AJ Lee recently made her highly anticipated return to WWE by appearing on SmackDown on September 5, 2025. She took on Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in Chicago, siding with her husband, CM Punk. It marked AJ Lee’s first WWE appearance in over a decade and her first couple of entries into the ring. It brought back memories of not only their WWE domination, but also their high-profile love story. AJ Lee’s relationship with CM Punk was not the only buzzworthy WWE love saga, her past romance and dramatic split with John Cena also made headlines.
How did AJ Lee and John Cena’s romance storyline start?
In 2012, two of the biggest names in the male and female pro wrestling world, John Cena and AJ Lee, were linked together. They were involved in an on-screen romance storyline in the WWE. The storyline featured fellow WWE star, Vickie Guerrero, alleging that John Cena and AJ Lee were having an affair. Both John Cena and AJ Lee initially denied the accusations, but they eventually formed a romantic relationship.
Reports from the period between July and December 2012 indicate that John Cena and AJ Lee had a brief off-screen fling during their romantic storyline in WWE. It is worth noting that these were mere speculations, and there was no confirmed real-life connection between John Cena and AJ Lee. Even their kiss inside the WWE ring, which generated widespread online buzz, was speculated to be just for the show. Just like their romance, their split was also highly dramatic.
How did AJ Lee and John Cena’s romance storyline end?
John Cena and AJ Lee’s storyline was a significant part of WWE programming during that period, generating considerable discussion among fans. The relationship storyline culminated at the TLC event on December 16, 2012, when AJ Lee interfered in John Cena’s match against Dolph Ziggler. She helped Dolph and caused John Cena to lose. The latter was subject to humiliation by AJ Lee and Dolph, as they ganged up against him.
The wrestling arena was filled with cheers when it happened, mostly by Cena’s antis. It led to the end of the relationship between AJ Lee and John Cena. The following night on Raw, AJ Lee aligned herself with Dolph Ziggler. She later explained that John Cena had toyed with her emotions and broken her heart; however, it is not known whether her allegations were made to end the on-screen pairing or if it was a genuine breach of trust, leading to a real breakup.
AJ Lee and John Cena’s current relationship status
The WWE stars have moved on with their respective lives, with AJ Lee marrying fellow wrestler, CM Punk, in 2014. Their relationship also began with an on-screen WWE storyline in 2012 that developed into a real-life romance in 2013, culminating in marriage. They bonded over shared experiences, including struggles with mental health and similar family backgrounds.
John Cena, on the other hand, is married to an Iranian-born Canadian engineer named Shay Shariatzadeh. She met John Cena in 2019 while he was filming Playing with Fire in Vancouver. During that time, they fell in love and later tied the knot in a private ceremony on October 12, 2020, in Florida, followed by a second wedding celebration in Vancouver, Canada, in July 2022.
What are your thoughts on the AJ Lee and John Cena’s on-screen romance and dramatic split? Let us know.
Also Read: WWE Star, AJ Lee’s Linkups With Popular Wrestlers, Affair With John Cena To Marriage With CM Punk