Last year, we announced the launch of the Diva Dirt Legacy Award, an annual prize that will honor the career achievements and legacies left behind by some of the industry’s finest female talents. Launched in conjunction with the Female Fight League, our first recipient was none other than the multi-talented 7-time Women’s Champion, Trish Stratus.
From her hard work in the ring, to her charm and charisma, her connection with the fans, as well as her shrewd business nature, Trish was — as good ol’ JR used to put it — the quintessential Diva during her seven years with WWE. No female in this industry has able to market themselves quite like Trish, who remains a hot commodity despite retiring nearly five years ago.
While we tip our hats to Trish by honoring her with this award, a few of Trish’s friends and colleagues wanted to join the celebration too!
TNA Knockout and former WWE Women’s Champion, Mickie James is featured in the latest issue of Richmond Magazine, based in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
The piece is an extremely well-written, in-depth article on James’ road to becoming a wrestler and does a great job in covering pretty much her entire career. Giving fans a look at the woman behind the wrestler, the piece also features comments from Mickie’s best friend and even TNA president Dixie Carter.
Perhaps most interestingly, is James telling a story of how she pitched a storyline to Vince McMahon directly before she was called up in 2005:
Finally, she’d had enough. Realizing she was lacking something the WWE wanted, James enrolled in acting and modeling classes. She also wrote a script — an ambitious storyline about an emotional female fan/stalker. WWE liked the idea and wanted their writers to develop it for another wrestler already in the TV stable, but in a gutsy move, James made an impassioned plea directly to WWE CEO Vince McMahon.
“I walked right into Vince’s office and I said, ‘Mr. McMahon, I heard you read my storyline, and I wanted you to know there’s nobody who can do that character better than me.’ ”
McMahon told her he respected her for having the courage to make the pitch to him.
Then another six months passed.
“I was like, ‘Oh, no, what did I do?’ ” James recalls.
Oh hello there! Simply can’t resist my charm, can you? Haha. Welcome back to the weekly Diva Dirt Impact Write-Up. Last week, we determined new TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions in Angelina Love and Winter. We also saw a brutal attack on Velvet Sky by Sarita which left us all pretty certain that both of them had used a strap before. It was a touching brawl. Honestly, I was choked up. This week, the beatdowns between Sarita and Velvet Sky continue and Madison Rayne gives us a glimpse into her glamorous side. Hold onto your rhinestones, people! This is going to blow your bedazzled socks off!
Back from a long commercial break, we see Sarita in the hallway talking trash against Velvet Sky. She says how dare Velvet challenge her to a match. She also says she’s got something for her. Sarita shows the gold strap again and snaps it tight. “I am gonna whoop that ass.” Go on wit ya bad self! *snaps*
And it is on to true Knockouts action! Out first, set to compete in a Knockouts Strap Match, is Velvet Sky and damn, she is well equipped. She comes out, mile long strap in hand and she is just punishing the ramp as she makes her way to the ring. Can you blame her? If some crazy bitch beat the hell out of me with a strap, I’d be furious too. Although, I do have to say, it looks like Vel Vel has used that strap before. *whistles* Her opponent, Sarita, comes out next, dressed in her true Mexican colors but it comes off looking more like a late Christmas outfit. Definitely not a fan of this one. Apparently, in this match, the women will be strapped together at the wrists with that long strap keeping them together. In order to win the match, either Sarita or Velvet must restrain their opponent long enough to touch all four top turnbuckles without interruption.
Despite practically begging to get out of the match, Sarita finally gives in and the bell rings. It is on like Donkey Kong! Both women circle one another around the ring, trying to gain leverage but in a blink, Sarita tries to take her end and go home. But Velvet isn’t going to take it. She follows and bunches up her end of the leather, ready to strike. Not one to truly back down, Sarita charges and slams Velvet back into the ring apron, quick to make valid use of that leather strap. Thank you, Ma’am! May I have another? Can I just insert my “Ouch!” here and be done with it? Because that honestly looked like it hurt.
It’s that time of year once again: the Perfect 10 is back to count down the top 10 Divas and Knockouts of 2010. Based on their year’s successes, we’ve compiled (as best we can) the ten Divas and Knockouts we feel gave us a 2010 to remember in WWE and TNA. Check back over the next five days to see the countdown unfold, with the #1 being revealed on New Year’s Eve (Friday).
#7: MICKIE JAMES LAST YEAR: #5 – 2008: #4
It’s been a strange year for Mickie James. Beginning the year by winning her fifth Women’s Championship, little did we know that we’d see her as a TNA Knockout by year’s end.
