In the world of professional wrestling, Mickie James has made known that she initially wasn’t interested in returning to WWE for the 2022 Women’s The road-to-WrestleMania kickoff, admitting that she was still angry about how her previous run with the company finished.
James made a historic appearance in the clash while reigning as TNA Knockouts Reigning champion, with WWE acknowledging the championship and allowing her to bring the championship with her.
James had been released by WWE in 2021 and subsequently slammed the company after her belongings were sent to her in a trash bag. She admitted those feelings were still fresh when she was approached about returning for the The road-to-WrestleMania kickoff. “And I kind of noted it at first. “Even when I was initial asked to come in, I was still angry, I was still upset,” she continued. I was like, ‘I’m not interested or whatever.’”
Speaking with Ben Veal of Wrestling Life Online, James described the appearance as validating. Credited several people, including Vince McMahon and then-TNA executive Scott D’Amore, with making the crossover possible. “The moment was very [validating] and a huge thanks to everyone — to Vince [McMahon], honestly to Scott D’Amore, even Johnny Ace at the time,” James said. “It took a lot. I don’t think people realize, understand what it took for that moment to happen.”
James took time to consider what the appearance could mean, rather than right away rejecting the opportunity. She wanted WWE’s audience to see the “Hardcore Country” version of Mickie James that she had established outside the company, she ultimately decided that if she returned. “And thank God Scott didn’t go back or I didn’t just say, ‘No thank you’ straight out of the gate because I really had to think back and sit and pray on it and think about it,” James said.
Adding to the story, i kind of pitched it, never got to, tried to present it. “I’d always wanted to do and be Hardcore Country in WWE. On another front, didn’t really understand what the situation was.”
James made it clear that she wasn’t interested in simply recreating her previous WWE presentation. “I was, at that point, my ego I suppose among other things, but I was like, if I’m going to do this, I’m not going to be happy skippy, bell-bottomy Mickie James coming out to some Toni Basil ripoff song,” she shared. “I’m going to be Hardcore Country because that’s who I am now.”
Elsewhere in the interview, James reflected on a frightening moment from her 2007 Falls Count Anywhere match against Melina for the WWE Women’s Championship on Raw.
James landed awkwardly while attempting a hurricanrana and initially feared that she had broken her neck. “I don’t think people realize this although not only did I probably have a serious concussion but I couldn’t character change my head,” James said. Adding to the story, i pretty much lawn darted myself and I had severe whiplash and I couldn’t turn. “I didn’t break my neck. I had to turn like this for three weeks, and things were gnarly.”
The situation became even more concerning when James attempted to stand. “And the situation was scary because it was the inaugural time where I went to go stand up and I collapsed,” she continued. “I thought that I broke my neck. I really did. And it was just a freak thing.”
Illustrating how unexpectedly injuries can occur in professional wrestling, james elaborated that she and Melina had performed the sequence numerous times before without a problem. “Melina and I had done that a thousand times and she kind of slipped and the situation was just weird,” James noted. “We had done that same thing at live events and just freak accidents happen.”
She noted that some of the injuries throughout her career have occurred during seemingly routine moments. I’ve sprained my ankle getting thrown out of the ring, “I’ve literally separated my shoulder on a pie fan favorite. “And it’s always on the stupidest,” she continued. It’s always on the things that you’ve done and you’re so comfortable and you’re like, ‘Oh, this will be fine,’ and it was not fine.”
Despite the frightening landing, James still looks back fondly on the clash and the creativity involved in taking her battle with Melina throughout the building. “Things were not fine because that whole match was so amazing and so cool and so unique,” James said. “Even the way when we fought in the gorilla position area to incorporate different women and talents and scenes and the fight over the couch and the whole couch flips over and then there’s hairspray in the eyes. It was madness.”