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Upon her return on June 30, AJ switched to a face role and was no longer accompanied by Tamina. She challenged Paige to an impromptu rematch and won back the Divas Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/37752-wwe-raw-tv-report-for-an-eventful-show|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214032856/http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/37752-wwe-raw-tv-report-for-an-eventful-show|archive-date=February 14, 2015|title=WWE Raw TV report for an eventful show|last=McCarron|first=Rob|date=June 30, 2014|access-date=September 26, 2015|work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> They started pretending to be best friends in a [[facetious]] manner.<ref>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_79464.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 7/7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714175914/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_79464.shtml|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live|date=July 7, 2014|access-date=August 4, 2017|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Parks|first=Greg|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwesmackdownreport/article_79947.shtml|title=Parks' WWE SmackDown Report 8/1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810153008/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwesmackdownreport/article_79947.shtml|archive-date=August 10, 2014|url-status=live|date=August 1, 2014|access-date=August 4, 2017|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.}}</ref> When AJ retained the title from Paige at [[Battleground (2014)|Battleground]],<ref name="Battleground 2014">{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Adam|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-battleground-ppv-2014/49707-wwe-battleground-ppv-results-7-20-14-live-from-tampa|title=WWE Battleground PPV Results – 7/20/14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727000708/http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-battleground-ppv-2014/49707-wwe-battleground-ppv-results-7-20-14-live-from-tampa|archive-date=July 27, 2014|url-status=live|website=Wrestleview|date=July 20, 2014|access-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref> their act escalated into unprovoked attacks.<ref>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_79722.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 7/21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728231719/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_79722.shtml|archive-date=July 28, 2014|url-status=live|date=July 21, 2014|access-date=August 11, 2017|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tedesco|first=Mike|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/49844-wwe-raw-results-7-28-14-live-results-from-houston/|title=WWE Raw Results – 7/28/14 (New matches for SummerSlam)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801003740/http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/49844-wwe-raw-results-7-28-14-live-results-from-houston/|archive-date=August 1, 2014|url-status=live|date=July 29, 2014|access-date=August 11, 2017|website=Wrestleview}}</ref> At [[SummerSlam (2014)|SummerSlam]] on August 17, AJ lost the championship to Paige.<ref>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|title=Caldwell's WWE SummerSlam PPV Results 8/17|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_80257.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082244/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_80257.shtml|archive-date=August 19, 2014|url-status=live|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.|date=August 17, 2014|access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref> Their storyline was then intertwined with that of [[Nikki Bella|Nikki]] and Brie Bella, at the behest of [[Stephanie McMahon]], who granted Nikki a championship opportunity.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tedesco|first=Mike|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/50510-wwe-raw-results-9-1-14-live-results-from-des-moines/|title=WWE Raw Results – 9/1/14 (Six Man Tag Team Main Event)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122427/http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/50510-wwe-raw-results-9-1-14-live-results-from-des-moines/|archive-date=September 3, 2014|url-status=live|date=September 2, 2014|access-date=August 2, 2017|website=Wrestleview}}</ref> A triple threat match ensued at [[Night of Champions (2014)|Night of Champions]] on September 21, where AJ became a record-tying three-time Divas Champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_80844.shtml|last=Caldwell|first=James|title=Caldwell's WWE NOC PPV Report 9/21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924044919/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_80844.shtml|archive-date=September 24, 2014|url-status=live|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.|access-date=September 21, 2014|date=September 21, 2014}}</ref><ref name="3Time"/>{{Efn|name=Tie}} Her feud against Paige concluded with a victory at [[Hell in a Cell (2014)|Hell in a Cell]] in October.<ref name="HIAC 2014">{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_81466.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE HIAC PPV Report 10/26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027035209/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_81466.shtml|archive-date=October 27, 2014|url-status=live|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.|date=October 26, 2014|access-date=October 26, 2014}}</ref> She changed focus to Nikki Bella, whose sister, Brie, was involved as her "personal assistant".<ref>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_81616.