Bully Ray’s Bold Call: Becky Lynch Must Target AJ Lee’s Neck with ‘Intent’ in WWE Return Clash
WWE’s hottest storyline just got a wrestling legend’s razor-sharp critique, as Hall of Famer Bully Ray demands Becky Lynch dial up the danger against returning icon AJ Lee. With the mixed tag team showdown between Lynch and Seth Rollins versus Lee and CM Punk set for WrestlePalooza this Saturday, Ray insists Lynch needs to channel raw aggression—specifically zeroing in on Lee’s infamous neck injury—to make the match a brutal classic.
The feud exploded on September 5 when Lee stormed back to WWE after a decade away, evening the score for Punk after Lynch’s vicious slaps ignited their personal war. Fans erupted as Lee snatched Lynch’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship belt, setting the stage for this high-stakes brawl. But as hype builds for the September 20 event on ESPN Unlimited, Bully Ray—speaking on Busted Open Radio—zeroed in on one element he craves: Lynch unleashing targeted fury on Lee’s vulnerable cervical spine, the very injury that forced her 2015 retirement.
AJ Lee’s Epic Return: From Retirement to WWE’s Center Stage
AJ Lee’s comeback felt like a time machine blast from WWE’s Divas era straight into 2025’s main event scene. The former Divas Champion, absent since 2015 due to severe neck damage from years of high-impact moves, blindsided Lynch on SmackDown in Chicago. Teaming with real-life husband CM Punk—who’s locked in a bitter rivalry with both Lynch and Rollins—the couple challenged the power duo to a mixed tag at Wrestlepalooza, marking Lee’s first in-ring action in over 10 years.
The segment popped huge: Arenas chanted “THERAPY!”—a nod to Lee’s infamous pipebomb promo style—while social media lit up with dream match fever. X users buzzed about a potential AJ vs. Becky singles clash, with one fan tweeting, “AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch HELL IN A CELL MATCH BOOK IT BALDIE @TripleH,” racking up thousands of likes. Lee’s Raw promo reintroduced her as the unhinged “Geek Goddess,” admitting mental health struggles but vowing payback: “My millennial parents remember me… but for those who don’t, my name is AJ Lee.”
Bully Ray’s Praise for Lynch’s ‘Fear Sell’—And His Specific Demand
Bully Ray, the ECW and WWE tag team titan, couldn’t hide his admiration for Lynch’s initial reaction to Lee’s surprise attack. On Busted Open, he gushed over “The Man” breaking the modern mold of invincible heels: “Becky sold fear… complete shock. Oh crap, this is the last woman I wanted to see. Maybe I am going to get my ass kicked.” He contrasted it with today’s wrestlers who “roll their eyes, flip their hair, and walk away,” calling Lynch’s wide-eyed vulnerability a masterclass in storytelling.
But Ray isn’t stopping at compliments. Drawing from his brutal 1990s feuds—like his own neck-snapping wars in ECW—he wants Lynch to escalate with precision. On a recent Busted Open episode, Ray urged: “Recalling an old feud of his, the WWE Hall of Famer said he wants to see ‘intent’ out of Lynch, when it comes to how she handles Lee.” Specifically, target the neck. “In shape doesn’t mean in ring shape,” Ray warned about Lee, advising Punk, Rollins, and Lynch to “go out of their way to put that first match together… featuring AJ Lee’s strengths and [avoiding] exposing her from the 10 years she’s been away.” For Lynch, that means weaponizing Lee’s history: Stiff shots, submission teases like a modified Dis-Arm-Her aimed at the spine, or even verbal jabs referencing her book Crazy Is My Superpower, where Lee detailed her cervical woes.
Ray’s vision? Limit Lee’s ring time early, building to a hot comeback where she locks in the Black Widow—her old octopus hold—for the win. “This is as 101 as pro wrestling gets,” he said. “The only time AJ gets in the ring is when she blows the comeback on Becky.” It’s a blueprint for protecting the 38-year-old Lee while amplifying drama.
Expert Takes: Wrestling Vets Weigh In on the Stakes
Fellow Hall of Famers echo Ray’s blueprint. Nattie Neidhart, on Busted Open, insisted Lee is “absolutely ready,” crediting her Hart Family training roots. Kevin Nash, on Kliq This!, praised the segment’s heat but flagged Lynch’s slaps as veering too close to “domestic abuse” vibes—though he lauded the overall fire.
Public reaction? Electric. X exploded with clips of Lynch’s Manhandle Slam on Lee after a Raw face-off, where Becky taunted her neck issues: “How’s that holding up?” Fans like @Teffo_01 shared full segments, captioning, “OH WE ARE IN FOR A BRAWL!” Even old-school marks hyped the generational clash, with one post noting, “AJ left WWE just 3 months before Becky debuted… The mic work would be fantastic.”
Critics, though, worry about ring rust. Ray himself flagged the mixed tag format’s chaos: “You couldn’t ask for three better wrestlers” than Punk, Rollins, and Lynch to carry Lee safely.
Why U.S. Fans Are Hooked: From Economy to Pop Culture Ripples
This feud hits American wrestling diehards where it hurts—and excites. Economically, Wrestlepalooza’s debut on ESPN Unlimited could spike subscriptions, boosting WWE’s $1 billion streaming push amid cord-cutting woes. Lynch, WWE’s top merch seller, stands to gain from targeted “Big Time Becks” gear, while Lee’s return revives Divas-era nostalgia, drawing millennials who ditched WWE for family life.
Lifestyle-wise, it’s a mental health win: Lee’s raw promo on therapy and anxiety mirrors real struggles, inspiring fans amid a post-pandemic boom in wellness talks. Politically neutral but culturally charged, it spotlights women’s evolution—from Divas to warriors—fueling debates on X about equity in booking.
Tech-savvy viewers love the AR-enhanced entrances teased for the event, blending old-school grit with 2025 innovation. And sports? Rollins and Punk’s bad blood echoes NFL rivalries, pulling crossover crowds to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Road to Wrestlepalooza: Fire, Caution, and Legacy
Bully Ray’s specific ask—Lynch with neck-hunting “intent”—could define this match as must-see TV or a cautious misfire. As Lee admitted on Raw, “I don’t know exactly how [my neck] will hold up,” the pressure’s on to balance storytelling with safety. Ray’s right: In wrestling’s brutal ballet, vulnerability sells tickets.
Looking ahead, a stellar showing could launch Lee into a full-time run, teasing dream bouts like Hell in a Cell with Lynch or clashes with Roxanne Perez—her “wrestling-made daughter.” For now, as Busted Open co-host Dave LaGreca put it, WWE is “crushing it” by nailing returns like this. Saturday’s war won’t just settle scores—it’ll etch AJ Lee’s comeback into WWE immortality. Buckle up, U.S. fans: The Geek Goddess is back, and The Man might just break her.
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