A Look Back at CJ Perry's Brief, but Spectacular AEW Tenure

I've been a huge fan of CJ Perry ever since she first appeared in WWE under her familiar name, Lana. Hard to believe that her wrestling career has lasted for over a decade, it doesn't seem like it's been that long. Eight of those years were spent in WWE, usually as the (often) villainous manager for the then-named Rusev--a gimmick that started back on NXT. It wasn't until her last few years in WWE that we would finally start to see Lana actually compete in the ring, but just as she was about to really rise on her own, she gets the rug pulled from her. A release in 2021.

It was during the last legs of Lana's WWE run that Rusev went to All Elite Wrestling and competed under his real name, Miro. In the time that passed after CJ's release, I was patiently waiting for her to appear in AEW, and after two years, we finally got it.

Last year's All Out event saw CJ actually make her long overdue AEW debut, coming after Miro's match against Powerhouse Hobbs. Her appearance came as Miro was on the receiving end of a beatdown from Hobbs, who was the receiving end of a chair shot from CJ. We then get a tense staredown between CJ and Miro, and I knew it would be tense, because it had been a bit more than two years since they were on-screen together. Even so, I was elated to see CJ in AEW; partly because I love seeing real-life couples together, but also because I've been a huge advocate for CJ/Lana for a long time.

The very second that All Out ended, I was mainly focused on CJ's first promo, because it was coming. We wouldn't have to wait too long for that, as six days later on Collsion, CJ was featured, and she gave a moderately long promo where she claimed that Miro lost himself after he lost the TNT Championship, and she made her appearance to show that she still had Miro's back. In addition, CJ added that she wanted to see if she had what it took, and she was not leaving until she found out. This is where it got interesting. CJ's closing statement had her commenting that she was "once one of the coldest managers in wrestling, and she was looking to get back to that role. Hmmm.

We would see weeks of CJ scouting talent and putting herself out there as a manager looking for a client, while also engaging in interesting confrontations with Miro. It looked like CJ had her client in the form of Andrade El Idolo, and it would stick by November of last year. For weeks, we would see CJ at Andrade's side during his matches on Collision, but the inevitable clash between Andrade and Miro would occur at World's End on December 30. CJ was portrayed as being "conflicted" in the events leading to the match, but it wouldn't be the case.

CJ definitely had a plan for that evening, and it came to fruition the very moment that Andrade had Miro locked into the Figure Eight submission. At that very moment, CJ turned heel on Andrade--breaking up the hold and allowing Miro to defeat her own client, and it was followed by CJ applauding Miro and walking off very satisfied with her villainous handiwork. We knew this was coming. For one, Andrade was off to WWE again, so he was clearly losing at the event. Secondly, honestly, even if he wasn't WWE-bound, this was going to happen. I think the seeds were planted for a possible CJ and Miro reunion, most likely as villains. Third of all, CJ--as a manager--is more natural as a villainess; we've seen it for so long.

We even saw it in the aforementioned promo.

I loved CJ's promo on Collision just days after her debut, because I wanted to hear from her and I knew it would be absolutely passionate. I was also curious on what side of the moral pendulum she'd fall on, and that last moment where she mentioned that she was once one of the coldest managers in wrestling really caught my attention. One more thing caught my attention: CJ's evil smirk at the very end of the segment. Though she was basically portrayed as a babyface, that sinister smirk (which I loved!) gave a hint to her devious and duplicitous side. And of course, just three months later, the evil CJ truly showed her true villainous colors on what would be her last appearance in AEW.

Earlier today, CJ Perry announced that she was officially done in AEW. Her tenure only lasted three months, but she truly showed out big time in such a short period. I hope CJ continues in wrestling at some capacity; I've read she wants to continue on as a manager--she's amazing in that role. I would love to see CJ compete more often; she truly showed a lot of promise in the ring and should have received more opportunities as a wrestler. She also has a pretty good acting career as well. I would love to see her as a Lifetime film villainess at some point, that would be so amazing! In any event, CJ Perry is such a phenomenal talent, and I just know that no matter what she does next, she'll excel big time!