Continuing her feud with Michelle McCool and Layla from the end of 2009, there was heartbreak for Mickie as she had a cake smashed in her face in that infamous ‘Piggie James Going Away Party’ back in January. The powerful segment which aired on SmackDown was without a doubt one of the most compelling Divas segments in quite some time and ran nearly 10 minutes long. James exacted her revenge on McCool at the Royal Rumble, defeating her to win the Women’s Championship and dumped a cake of her own on both members of Lay-Cool.
The Women’s Title reign was cut short, however, after Mickie lost the belt in a rematch thanks to biased special guest referee, Vickie Guerrero.
It is that time once again, folks. Time to dive back into a total recall of full throttle action by TNA’s Knockouts. Last week, we saw an epic cage match between Mickie James and Tara, The Beautiful People advanced in the newly announced Knockouts Tag Team Title tournament and our resident Scream Queen, Daffney returned to the Impact Zone. This week, the tournament continues. Who will go on to face Angelina Love and Velvet Sky for the gold? I know you are all chomping at the bit to find out what happened this week so onward we go!
Our first, earth shattering glimpse of TNA beauty comes in the form of Cookie this week. She escorts her slick haired guido, Robbie E. to the ring in an X-Division Title rematch against Jay Lethal. I am still not sure about these two. I have never been a fan of the Jersey Shore and everytime I see them, I feel like I am being forced to watch bad MTV reruns. Nonetheless, Cookie is sporting all black with the purple streaks. Love a curvy woman being on the roster but that outfit was not flattering, Cooks.
The match starts off quick, as does Cookie’s interference in the match-up. She easily flattens Lethal with an ankle grab, sending him to the mat. This prompts the flaming firecrotch, Christy Hemme to charge the ring, wasting little time taking the Guidette to the ground. Christy, barefoot and dressed like she stepped out of a Knockouts Christmas card, whips out a silver set of handcuffs. Yes, this is definitely a Jersey Shore rerun. With a little effort, Christy manages to cuff herself to Cookie, who is not happy at all. Ladies and Gents, I do believe we have a ‘Situation’ on our hands.
Mickie James will cash in her title match on January 9th at the Genesis pay per view, TNA has officially announced. After defeating Angelina Love in a #1 Contender’s Match a few weeks back on Impact, James earned a bout with champion Madison Rayne. With her feud with Tara now over, Mickie will set her … Read more
TNA color commentator, Taz had high praise indeed for Knockouts Mickie James and Tara for their cage match last Thursday. Speaking on the Busted Open radio show, he said: Both of those girls worked their tails off… Tara was injured earlier in that match. They really, really took it to a new level. They wanted … Read more
It’s time to hand out some proverbial gold stars! Based on the week’s TV and news, each of the Diva Dirt team members have picked one female who they deem to be their ‘Star of the Week’. Read below…
April: I am going to be unbiased in my opinion here and give Mickie James huge props for her determination. I may not be her biggest fan but she put on a hell of a show this past week on Impact. She and Tara both gave the cage match their all but I think Mickie really stood out. It isn’t everyday that we see female wrestlers in a cage match. The match kept my attention, in spite of the slow moments and the high risk Lou Thesz from the top of the cage was the perfect exclamation point. Major thumbs up to Mickie James for her presentation this week. I applaud her aggression and again, her determination as a wrestler.
Cryssi: Is it possible to have two stars of the week? I make my own rules, haha, so yes. I’m picking two. Lets call it a tie. Anyway, we often gripe about TNA and accuse them of turning into the WWE in regards to their Knockouts division. We have seen crappy short matches in the past and rather pointless happenings that basically mean nothing to the division. But as of late, they’ve sorta picked things up and this week on Impact, two highly respected Knockouts headlined the show and competed in the main event. Mickie James and Tara faced off against each other in a steel cage match which saw some vicious spots and one hell of an ending that had Mickie leaping off the top of the cage. For the fact Mickie would go for a bump like that and Tara would take it makes them both stars in my beautiful hazel eyes. So yes, here’s to you Mickie and Tara. May the Knockouts division continue to deliver action like this.
David: My Star of the Week is Mickie James. After a deflating loss to Tara at “Final Resolution”, Mickie exacted sweet revenge on this week’s TNA Impact. First she broke up Tara’s brutal performance of “Broken” (which could have won her my award all by itself) and then she defeated Tara in an exciting steel cage match. I thought it was cool this was the main event of the show and it featured some solid wrestling action. I feel badly that Tara got injured in this match; hopefully she’ll be OK soon. In the end, Mickie’s Lou Thesz Press off the top of the cage was incredible, proving for one week at least that she is indeed…Hardcore Country.
