WWE: Is AJ the PG-Era Version of Lita?

Remember the days when Lita was in an on-screen relationship with Matt Hardy? And her relationship with Edge that followed? What about the time she married Kane, conceived and later miscarried? Or even those times when she was flirting with Christian?

Lita was a women who knew how to use her sexuality to her advantage and to get what she wanted. She remains one of the most unique WWE Divas to ever grace the wrestling ring, and yet, fans are currently witnessing something very similar.

AJ’s flirtatious moments with Primo back on NXT season three are probably not widely remembered. Neither is her more recent NXT relationship with Hornswoggle.

However, since her move to prominence on Smackdown and RAW, AJ’s love life has been thrust into our memories. There's the failed relationship with Daniel Bryan, her pursuit of the WWE Champion CM Punk, a little flirting with Kane and even a moment with Josh Matthews.

AJ’s loving gaze has become the trademark of her character, but it is by no means original. Rewind six years and you’ll find Lita sporting that same dopey look around Edge.

Remember that time Lita and Edge had a live sex segment on Monday Night RAW? Well, AJ’s declaration of Daniel Bryan as a “great lover” is about as close as PG WWE programming will come to live sex. We were simply told instead of shown.

Part of Lita’s unique character was her look and style. From her red hair to her tattoos, Lita was a feisty ‘punk.' AJ can also be feisty.

For instance, just look at what she did to Kaitlyn for giving her advice. Can we say, though, that AJ sports the ‘punk’ style?

Another aspect of WWE’s PG era is the lack of individual expression. In today's WWE, you won’t find the Jeff Hardys and the Shannon Moores. That type of ‘punk’ look is absent, understandably, as the company does not want to be labeled as influencing children to adopt looks which may be considered socially inappropriate.

With that in mind, is AJ’s skull and bone attire as far as the ‘punk’ look can go for a woman in the current WWE climate? AJ is the cute punk, whereas Lita was the feisty punk.

While Lita was also known for her relationships with wrestlers off-screen, AJ is not. WWE would not want to convey their current Divas in such a promiscuous manner, even if it was accurate.

AJ is by no means as suggestive as Lita, but everything from her tie-pull to her trademark look, are really just the watered-down, PG equivalents of Lita. AJ doesn’t flaunt her sexuality, but rather just flirts with it. Children understand flirting, not seduction, affairs and cheating.

In the end, AJ and Lita are significantly different individuals, but the parallels between them serve as a nice contrast between the past and present of WWE programming.

While Lita was not required in many of the rivalries she worked, just as AJ is not a crucial aspect in the Punk, Bryan and Kane feud, perhaps the biggest similarity between the two is that they manage to bring new levels of intrigue to WWE’s storylines when they are present.