I know Mickie James and Kat Waters didn’t actually have to pack their suitcases or rent U-Hauls. They didn’t have to get new driver’s licenses or schedule service appointments with DirecTV. But none the less each girl just went through a very big move. Since leaving the WWE in the spring of 2010 both girls have signed deals with Total Nonstop Action wrestling, effectively packing up one stage of their respective careers and moving to totally new surroundings.
Fortunately Mickie and Kat are going to be just fine. Both are working for a high-profile company that will showcase them on television and keep them in the spotlight. The paychecks might not be as big, but money isn’t everything. Each should feel somewhat fortunate because professional wrestling is brutally competitive, with many athletes vying for precious few spots on a roster. At the end of the day wrestlers better love what they do because the odds of hitting the big time are daunting. And if they do get a break, they have to work extremely hard to keep their spot. Mickie and “Winter”, as Kat is now called, are two of the survivors.
I give each girl a tremendous amount of credit. Admittedly I’m not a wrestling insider, but I am familiar with some of the stress and anxiety associated with this type of transition. I’ve seen it first-hand.
