WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales Surge As Fans Speculate AJ Lee’s Return

Written by Animesh Murai • Published Sep 05, 2025 01:04 EDT
AJ Lee wears a CM Punk t-shirt on WWE RAW

WWE SmackDown in Chicago sees massive ticket sales surge to 16,031 as fans eagerly await potential AJ Lee return after decade-long absence.

WWE SmackDown’s September 5 edition at the Allstate Arena in Chicago has become one of wrestling’s hottest tickets. Reports suggest that 16,031 tickets have been distributed for the show. This marks an increase of 265 tickets since their last update one day earlier. The impressive sales figures far exceed the venue’s previous SmackDown event in April, which drew 15,818 attendees. More importantly, the Chicago show is tracking well above WWE’s year-to-date SmackDown average of 11,352 fans across all venues.

Chicago wrestling fans are paying premium prices to secure their seats. Standard admission options have become extremely limited, with only floor seats remaining available at a starting price of $1,327.20. All other seating sections have sold out through regular ticket channels. The estimated gate revenue for the event has reached an impressive $2.3 million.

WWE has responded to overwhelming demand by opening additional sections 206 and 207 to accommodate more fans. The current arena setup allows for 16,046 total capacity, leaving just 15 tickets still available for purchase. This sellout status reflects the anticipation surrounding the show and the star power expected to appear. The combination of limited availability and premium pricing demonstrates significant interest from Chicago wrestling fans who expect something special during the broadcast.

Chicago Crowd Fueled by AJ Lee Return Speculation

The ticket sales surge coincides with growing speculation about AJ Lee’s potential WWE return after a decade away. Multiple wrestling news outlets, including Wrestling Observer and Fightful, have reported that WWE sources expect the former three-time Divas Champion to return soon. Lee retired from WWE in April 2015, shortly after her husband, CM Punk, left the company. Her potential comeback has gained momentum since Punk’s return to WWE in November 2023.

The speculation intensified after WWE’s Clash in Paris event, where Becky Lynch interfered to help her husband, Seth Rollins, retain the World Heavyweight Championship against Punk. Wrestling journalists have reported plans for a mixed tag match at Wrestlepalooza on September 20, featuring Punk and Lee against Rollins and Lynch.

Here are 3 female stars who could team up with CM Punk, if AJ Lee doesn’t return this Friday.

The WWE fans are excited for Lee’s return, but also shocked by the skyrocketing ticket prices for a weekly show. A fan was stunned by seeing the price for a single ticket.

One fan, on the other hand, was very happy and thanked wrestling gods after getting tickets for this week’s SmackDown.

Another fan expressed grief over the high ticket prices in a funny way, posting a GIF.

WWE briefly fueled rumors when their Shop account posted about upcoming AJ Lee merchandise before deleting the message. While the company has not confirmed Lee’s status for the Chicago show, industry insiders believe her return could be announced during Friday’s broadcast. The unprecedented ticket sales suggest WWE has something major planned for the Chicago crowd.