We are pleased to welcome new Diva Dirt writer, April, who is taking over the Impact Write-Up.
This week on Impact was just saddlebags full of Knockout action. First, we saw the vacating of the Knockouts Tag Team Championship, the return of the Scream Queen, Daffney and a first for TNA: a Knockouts steel cage as the main event, between Mickie James and Tara. Take a deep breath, you’re gonna need the oxygen…
Our first glimpse of the TNA Knockouts on this episode of Impact comes via video package from August 05, 2010 where Taylor Wilde and Hamada win the TNA Knockouts Tag Titles. Mike Tenay announces that Hamada has left the company due to passport issues. With Hamada gone, the titles are obviously up for grabs and their new owners will be determined tournament-style. It is announced that Sarita will be teaming with the returning Daffney (odd team, much?) against The Beautiful People, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky.
Later, Tara is seen backstage, tuning up for what is meant to be Tara: Live in Concert. Pray to whatever God you pray to because this is going to take some major miracle workmanship. Generation Me is with her. All means of importance go out the window here. True, they may appear to look like Knockouts but they, indeed, are not. Tara’s attempt to one up Mickie James is up next.
If you consider the fact that the rivalry between Mickie James and Tara has roots in their time in the WWE, this feud has been going on for a long time. In between these phantom WWE issues and now, there have been countless brawls and a match that ended in a double DQ. It’s inevitable that Mickie will eventually move on to challenge Madison Rayne for the Knockouts Championship, but is tonight really the last stop on the runaway freight train that has been Mickie vs. Tara? Yes, I know runaway trains don’t stop–don’t let that ruin my metaphor. Let’s just watch the events unfold and see if these Knockouts are really ready to move on:
We start with Knockouts champ Madison Rayne being interviewed by Christy Hemme. Madison says there’s no way Mickie’s getting to her or her championship, because she has to get through Tara first, an that’s not going to happen. I can appreciate that they’re not trying to hide the direction in which this feud is headed. Also, is it just me (I mentioned this on Twitter), or does Madison’s dark hair make her resemble Mickie a bit? Do I smell a “long lost sister” Maury-esque twist coming up in this storyline? No? Just me? Anywho, she continues to play up Tara, saying that she’s here to “protect the princess”. Is Madison right–will Tara really protect her, or will she simply be paved into Mickie’s road to Madison?
We’re shown a video package chronicling this feud. Lots of upturned tables and uncomfortable fighting attire. With all the brawling and disqualifications that have come from this feud, this Falls Count Anywhere stipulation really is the best fit. Tara’s out first on her hog, and Mickie follows. Tara exits the ring, gets Mickie to follow, and the match starts on the outside. They trade blows, and Tara tries to climb over the barricade, but gets crotched on it. Whether you’re a lady or a gent, that does not feel good. Mickie goes for the first pin attempt of the match, but Tara kicks out. Mickie continues to beat on Tara, alternating between face smashes on the barricade and face smashes on the ring apron. She tosses Tara back into the ring, climbs the turnbuckle, and takes down Tara with a flying dropkick. She goes for another pin, but Tara wraps her legs around the ropes and forces a rope break.
Final Resolution didn’t see any resolution to the Mickie James vs Tara feud. After brawling through the entire Impact Zone in a Falls Count Anywhere match, this bout ended in the unlikeliest of places: the men’s bathroom. Knockouts Champion, Madison Rayne was found hiding in one of the stalls armed with a fire extinguisher which … Read more
The war wages on tonight as Mickie James and Tara battle once again tonight in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Who will have ‘Final Resolution’? The Diva Dirt team weigh in…
Cryssi: I’m pretty guilty of not keeping up with TNA. In fact, the first thing I’ve seen Knockout related in a few months was the awful Hardcore Country performance on Impact this past week. For that alone, Mickie James should never win another match in her career but sadly, things don’t work that way. I full expect Mickie to walk out of Final Resolution the victor tonight, going on to feud with the Knockouts Champion over the next month. By the time February rolls around, Mickie will be the champ and people will have forgotten that Sarita even exists.
Eric: Hardcore Country! Will Tara be able to overcome Mickie and her thrillbilly sound? After a feud that consisted mostly of backstage brawls involving the entire Knockouts roster, Mickie and Tara will hopefully settle their WWE grudge tonight so we can move on with our lives. I see Mickie picking up the win with the Mickie DDT. The aftermath is more interesting to me. Will she cash in her title shot? Does that even exist anymore? Hopefully TNA realizes which feud is actually interesting and finally pushes Madison vs. Sarita front and center.
