You have to love when people decide to make up their own narratives. AJ Lee was already years into her push and months into her first Divas Championship run when she started dating CM Punk. In fact, her own pipe bomb was before she started dating CM Punk. Two whole years after CM Punk's. AJ was so popular at the time WWE actually wanted her to be on Total Divas and that was the reason she was allowed to do her pipe bomb. AJ didn't need to sleep her way to the top. I'm pretty sure she was even dating Trent Beretta during CM Punk's 434 day title reign. Not to mention, CM Punk actually left the company only three months after they started dating.
If anything her relationship with Punk hurt her pull with WWE management and halted her career trajectory she may have had before they fired her husband on their wedding day. Between that, injuries, stress of a new marriage and her interest in writing.
As for the Bellas, they were in the WWE for nearly a decade on and off. They were the main catalysts for Total Divas as was mentioned. It was the reason they were brought back and Nikki was highly featured in title programs for several years. I don't think you can deny that the relationship with Cena probably got her a little more shine at the top, but honestly Nikki worked her butt off to get better and while she was never my favorite I did begin to respect her hustle by the time she retired. Her match with Ronda Rousey was pretty damn good. How can we say Nikki Bella doesn't deserve to go into the Hall of Fame? What exactly is the criteria for going in, exactly?
I'm fine with it.