5 Times active WWE Superstars were used as authority figures

#4 AJ Lee served as the WWE RAW General Manager

You gotta love @WWE weddings... #Raw1000 pic.twitter.com/GPko0P62Ff

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) February 5, 2019

An authority figure position in WWE is a highly-prized spot. So sought after, in fact, was the role of RAW General Manager by AJ Lee in July 2012 that she actually stopped her wedding to Daniel Bryan at RAW 1000 to accept it.

Having been offered the job by Mr. McMahon earlier in the day, AJ ditched Bryan at the altar after confirming that she would take the role.

AJ Lee debuted on WWE television as part of Season 3 of NXT in 2010. However, it was her association with Bryan after she moved to SmackDown the following year that really saw AJ make a name for herself.

After the shocking betrayal of her former love interest, AJ's behaviour became increasingly outlandish. Accusing Bryan of only wanting to marry her in order to gain the legal power to have her committed, AJ ran RAW entirely on her own whim during her reign as General Manager.

After just under three months in her post, AJ was fired by the WWE Board of Directors following storyline allegations of an affair with John Cena.

7️⃣years ago today, @JohnCena RUINED @HEELZiggler and #AJLee's New Year's toast on #Raw.💩💩💩 pic.twitter.com/lJF5OwRRAo

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) December 31, 2019

After her removal from power, AJ would eventually refocus herself upon in-ring competition. This proved a wise choice as AJ won the WWE Divas Championship from Kaitlyn at the Payback 2013 pay-per-view.

Embarking upon a 295-day run as Champion, AJ would hold the title until April 7 the following year, when she would lose to Paige on RAW.

Less than a year after that match, AJ would announce her retirement from the ring, citing injuries, as well as a desire to spend more time with her husband, CM Punk.

Since moving away from professional wrestling, the real-life April Mendez now works primarily as an advocate for both mental health and animal rights.