The wrestling world is still buzzing about the announcement that reigning IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Mickie James will compete in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble for WWE. Following her release last year, many fans assumed that James wouldn’t return to the promotion in any capacity in the short-term future. But come January 29, she’ll step foot in a WWE ring again.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, James explained that she was first approached about the opportunity a few weeks ago, and she was excited about the chance to make history by helping IMPACT collaborate with WWE. She also noted that she’s glad she can write another chapter of her WWE career, whereas it previously ended on a sour note with her controversial release.
“It was a few weeks ago and Scott [D’Amore] had called me first…just to kind see where I was at and if I was interested,” said James. “And you know I think immediately, I was excited because I think about this has never, historically, this has never happened before, like for WWE to do this or to have [someone] participate in the Rumble. Especially to acknowledge the championship, it’s cool. And it just shows a different, I don’t know, amount of respect. I feel really great about it. Plus, I think in my mind, the last thing most people bring up or talk about was on the other end of the spectrum with them, so it’s just cool not to have that be the thing or the last thing, or whatever that is. So it’s just, I’m so excited, honestly.”
When asked whether IMPACT Executive Vice President D’Amore or WWE made the first contact, James expressed her belief that WWE executive John Laurinaitis reached out first to determine whether the crossover would be possible. She also pointed out that the companies have worked together before, so this collaboration was
“I feel like Johnny [Laurinaitis] reached out to Scott to first just talk to him as a, you know, professionally because it is companies, this has never really been done before by them,” said James. “So definitely they talked first to see if this was gonna be something that could [work.] Because they worked together. IMPACT worked together with WWE in the past for other things, you know, for when Flair went in the Hall of Fame and Christian Cage and all that stuff. So it wasn’t unforeseen that it could possibly happen, but yeah, so I think that’s why Scott first reached out to me to see what my interest was.
“And then we were all able to make this happen somehow. And I think it was going to be a surprise, we had talked about having it as a surprise, but you know, the announcement, the response back from the announcement kind of has blown my mind. I think it’s pretty incredible, you know. It’s different and it’s kind of historic and then to be the person they’ve done it with, it’s really freaking cool.”
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