Mickie James

James began her wrestling career in 1999 as a valet on the independent circuit, where she was known under the name Alexis Laree. She trained in several camps to improve her wrestling abilities before working for NWA: Total Nonstop Action in June 2002, where she gained national attention. After only a few appearances, she joined a stable called The Gathering, and was written into storylines with the group. She is the only woman to be involved in the promotion’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun matches.

James made her WWE main roster debut in October 2005 and was placed in a storyline with Trish Stratus, in which James’ gimmick was that of Stratus’ biggest fan turned obsessed stalker, an angle which ran over eight months. She received a push, and won her first WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 22, a title she has held a total of five times. James also won her first Divas Championship at Night of Champions in 2009 to become the second of five Divas to hold both the Women’s and Divas titles.

She was released from the company on April 22, 2010, after which she returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). She won the TNA Knockouts Championship three times and the 2013 TNA World Cup with Team USA. She left TNA in September 2013, only to return two years later. She spent another year with Impact, before making her return to WWE after being away for six years.

Between WWE and TNA, James is an eleven-time champion, which is a national record, and is also the only female to hold the WWE Women’s, WWE Divas, and TNA Knockouts Championships in wrestling history. Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked James as the number one female wrestler in 2009, and she was also voted Woman of the Year twice, first in 2009 and again in 2011 by readers of PWI.

In 2021, Mickie James produced the NWA’s first-ever all women’s PPV as its executive producer. NWA EmPowerrr went ahead as planned on August 28, 2021 at Chase’s Khorassan Ballroom. She would later become Impact Knockouts Champion for a fourth time at Bound For Glory by defeating Deonna Purrazzo. Her fifth reign happened when she defeated Jordynne Grace at Hard To Kill 2023, where she would have been forced to retire had she lost.

Other Notable Achievements

Covey Pro Women’s Championship

Covey Pro Hall of Fame (2014)

CSWF Women’s Championship

DCW Women’s Championship

GXW Women’s Championship

ICW Super Juniors Championship

IPW: UK Women’s Champion

MCW Women’s Championship

PWF Universal Women’s Championship

PWI Woman of the Year (2009, 2011)

SCW Diva Championship

TNA World Cup of Wrestling (2013) – with Christopher Daniels, James Storm, Kazarian, and Kenny King

UCW Women’s Championship

UWF Women’s Championship