'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Mickie James is one of the greatest women's wrestlers to have ever performed in the squared circle. Debuting in 2005, Mickie made a name for herself and is fondly remembered by the WWE Universe.
Although Mickie James doesn't perform in WWE anymore, she is still making waves in professional wrestling. She is an ambassador for highlighting the importance of women's wrestling and empowering women all over the world.
That being said, let's take a look at five of Mickie James' greatest matches in WWE, in no particular order.
#5 Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus at WrestleMania 22
Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus at WrestleMania 22 is considered one of the greatest women's matches of all-time. It was undoubtedly the first women's WrestleMania match that really stood out as being a classic.
The feud started when it appeared that Mickie was a crazed fan who was obsessed with Trish. Mickie's obsessions went too far and made Stratus feel increasingly uncomfortable as the weeks went by.
When Trish refused her advances, Mickie turned on her and vowed to destroy her. The storyline culminated at WrestleMania in front of a rabid crowd in Chicago, Illinois.
The match wasn't without controversy as Mickie James used a number of non-PG gestures during the match. The gestures insinuated a romance between the pair. James spoke with Wrestlecast Radio about Vince McMahon's response to the gestures during the match:
"The only people that remember that are the people watching or who were there live and in person. It didn’t make the DVD. I came back through the curtain and Vince was really mad. In the moment it had seemed amazing to me. I thought ‘Vince will love this’. Crass was the word I got. He didn’t like it at all. He told me ‘We’re going to have to go back and edit that out. Do you know how much time (this will take)?' This was my first Wrestlemania, my mom was in the audience, I’m freaking out already. I’m back through the curtain and I’m already in tears and an emotional mess. And I got yelled at," Mickie James said. (h/t Wrestling Inc.)
Despite the controversy, it will forever be remembered as a match that changed the game for women's wrestling. James was a serious contender and she defeated Trish to become the Women's Champion for the first time.
WWE put a lot of effort into the storyline to make it stand out amongst a crowded roster. Kudos to both ladies for making it work and for delivering one of the best women's storylines the company has ever produced.
#4 Mickie James vs. Lita at Survivor Series 2006
Following Mickie James' WrestleMania victory to capture the Women's Championship, she ultimately lost the title to Trish a few months later on RAW. Changes were coming for the women's division as Stratus announced her retirement that summer, which also vacated the Women's Championship at the same time.
Mickie entered a tournament to be crowned the new Women's Champion. After successful wins in earlier rounds, she encountered Lita, who took home the gold. James continued to challenge Lita, with the latter putting Mickie through a series of matches to hinder her wrestling ability.
Eventually, James got her comeuppance and defeated Lita in another classic, which also saw Lita retire that same night and James win her second Women's title.
It went down as another of Mickie James' greatest matches. At the time, she was taking over the women's division following the retirements of Trish and Lita. She set herself up perfectly, delivering some excellent work in the ring, and in turn she won over the WWE Universe.
#3 Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix on RAW in 2008
On a special edition of Monday Night RAW broadcast from London, England, the Women's Championship was put on the line. Beth Phoenix defended the gold against Mickie James just a couple of weeks removed from WrestleMania that year.
The WWE Universe in the United Kingdom ate up every minute of the match and was firmly behind Mickie James. Their faith in her was repaid when she defeated The Glamazon to capture her fourth Women's Championship and send the London crowd wild.
It was a stellar match between two of WWE's best during this era. The match was heightened by the response of the crowd who turned the match and title-winning moment into something special.
#2 Mickie James vs. Michelle McCool at Royal Rumble 2010
The storyline leading into this Mickie James story was somewhat controversial. James was feuding with Women's Champion Michelle McCool who persisted in targeting James, focusing on her weight. McCool defeated Mickie at the Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view but the torment persisted. A match was set for the Royal Rumble.
Before the match began, McCool continued to taunt Mickie by calling her 'Piggy James'. McCool's best friend at the time, Layla, came out wearing a fat suit. This didn't faze Mickie as she dug deep and defeated McCool to capture the Women's Championship.
It was one of Mickie's best matches as it highlighted issues within society, such as bullying. Mickie showed that you can overcome the bullies and at the same time, fulfill your dreams. The WWE Universe were unsure about the storyline initially, but in the end, it resulted in the perfect payoff and a high-quality match.
#1 Mickie James vs. Asuka at NXT TakeOver: Toronto
After a six-year absence from WWE, Mickie James returned to WWE in 2016. She was announced as Asuka's opponent for the upcoming NXT TakeOver event with the NXT Women's title on the line. James left WWE after WrestleMania 26, and continued to wrestle on the independent scene, most notably with IMPACT Wrestling.
The match with Asuka was highly anticipated, as the Japanese superstar had been on an undefeatable run in NXT. Fans welcomed back Mickie James with open arms and the atmosphere for the match was one to be remembered. James rolled back the years and showed that she could still cut it with the best of them.
Mickie James sadly lost the match, as Asuka made her submit to the Asuka Lock. It was one of James' best matches as she brought absolutely everything to the match.
She showed that she was still one of the best women's wrestlers in the world. It is a match that will fondly be looked back on when people discuss the best women's matches to happen at NXT TakeOver events.