Erin: I said this last time these two had a PPV match, and I’ll say it again: Mickie should soon be challenging for the Knockouts Title, and I believe that if Mickie wants to pose a real threat to Madison, she must be able to take out her partner. Tara is that partner, of course, and though this feud has gone on longer than I thought it would, I still think Mickie will come out on top. Last time, their match ended in a draw, so in a sense neither side has the clear upper hand going into the match, even though Tara had the last laugh on Impact. Since this match is a Falls Count Anywhere ordeal, I’m sure these two will be able to get all the brawling out of their systems and put a nice cap on this feud. Mickie wins and moves on to challenge the champion.
Mr Glamazon wasn’t the only one serenading women’s wrestling fans this week. Oh no! Not to be outdone by our favourite Glamafan, Mickie James performed her entrance song, ‘Hardcore Country’ live (*cough*) for the crowd at the Impact Zone! But with a big Falls Count Anywhere match against rival Tara this Sunday, it should be of no surprise that the Vicious Vixen was close by…
Mickie’s performance was interrupted first by Eric Young in chaps, following an earlier segment in which he wanted to be part of Mickie’s band. However, while this interruption was more comedic, it was the second interruption that really put a dampener on things. Mid-song, Tara crashes the party (or saves us?) by clocking Mickie from behind and a brawl ensues! Tara smashes Mickie face-first into a speaker before Eric Young intervenes. Tara strikes him across the back with his own cow-bell. Womp womp, Eric. The two Knockouts exchange blows as Mickie tries her hardest to keep her dress from falling apart. (If you know you’re taping a brawl — why would you go strapless?) The ladies crash into the drums and begin catfighting as security pulls them apart. That concludes this opening segment, but the night is just getting started…
Following last night’s Impact, there was even more of Mickie James and Tara on Reaction. Check it out below:
Skip to 02:40
Thoughts: Things I’ve learned: Eric Young and Mickie are dating and going on tour together, Mickie hit Tara ‘in the privates’ — or as Eric Young calls it, the ‘vag bone’. Wow.
Last night’s Impact had a smorgasboard of Knockouts all over the place! Apparently the holiday spirit hadn’t infected these ladies just yet as they were all set on beating the hell outta each other. Which made for some great television! Find out what happened below…
Backstage, we see Angelina Love and Velvet Sky chattering by a food table, discussing their individual action figures, which are in their hands. Ric Flair walks up, inviting them both to Fortune/Immortal’s Thanksgiving party. He promised the guys he’d bring back candy (I’d be pulling out the mace at that point…) and Angelina grins, saying, “Eye candy?” They seem to be interested, when Mickie James walks up, wanting to speak to Angelina. She extends a hand, thanking the blonde for a great match last week. Velvet interrupts, putting her hands over Angelina’s ears, singing. Mickie gives her a look, “What are you, 12?” In response, Angelina holds up her action figure, extends the tiny hand, and says, “Talk to the hand.”
Following their big brawl at the Turning Point pay per view earlier this month, Mickie James and Tara will once again meet at Final Resolution on December 5th — this time in a ‘Falls Count Anywhere’ match. Coming off the big match at Turning Point, the feud has been put on hold over the past … Read more
We had more Knockouts action tonight than you could shake a stick at! (Although why you’d want to shake a stick at them is beyond me…) Let’s dive right in, shall we?
Prior to their match, we see Generation Me walking towards the entrance backstage when Tara comes up and wishes them luck. She makes sure they know she’ll be watching VERY closely, emphasizing this with a smack to not just one but both men’s backsides. Woo, you go Tara!
Switching gears to the ring, it’s going to be a mixed tag team match pitting Jay Lethal, the Motor City Machine Guns and Velvet Sky vs Generation Me, Robbie E and Cookie. For a minute, I think something’s wrong with Cookie’s eyes until I realize she has extended blue eyelashes on. Oookay. Last out is Velvet, in her pink attire. As she enters the ring, Sabin takes a seat and puts all his focus on her as Tazz and Tenay make mention of those two dating. Even Jay has a grin on his face. Perhaps he’s thinking he finally has found an equalizer in his fight against Robbie and Cookie.
Four Knockouts have been announced thus far for TNA’s UK tour next January. Topping the bill for the ‘Maximum Impact’ tour will be multi-time WWE Women’s Champion, Mickie James, who along with Tara, make their return to the UK for the first time as TNA superstars. They previously toured Europe with WWE. Knockouts Champion, Madison … Read more
It was perhaps the biggest acquisition ever made for the Knockouts division when Mickie James signed with the company a couple of months ago. Speaking for the first time on her official website, Mickie discusses why she joined TNA.
