AJ Mendez is a former professional wrestler with the WWE under the ring name AJ Lee, has won numerous championships and awards and was known for her “Geek Goddess” persona, “Crazy Chick” unpredictable antics, and controversial outspoken nature. Her fan base is one of the most dedicated in the world, as evidenced by her 5 Million+ Twitter and 470 Thousand+ Instagram followers.

They connect over a shared love of comic books, sci-fi, anime & video games, often demonstrating their solidarity by donning AJ’s signature Chuck Taylor sneakers. AJ is also an animal rescue ambassador for the ASPCA, and works with Girls Make Games, a program encouraging young women to pursue science and tech-based careers. She is an ambassador for the mental health organizations NAMI and The Jed Foundation. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Phil ‘CM Punk’ Brooks, their rescue dog, and her Xbox.

CRAZY IS MY SUPERPOWER: HOW I TRIUMPHED BY BREAKING BONES, BREAKING HEARTS, AND BREAKING THE RULES (Crown Archetype – April 4, 2016)

From beloved WWE champion AJ Mendez comes a raw and inspirational memoir about how her greatest weakness became the very means for her success, in the ring and in life.

Recently retired WWE superstar AJ Mendez is a powerhouse – strong, quirky, and totally confident. But that wasn’t always the case. Growing up, AJ was a quiet girl trying to act “normal” when she felt anything but. As her family struggled with drug addiction, poverty, and mental illness, she found escape through comic books and video games, inspired by the tough and unconventional female characters. It wasn’t until she discovered the WWE that she learned superheroes could be real.

Determined to become the superhero she’d always needed, AJ trained and sacrificed for years to finally achieve her dream. Yet, she quickly faced industry pressure to play the role of the damsel in distress and dress more provocatively to cater to male fans. But she fought back and created an ass-kicking alter ego that was a genuine representation of herself: nerdy, enthusiastic, and a little bit crazy.

With humor and tremendous heart, AJ opens up for the first time about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons and gain control over her life. What most people view as a hardship, AJ embraced as inspiration for her superhero persona.

Charting her journey from a scrappy girl in an unstable home to empowered WWE champion, CRAZY IS MY SUPERPOWER is an unflinchingly honest and bravely confessional story about the long road to self-acceptance.

PRAISE AND PRESS for CRAZY IS MY SUPERPOWER

“This book is for every young woman who couldn’t find a seat at the lunch table. AJ Mendez writes about loneliness, mental illness and finding her place in the world with genuine vulnerability and perhaps more importantly, genuine strength.”
—Amy Koppelman, author of A Mouthful of Air, Hesitation Wounds and I Smile Back

“This woman is 5’2” of raw talent, heroic honesty, and gut-busting humor. AJ’s story left me both breathless and feeling like I should be jumping up and down shouting, “Yes, yes, oh my god, f**k yes!!!!!”
—Deborah Copaken, New York Times bestselling author of Shutterbabe and The Red Book

“AJ Mendez’ s candid account of her struggles and success offer young women a wonderful role model regarding how to be yourself, stand up for what you believe in and embrace the “crazy.” AJ’s story promotes empowerment, not just through physical strength, but through emotional strength as well.”
—Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, Family Psychologist and author of Princess Recovery

“This compelling memoir, written with genuine humor and strength, shows how AJ persevered over circumstances that a lesser human would have been destroyed by. She is truly a Super Hero.”
—Caroline Rhea, Actor, TV Host, and Stand-up Comedian

“AJ Mendez is the role model we desperately need in today’s culture! Authentic and inspiring, AJ embraces her challenges, bravely discusses her past, and shows us all how to turn pain into power.”
—Emily Roberts MA, LPC – “The Guidance Girl” Psychotherapist and author of Express Yourself: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are

“[Mendez] successfully uses her own life story to show how a perceived weakness can be an unstoppable strength.”
—Library Journal

 “Showcases exactly why AJ is to be both admired and held dear as a source of inspiration.”

–Bookriot