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 11/3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104113401/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_81616.shtml|archive-date=November 4, 2014|url-status=live|date=November 3, 2014|access-date=August 3, 2017|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.}}</ref> AJ quickly lost the championship to Nikki at [[Survivor Series (2014)|Survivor Series]] on November 23, due to a distraction by Brie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_81932.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE S. Series PPV Results 11/23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126142750/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_81932.shtml|archive-date=November 26, 2014|url-status=live|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.|date=November 23, 2014|last=Caldwell|first=James|access-date=November 23, 2014}}</ref> After losing the rematch at [[TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs (2014)|TLC]] the following month,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_82280.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE TLC PPV Report 12/14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215063101/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_82280.shtml|archive-date=December 15, 2014|url-status=live|last=Caldwell|first=James|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.|date=December 14, 2014|access-date=December 14, 2014}}</ref> Mendez took time off to heal a pre-existing neck injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_82708.shtml|title=A.J. Lee address injury status|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112225904/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_82708.shtml|archive-date=January 12, 2015|url-status=live|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=January 10, 2015|access-date=January 10, 2015|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.}}</ref>

In February 2015, Mendez criticized WWE's treatment of its female wrestlers, stating they receive only a fraction of the wages and screen time of their male counterparts despite having generated record-selling merchandise and several top-[[Nielsen ratings|rated]] segments. Her comments addressed WWE executive Stephanie McMahon, who thanked her for the public statement. WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon acknowledged the issue.<ref>{{cite ~~web~~magazine|url=http://time.com/3721801/wwe-divas-aj-lee/|title=Patricia Arquette's Oscars Speech Inspired This Female Wrestler to Speak Out|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123114841/http://time.com/3721801/wwe-divas-aj-lee/|archive-date=January 23, 2016|url-status=live|~~work~~magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|last=Freeney|first=Nolan|date=February 25, 2015|access-date=August 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/news/a13494/this-badass-pro-wrestler-used-patricia-arquettes-oscar-speech-to-fight-for-equal-pay/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226080005/http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/news/a13494/this-badass-pro-wrestler-used-patricia-arquettes-oscar-speech-to-fight-for-equal-pay/|archive-date=February 26, 2015|url-status=live|title=Awesome Pro Wrestler Makes a Stand for Equal Pay|last=Friedman|first=Megan|date=February 25, 2015|access-date=August 30, 2017|work=[[Marie Claire]]|publisher=[[Hearst Communications]]}}</ref>

AJ returned on the March 2 episode of ''Raw'', saving her former rival Paige from an attack by Nikki and Brie Bella.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_83632.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 3/2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304115149/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_83632.shtml|archive-date=March 4, 2015|url-status=live|last=Caldwell|first=James|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.|date=March 2, 2015|access-date=March 2, 2015}}</ref> AJ and Paige allied together to defeat the Bella Twins at [[WrestleMania 31]] on March 29.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_84175.shtml|title=Caldwell's WM31 PPV Results 3/29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331225800/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_84175.shtml|archive-date=March 31, 2015|url-status=live|last=Caldwell|first=James|website=Pro Wrestling Torch|publisher=TDH Communications Inc.|date=March 29, 2015|access-date=March 30, 2015}}</ref> A six-woman tag team match the next night on ''Raw'' wound up being her final match, as WWE announced her retirement from in-ring competition on April 3.<ref name="FS retired">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/wwe-diva-cm-punkaj-lee-retires-from-in-ring-competition-040315|title=WWE Diva AJ Lee retires from in-ring competition|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405232759/http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/wwe-diva-cm-punkaj-lee-retires-from-in-ring-competition-040315|archive-date=April 5, 2015|url-status=live|date=April 3, 2015|access-date=July 3, 2015|website=[[Foxsports.com]]|publisher=[[Fox Sports Interactive Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/aj-lee-retires-from-wwe|title=AJ Lee retires from WWE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406161921/http://www.wwe.com/inside/aj-lee-retires-from-wwe|archive-date=April 6, 2015|url-status=live|publisher=WWE|date=April 3, 2015|access-date=August 30, 2017}}</ref> In [[#Other media|her memoir]], Mendez stated that permanent damage to her [[Cervical vertebrae|cervical spine]], and the fulfillment of her goals led to the decision. She had also "felt caught in the middle" between WWE and her husband [[CM Punk]] following [[CM Punk#First retirement (2014)|his controversial departure]] in January 2014 but continued to wrestle for as long as she could.{{sfn|Mendez Brooks|2017|loc=chpt. 14}}