Mickie James is a long standing member of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) roster. Her career in pro wrestling has had some memorable moments including four Women’s Championship Title Reigns, a Divas Championship reign (making her the second woman to ever hold both titles), and being the first woman to compete in several new matches for the women’s division.
Real Name : Mickie Laree James
Alias(es) : Mickie James, Alexis Laree, Superball, & Vicki Adams
Date Of Birth : August 31, 1979 Height : 5’4 Weight : Approx. 125lbs
Pro Debut : 1999
Wrestling Organization : World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Trainer(s) : Funking Conservatory, KDYA Pro Training School, Extreme Championship Wrestling, & Ohio Valley Wrestling
Finisher(s) : Mickie-DDT, The Mick Kick, & The Long Kiss Goodnight
KYDA Pro Wrestling Training
She started her professional wrestling career in 1999 appearing as Alexis Laree for KYDA Pro Wrestling. While there, she managed several male wrestlers including Tommy Dreamer as he won the KYDA Heavyweight Championship. She wrestled her first match in March for the promotion in an inter-gender tag match with Jake Damian against Mike Brown and Candie.
Mickie James in Ring Of Honor
In late 2002, Alexis Laree began working for the Ring Of Honor promotion managing AJ Styles and Amazing Red. She started by competing in several inter-gender matches and worked her way to singles competition facing wrestlers such as Allison Danger, Mase, Simply Luscious, Ariel, Persephonie, Sumie Sakai, and Becky Bayless. Her final match for ROH was against Hijinx.
Mickie James in Total Nonstop Action (TNA)
In June of 2002, Alexis Laree appeared in the Total Nonstop Action (TNA) promotion on their second pay-per-view in a Lingerie Battle Royal. She would not be used regularly on TNA until March 26, 2003, tagging with Amazing Red as part of a feud against Kid Kash and Trinity. Within weeks, she joined Raven’s group “The Gathering” and on April 16th, 2003 Alexis Laree became the first female to ever compete in a Clockwork Orange House Of Fun match. She continued wrestling with The Gathering during their feud with The Disciples Of The New Church, participating in one final Clockwork Orange House Of Fun match before leaving TNA.
Mickie James in Ohio Valley Wrestling
After two years of trying to get into the WWE, she was signed to a developmental contract in August of 2003 and sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling. Still using the name Alexis Laree, she made her first television appearance for OVW on January 29th, 2004 and continued to wrestle tag team matches throughout most of the year. In October of 2004, she won the Halloween Contest put on by the promotion, and on November 12th, she defeated Jillian Hall winning $1,000 in the process. On May 17th, 2005 Alexis competed in tournament to determine the OVW Television Champion. She defeated her first round opponent, Mike Mondo, but was eliminated in the second round by Blaster Lashley. In July, Alexis found herself on the wrong end of a losing streak to Beth Phoenix that lasted over two months. Her streak continued in October as she wrestled Shelley Martinez and Jillian Hall.
Mickie James joins World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Using her real name, Mickie appeared on Raw October 10th, 2005 as a crazed, and somewhat annoying, fan of Trish Stratus. During Taboo Tuesday on Halloween, she dressed as Stratus and participated in a Battle Royal, helping her idol retain the championship by eliminating herself and Victoria. She began using Stratus’ Chic Kick (calling it the Mick Kick) and mimicked her every move. She defeated Victoria on December 12th, 2005 becoming the number one contender for the WWE Women’s Championship to face Trish at the next pay-per-view. Close to Christmas time, she entered the ring with Stratus and, under a sprig of mistletoe, kissed her.
Mickie James kisses Trish Stratus
She lost to Stratus at New Year’s Revolution but her infatuation continued. In February, at the Royal Rumble, she publicly professed her love for Stratus.
On March 6, 2006 Stratus confronted James, telling her that they needed time apart. The two competed together at Saturday Night’s Main Event, on March 18, 2006, to defeat Victoria and Candice Michelle. After the bout, she attempted to kiss Trish yet again, but was pushed away. Mickie, feeling rejected, assaulted Stratus and vowed to destroy her.
Mickie James – First Women’s Championship Reign
Wrestlemania 22, Mickie James vs Trish Stratus for the WWE Women’s Championship. This represented a very significant change to her career because not only did she win the title, but the fans were cheering her heel character while booing the “hero”.
Since this was Mickie James’ first Wrestlemania appearance, she made history as the first woman to win the title during a Wrestlemania debut. She continued feuding with Trish until April 30th, 2006 at Backlash, she kicked Stratus off of a top turnbuckle and dislocated her shoulder. After close to a five month reign, she lost the championship title to Lita on August 14th, 2006.
Stratus regained the title from Lita but retired shortly after, leaving the belt vacated. James entered a tournament and won a series of matches, defeating both Victoria and Melina Perez in the qualifying rounds but lost to Lita at Cyber Sunday in a “Lumber-Jill” match. Since she was still the number one contender, for the next few weeks, Lita began choosing stipulations that favored her opponent to make her prove she was worthy of a title shot at Survivor Series.
Mickie James – 2nd Women’s Championship Reign
November 26th, 2006 at the pay-per-view, Lita lost her retirement match to James who began her second WWE Women’s Championship reign. The next number one contender came from the winner of a diva Battle Royal in the form of Victoria. Victoria carried around a checklist of diva names, defeating each and checking them off her list. She continued to do so until January 2007 at New Year’s Revolution where Mickie defeated Victoria to retain her title.
On February 9th, her next contender was Melina Perez who was unsuccessful in beating her. The following week, she was involved in an inter-gender tag match with Super Crazy against Melina and Johnny Nitro. Melina pinned her during the match and challenged her to a rematch for the belt. Two weeks later, on February 19th, she lost the championship title to Melina and failed to regain it in the WWE’s first ever women’s division “Falls Count Anywhere” match. During this match, she took a serious fall from the turnbuckle, landing on her neck but, thankfully, was not seriously injured.
Mickie James – 3rd Women’s Championship Reign
The continued feud with Melina led to James recapturing the Women’s Championship for a third time. On April 24th, 2007 at a house show in France, she won a Triple Threat match against Melina and Victoria by pinning Victoria for the win. She was promptly screwed by general manager Johnathan Coachman who declared Melina’s rematch would take place immediately. She lost the title but gained the record of having the shortest Women’s Championship reign in WWE history. Her rematch in April at Backlash was unsuccessful, but on November 26, she beat Melina in a number one contenders match. The belt was now held by Beth Phoenix and in December at Armageddon she could not wrest the title away from Phoenix.
Mickie James – 4th Women’s Championship Reign
On an episode of Raw, held in London, England on April 14th, 2008, she began her fourth Women’s Championship reign. This put her in the same league as veterans Trish Stratus, Lita, and The Fabulous Moolah for number of title reigns.
In May, at Judgment Day, she defended her title against Melina and Phoenix in a Triple Threat match, Mickie-DDTing Melina for the pin-fall. Katie Lea Burchill became James’ next contender at Night Of Champions on June 29th. But Burchill was no match, James soundly defeated her at the pay-per-view and Burchill lost her re-match. On August 17th at Summerslam, she and Kofi Kingston put both of their titles on the line against Beth Phoenix and Santino Marella, winning team took both belts. During the match, she was pinned by Phoenix after a “Glam Slam” losing not only her own title, but Kofi’s Intercontinental Title as well. On April 5th, 2009 at Wrestlemania 25 Mickie competed in a 25 diva “Over-The-Top-Rope Battle Royal” hoping to be crowned the first ever “Miss Wrestlemania”, but resulted in both her and Michelle McCool eliminating each other.
Mickie James – Divas Champion
Due to the WWE Draft, the Women’s Championship went to Smackdown while the Divas Championship (and Maryse Ouellette) came to Raw. James quickly began a winning streak over the next two months that seemed to intimidate Maryse. On June 29, 2009, competing in a Fatal-Four Way match against Beth Phoenix, Kelly Kelly, and Rosa Mendes, she pinned Mendes to become the number one contender for the Divas Championship Belt at the upcoming Night Of Champions. On the July 6th edition of Raw, James and Gail Kim completely out-wrested Maryse and Layla in a tag match. The rivalry heated up on Raw a week later as Mickie held an interview that was interrupted by The Miz and Maryse. The interview ended abruptly as Maryse sprayed hair spray in Mickie’s eyes leaving her wreathing on the floor. On at the Night Of Champions, Mickie James soundly defeated Maryse to become the newest WWE Divas Champion.
Mickie participated in several tag matches witinh partner Gail Kim until August 17th, when the two met in the ring for the title belt. Mickie and Gail went back and forth in what should have been a classic match up, however, Kim landed wrong while trying to perform a flying cross body block and knocked herself senseless. During the confusion, Mickie wound up knocking Kim out for the pin-fall. Afterward, Mickie helped Gail to her feet and showed great sportsmanship. Shortly after, James’ next challenger, decided by a tournament, was Alicia Fox. At the WWE pay-per-view “Hell In A Cell”, Mickie retained her Divas Championship title and ended Alicia Fox’s aspirations.
Mickie James has a lovable on-screen personality and most importantly she has matured into an excellent professional wrestler. I’ve never seen her lack energy or enthusiasm in the ring. The lead ins to her finishing moves are always exciting. Her actual finishing moves look devastating upon her opponent and I’ve never seen her face someone that she can not believably beat. Mickie is beautiful, she has personality, and she can wrestle extremely well. What more could a wrestling fan want? 