During a series of WWE NXT tapings Thursday night, it was announced that Mickie James would be taking on Asuka for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT Takeover Toronto. This was huge news given it was an opponent no one saw coming for Asuka.
James has had years of pro-wrestling behind her and is one of the best female wrestlers around. Her body of work in both WWE and TNA speak for themselves. The accolades she has racked up prove her legend in wrestling.
For someone of James’ calibre to face the unstoppable Asuka, speaks volumes of the build-up for James’ WWE comeback plus testing the current NXT Women’s Champion.
James is not afraid to push the envelope and isn’t shy to take her opponents to the limit.
Ask former rivals such as Trish Stratus – who had some battles with James back in the 2000s. In addition to her athletic ability, James embodies her characters like a chameleon changes colours. James’ characters range from cute and spunky to wild and crazy. That rounds out the former Women’s Champion, who has earned her stripes.
Whether or not James can stop Asuka’s dominance at Takeover remains to be seen. But an opponent such as James is not to be taken lightly. For those who are unfamiliar with her or may just need a little refreshing of the memory, here are five things you need to know about the former WWE Diva.
#1 TNA Career
James would have three runs in TNA – the first one was in 2002 after its inception and her last one was in 2015. During her first stint with the company, she performed as Alexis Laree.
In 2003 she joined the stable called The Gathering, which was headed by Raven. During this time, James is remembered for her participation in Raven’s quest to defeat champion Jeff Jarrett.
Whether it was taking part in the Clockwork Orange House of Fun matches or going through tables, James was a team player in The Gathering. Alexis Laree was James’ darkest character.
Her second run came in 2010 after her release from WWE. In 2011 she won the TNA Knockout’s Championship, which makes her the only woman to have held the WWE Women’s Championship, the WWE Divas Championship and the TNA Knockouts Championship. James won the Knockout’s Championship three times during her times with TNA.
James’ third stint in TNA was largely known for the controversial story line with James Storm. Storm shoved James onto a train track after her refusal to join The Revolution. I did say that James isn’t a stranger to controversy.
#2 Championship material
Between both WWE and TNA, James has had nine Championships to her name. In addition to three Knockouts Championships, James has held the Women’s Championship five times and the Divas Championship once. She was the second woman in WWE to have held both the Women’s and Divas Championship, with the first being Michelle McCool.
In 2009, James was listed as #1 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Women’s 50. She was also voted in as Woman of the Year twice by PWI readers. All the Championships and accolades precede James as she heads on to Toronto next month to take on Asuka.
#3 Epic Rivalry
- Perhaps one of James’ most memorable rivalries was with Trish Stratus in her first WWE feud. She took on the character of a fan who was a stalker of Stratus.
- The feud would last eight months, which led James to her first Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 22. While James has done wild stunts as Alexis Laree in TNA, she would bring the wild and crazy to her character in WWE.
- During the feud, James would turn heel after kissing Stratus, who had enough of James. In the weeks leading up to it, Stratus grew uncomfortable with James’ enamoured Behav behaviour would push the envelope. James’ actions would lead to the explosive battles the two would have.
#4 Controversy
James is no stranger to controversy, but luckily it hasn’t hurt her career at all. James’ feud with Stratus would cause controversy in and out of the ring. After the kiss backstage, James would take it further inside the ring. At WrestleMania 22, James would touch Stratus inappropriately followed with vulgar gestures. It has since been edited off the PPV.
As stated previously, in 2015 James found herself in the infamous segment with James Storm in her third return to TNA. Even though the controversy was done to write James off of television due to becoming a full-time mother, fans were outraged at how James was treated to such a storyline.
#5 Triple threat
Not only is James an accomplished female wrestler, she is also a mother and a country singer. James has a son with former TNA star Magnus, whom she married in 2015. She gave birth in 2014 and took time off from wrestling to be with her son.
James started a career in country music in 2010. Her first album contains the song “Hardcore Country”, which is her theme song in TNA and Independent shows. James recorded two albums and performed concerts while in TNA.
She has also been the opening act for country stars such as Montgomery Gentry and Rascal Flatts. James has a guest appearance on the song “Is Everybody Doing OK” with Cowboy Troy.
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