Read below:
I think a lot of people know (TNA President) Dixie Carter attended my CD release party in Nashville in May, so we were talking. I was entertaining the move for a while. I think what made it click was working an independent gig where friends of mine were there. It made me remember why I got in wrestling in the first place. It was my genuine love for wrestling. I think sometimes it becomes a business and you forget the important details. Now I feel like I have a renewed spirit. I remember why I got into the business and it’s that love. I know that Dixie is behind me 100% with the music too. We’re going to try to work both of the schedules together. One hand feeds the other. She gets that. She wants me to be successful and to pursue music or acting if I so choose. She knows I’m representing TNA with everything that I do. That’s not a liberty that you often have in any business. I think that’s a really cool thing. It gives everybody power over their own destiny. It allows you to go after your dreams and do what you want to do. You’re still an individual.
James also discussed her big match/brawl with Tara this past Sunday:
Billed as a match that had it’s roots in the company they both formerly worked for, last night saw a grudge match between Tara and Mickie James.. At first, it felt like Mickie would simply have to go through Tara to get a shot at the Knockouts Championship, but this feud has taken on a life of it’s own. Each woman is eager to get their hands on the other. So who would come out victorious?
Prior to the match, backstage we see Christy Hemme with Mickie James. It’s a short promo but MJ gets straight to the point. She admits there might’ve been mutual dislike between the two in the WWE, but no matter what, she says that Tara “will respect me.” There’s a gleam in her eyes as she glares at the camera before stalking off.
JB announces Tara being accompanied to the ring by Madison Rayne, but as Tara rides out on her bike, she’s going solo. (JB must’ve had a tad bit of the hair o’ the dog…) She’s sporting boots, fishnets, and a ripped t-shirt and frankly I’m hard pressed to make sense out of this outfit. It looks trashy to be honest. However, I adore the red streaks in her hair so I’ll overlook the outfit. Next out is Mickie James and I vastly prefer her new gear over the cut off shorts and tied shirt. Her outfit tonight is a blue top like she used to wear in the WWE, plus pants that have cowboy chaps on them. She should’ve taken the chaps off, but on the whole it’s a big improvement.
Moments ago at TNA Turning Point, former WWE Divas and current TNA Knockouts Mickie James and Tara faced off in a match that made it’s way all around the Impact Zone and was eventually ruled a no contest by the referee. Shortly after it began, the match spilled out of the ring and into the … Read more
Former WWE Women’s Champions, Mickie James and Tara collide tonight in a big grudge match live on pay per view. Who will get the last laugh? The Diva Dirt team weigh in…
Cryssi: Let me start off by asking the Diva Dirt World a question. Does it make me a bad person seeing as how I had no clue these two were even feuding? Last I checked, I thought Sarita was getting a push, but no matter. Tara and Mickie are ex-WWE stars which means they will be built up bigger than any indy/SHIMMER/ROH girl ever. Seeing as how Mickie is the newest, and perhaps the biggest signing TNA has made since Kurt Angle (because lets face it, Hulk Hogan/Flair/Bischoff are not prizes) I expect to see her pushed to the moon. She’s probably going for Madison after tonight so yeah, Mickie totally wins this match via handcuffing Tara to the ring rope and forcing her to listen to ‘Hardcore Country.’ Tara’s ears will start to bleed and for her safety, the match will be called and Mickie will be declared the winner. Meanwhile Tara will have to be committed because that song will make her want to jump off Epcot Center and that’s not really healthy.
Erin: TNA is never one to slack when it comes to pushing those new acquisitions that have a whiff of the WWE still on them, and Mickie’s still carrying the scent, while Tara’s has all but worn off. Thus, they’re probably dead set on giving Mickie a nice big push for as long as they can. The fact that this is a storyline based on their former Diva status only reinforces the belief that any association to the WWE makes TNA see dollar signs, and having one of the most popular Divas in recent history at their disposal tells me that they’re not going to do much to hold her back this early on. Add to that the fact that this match, in all likelihood, will be a stepping stone to Mickie challenging Madison for the Knockouts Title, and it becomes clear that Tara probably doesn’t stand much of a chance. While this match has the chance of being pretty damn good, I don’t think it’s going to serve as much more than preparation for the eventual title feud. Mickie wins.
Tonight at TNA’s Turning Point pay per view, Mickie James meets Tara in a battle of two former WWE Divas. It’s been nearly four years since their last pay per view encounter which took place at New Year’s Revolution in 2007 when Mickie defended her Women’s Championship against the then-Victoria. Relive that match as a … Read more
TNA premiered the full length music video for Mickie James‘ ‘Hardcore Country’ internationally on its Xplosion show this week. The song features additional vocals from Serge Salinas, Dixie Carter’s husband. Check out the video below:
