Michelle Beadle Confirms Report Of Backstage Incident With AJ Lee - "I Thought It Was A Joke"

NBC entertainment and sports personality Michelle Beadle is lending credence to today's report concerning an incident between herself and WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee at last Wednesday's annual Tribute to the Troops event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County, Washington.

Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer revealed this morning in a podcast on F4WOnline.com that Lee went on an obscenity-laced tirade towards the Access Hollywood co-host upon seeing her chat with CM Punk, her boyfriend, backstage at the event. Beadle didn't believe Lee was serious with her unhinged WWE character-like outburst.

In response to a fan remarking to her this morning on Twitter, "You should have slapped AJ Lee when she got in your face," Beadle wrote, "Meh. I thought it was a joke."

Responding to an upset AJ Lee fan on Twitter, Beadle remarked, "Hon...it was done in front of company people. I didn't say a word. I thought it was a joke."

Beadle's tweet gels with Meltzer's claim, as he noted on the podcast that Lee's Tribute to the Troops incident took place in front of many important people. He added that a number of WWE officials were very embarrassed and angry at Lee over the incident, mainly for "coming off like her character in real life, and not in a good way." She is expected to be disciplined for her behavior.

Lee is scheduled to defend her WWE Divas Championship tonight at WWE TLC against Natalya.