WWE Attempting "Damage Control" Over AJ Lee-Michelle Beadle Backstage Incident Story

Allegations of a backstage incident between WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee and NBC personality Michelle Beadle at last Wednesday's Tribute to the Troops event in Pierce County, Washington is currently a huge topic of discussion among company employees at tonight's WWE TLC pay-per-view event in Houston, Texas. People who generally don't acknowledge these types of online stories at shows are even offering their thoughts.

Multiple accounts of the story, which was originally reported this morning by Dave Meltzer on F4WOnline.com, are floating online, with some people affiliated with WWE attempting damage control in order to protect Lee's brand and reputation?PWInsider.com is claiming that Lee did not approach Beadle out of jealousy toward her chatting up with boyfriend CM Punk, but rather, calmly appeared in his defense for speaking to him in a "disrespectful tone." Meltzer, however, is saying that his version of the story, with Lee lashing out at the popular television personality with a bizarre, obscenity-laced tirade and behaving similar to her eccentric on-screen character, is completely legitimate.

"I've talked to several there. Everything is damage control now," Meltzer remarked this afternoon on the F4WOnline.com message board in response to conflicting accounts of the incident online. "According to more than one there, she cussed out Beadle and they were very upset, partially because Beadle was brought in as a host and it was a show when they were trying to put their best foot forward, saying it was a bigger deal because it was Tribute to the Troops. Four different people today and one last night including one person who got it from top management explained it the same way."

"Even one person trying to defend her admitted she was way out of line and nuts, but said she overreacted because she knew Punk and Beadle had a short-lived deal.

"It's way bigger than I reported last night as of 1 p.m. Central time in Houston. It is the story in the locker room, even backstage people who aren't usually talking about such things are are all talking about it."

It should be noted that WWE officials invited Meltzer to last week's press conference in Santa Clara, California to announce Levi's Stadium as the location of WrestleMania 31 in 2015, with Stephanie McMahon addressing her new role as WWE Chief Brand Officer to him. In this photo gallery on WWE.com, there is a shot of Meltzer shaking hands with Mark Henry.

Lee's reign as Divas Champion could end tonight as she is scheduled to defend her title at WWE TLC against Natalya.