AJ Lee made a notable return during this week’s SmackDown episode in Chicago, Illinois, setting the stage for Seth Rollins’ next move in his ongoing conflict with CM Punk. Rollins, the current World Heavyweight Champion, has been fixated on preventing Punk from regaining the title, and AJ Lee’s comeback has the potential to reshape the power dynamic between these rivals.
Previously, Rollins executed a masterstroke dubbed The Ruse of the Century, taking CM Punk’s World Heavyweight Championship and asserting his dominance. Rollins has made it clear that Punk will never reclaim the championship while he remains active. With AJ Lee returning to support Punk alongside Becky Lynch, Rollins is expected to unveil another layer of his mega masterplan betrayal to maintain control.
Cora Jade’s Surprise Intervention Could Decide Upcoming Tag Team Match
As balance shifts between Punk and Rollins, discussions are underway about a lucrative mixed tag team match, possibly set for WWE’s upcoming PLE debut on ESPN, Wrestlepalooza. This event could feature the high-stakes confrontation between the rival power couples: CM Punk with AJ Lee, and Seth Rollins alongside Becky Lynch.
In a dramatic twist towards the match’s conclusion, both Punk and Rollins could be incapacitated outside the ring, leaving Lee and Lynch in a tense standoff inside. Lee might appear to have the upper hand by applying her signature Black Widow submission on Lynch. However, the lights would suddenly go dark, and a masked figure would emerge to attack AJ Lee, delivering a double hook DDT that turns the match around.
Lynch would then pin Lee for the win, celebrating as Rollins drags a defenseless Punk closer. When the mysterious attacker unmasks, she is revealed to be Cora Jade—now performing as Elayna Black—making her unexpected return after a previous release from WWE. The crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis would vehemently boo the trio, recognizing Jade as Punk and Lee’s wrestling “daughter.” Despite the hostility, Rollins and his new allies would stand tall, solidifying their alliance amid the jeers.
Cora Jade Faces Backlash and Justifies Her Betrayal on RAW
The following night on RAW in Indiana, Cora Jade confronts a hostile audience, with fans openly expressing their disapproval. As she steps into the ring to speak, relentless boos hinder her ability to communicate. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch soon arrive to support their new protégé, enabling Jade to address the crowd.
Jade explains that CM Punk and AJ Lee abandoned her during her most difficult period—the time of her WWE release—and that her actions stem from seeking retribution for their perceived neglect. This rationale closely mirrors Rollins’ own feelings of abandonment when Punk ignored his attempts to reach out during Punk’s wrestling sabbatical. Jade credits Rollins and Lynch for helping her secure her WWE return by appealing directly to Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer.
She concludes her speech by lauding Rollins and Lynch as the “greatest of all-time” and declaring them her new “wrestling parents,” officially joining The Vision faction and intensifying their villainous hold within WWE.
The Arrival of a New Ally Intensifies the Power Struggle Between Factions
Meanwhile, the faction known as The Judgment Day faces turmoil as Finn Balor betrays Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh, signaling the group’s likely dissolution. Liv Morgan’s return heightens tensions further as she targets Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez with a renewed fury.
In search of safety, Perez turns to her longtime friend and rival Cora Jade. The Sorceress of Sin then forces Perez to choose loyalty between her “wrestling parents” in The Vision, led by Rollins and Lynch, or supporting CM Punk and AJ Lee. Perez’s allegiance to The Vision culminates in a trios match at Crown Jewel in Perth, Western Australia, pitting the two factions against each other.
During the match, Perez demonstrates strong performance and camaraderie with Punk and Lee. However, chaos unfolds when Lee inadvertently strikes Perez instead of Jade, resulting in Perez being knocked out. As Jade attempts a finishing move on Lee, she is caught in the Black Widow submission. Just as Jade appears about to submit, Perez intervenes, attacking Lee from behind. The referee calls the match to a disqualification, acknowledging Lee’s accidental strike on Perez.
This incident stirs feelings of betrayal, as Perez views Lee’s attack as a violation by her “wrestling mother.” Jade and Perez then turn on Lee, with Lynch watching triumphantly, while Rollins disables Punk outside by delivering a brutal stomp on the announce table. The match ends with Perez executing her finishing move, Pop Rox, on Lee, cementing their defection from their former wrestling parents and fulfilling a key element of Rollins’ mega masterplan betrayal.
The Unfolding Storyset: The Broader Implications for WWE’s Landscape
Seth Rollins’ strategic use of betrayal by turning Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez against CM Punk and AJ Lee marks a significant shift in WWE storytelling and faction dynamics. This unfolding saga not only heightens tensions among the top-tier performers but also sets the stage for major matches and rivalries in the months ahead, particularly with Wrestlepalooza and Crown Jewel on the horizon.
The introduction of Jade as a key ally, along with Perez’s controversial change in loyalty, underscores Rollins’ capacity to manipulate even close bonds, reinforcing his reputation as a calculating mastermind within WWE. Fans can expect further betrayals, emotional confrontations, and dramatic turns as this storyline develops, potentially reshaping the hierarchy of WWE’s champions and factions for the foreseeable future.
