By Richie Serini 

Contributing Writer

As you’ve all heard, WWE Diva and three-time Divas Champion AJ Lee (April Jeanette Mendez-Brooks) has retired from in-ring action.

The news did drop out of the sky – anyone with the WWE App was probably in complete shock upon seeing the update that stated her official retirement, essentially a big loss for the Divas division.

Or was it really?

It could be a big chance for the other Divas like Naomi, Natalya and Paige to show they can carry the division at the top.

It’s also a big welcome mat for the leading NXT Divas like Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Bayley to get their long-awaited call-up and grab that oh-so-famous “brass ring” Vince McMahon loves to talk about and not just grab it, but keep a firm grip on it.

Particularly, “The Boss” Banks has potential to become the next AJ. At the age of 23, she has the most time to improve and if Creative books her properly, she can easily surpass Lee’s 295-day reign.

After all, this is where “Give Divas A Chance” comes in, right?

However, AJ leaving isn’t all good things for the company. AJ was a top draw – one of the top main roster talents, actually bringing some life to the Division right before WrestleMania, giving Paige that needed push to take on the Bella Twins. Not to say that losing her will lead to huge rating drops and massive loss of ticket sales, but it could have an effect.

Nevertheless, fans will have to deal with the loss as it is, mainly because wrestlers are performers – and they have real lives outside of the ring and goals to fulfill.

AJ is a regular human being like you. She enjoys video games and comic books. She is a nerd but she is also a big fan of independent wrestling too – just like her husband, Phillip “CM Punk” Brooks.

For her time in WWE, she has made the most of it. Let’s remember her amazing 295-day reign as Divas Champion, winning Diva of the Year Slammys in both 2012 and 2014, being Raw general manager at one point, and her “on-screen relationships” with Daniel Bryan, Punk, Kane, John Cena and Dolph Ziggler.

Her departure will sting just a little bit. Nobody could capture charisma on the mic like her and it will take some time for someone else to come up and steal the show, but rest assured, all eyes will be fixed on the Divas, and maybe that’s what AJ wanted this whole time.