I knew what it was like to be hungry and have to find a way to eat."

​Most people who want to be wrestlers have a little help, but April had to do it all on her own. She worked several jobs at the same time to save money for wrestling school.

She was so focused on her goal that she would even skip meals just to make sure she had enough money to travel to a tryout. She worked harder than anyone else because she knew what it was like to have nothing.

​"I spent my whole life being told I was too small, too weak, and too poor to make it. Every time someone told me 'no,' it just became fuel."

April finally made it to WWE and became one of the most famous stars in the world. She held the Divas Championship for a record-breaking 295 days. After she retired in 2015, fans thought they might never see her in a ring again.

However, in 2025, the world was shocked when AJ Lee made a massive return to WWE. After ten years away, she stepped back into the ring at a big event called Wrestlepalooza. She teamed up with her husband, CM Punk, to show the world that she still had the same spirit that brought her out of poverty years ago.

​Today, April is not just a wrestler; she is a best-selling author and a hero to many. She has gone from having nothing to having everything she ever dreamed of. Most importantly, she has found peace.

​"I’ve spent so much of my life running toward something, trying to escape the past. Now, for the first time, I can just stand still and be happy with the woman I've become."

​From a car in New Jersey to the biggest stages in wrestling, AJ Lee proved that it doesn't matter where you start—it only matters how hard you are willing to work. The very meaning of JUST KEEP FIGHTING our very own motto here at AFW.

Kimster AFW