Mickie James
Mickie James ![]() | |
---|---|
Born | ![]() | August 31, 1979
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Mickie James Alexis Laree Superball Vicki Adams Queen Alexis |
Billed height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
Billed weight | [undue weight? – discuss] |
Trained by | Dory Funk, Jr., KYDA Pro Training School, OVW |
Debut | 1999 |
Mickie James (born on August 31, 1979 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its RAW brand.
Career
Mickie James made her professional debut in the summer of 1999 as a ring valet for KYDA Pro Wrestling in Manassas, Virginia. She started out managing some of the most popular stars in the promotion such as Steve Corino and Tommy Dreamer, but eventually found herself being drawn into feuds with other wrestlers and their valets and managers. Eventually Mickie chose to step into the ring as a wrestler herself. Although most of Mickie's matches have been against women, some of her most memorable matches would be against men. She scored her first big win in a match against Sean Lei.
Laree's career has gone through many promotions. In late 1999 she expanded out to other promotions including all-female promotions Beautiful Babes of Wrestling (BBOW) and Professional Girl Wrestling Association (PGWA). She probably made her largest impact wrestling for Maryland Championship Wrestling, where she engaged in several long-running feuds. In January 2001, Mickie made her debut appearance for two new women's promotions, Dangerous Women of Wrestling (DWOW) and Women's Extreme Wrestling (WEW). Both promotions worked together to promote women's wrestling with a hardcore edge, and WEW had regular monthly pay-per-view matches. James' feuds in WEW include matches against "Prime Time" Amy Lee, Dee-Dee Venturi, a re-ignition of her feud with Candie from MCW, and the start of a new series of feuds with "Simply Luscious" Ronnie Stephens. Her matches against Stephens stretched to many independent promotions in the northeast. She had a kayfabe sister called Valentina Laree as part of an angle during her indie days (when Mickie's ring name was Alexis Laree).
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Mickie, as Alexis Laree, debuted in NWA TNA on their second-ever PPV in late 2002 as part of the all-women's Lingerie Battle Royal[1]. However, she wasn't prominently featured until the March 26, 2003 PPV, when she helped out the Amazing Red in a mixed tag-team match against Kid Kash and Trinity[2]. Two weeks later, the two women had a match against each other. It ended prematurely when James was dragged away by Raven, who had recently debuted. Later that evening, it was revealed that James had joined Raven's new group, The Gathering, which would later be expanded with the addition of Julio Dinero[3].
The Gathering was a smaller part of Vince Russo's "Sports Entertainment Xtreme" (S.E.X.) stable. With Raven assuming some control of the group, they immediately focused on Raven's attempt to take the NWA World Heavyweight Championship away from champion Jeff Jarrett. Over the next few weeks The Gathering broke away as James and Dinero helped Raven win his matches and would even start engaging Jeff Jarrett himself. On April 16, 2003 Jeff Jarrett was challenged to a Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match against James and Dinero, marking the first time a woman had ever participated in this dangerous style of cage match[4]. Jarrett powerbombed James from the top rope and through a table with Dinero laying on top. However, Raven ran in, attacked Jarrett with his "Raven Effect" DDT, and put Dinero on top for the pin. Raven would lose his first-ever NWA World Heavyweight title match against Jarrett two weeks later.
The Gathering arose again shortly thereafter, starting a feud with Father James Mitchell and his Disciples of the New Church faction. On July 30, 2003 The Gathering lost a Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match against The New Church. Mickie again participated in this match, making her the only woman to participate in it twice. At the end of the match, she was hit in the face by a fireball from Mitchell and would not be seen on NWA/TNA broadcasts again.
On August 18, 2003 James was offered a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. Despite some reports, she was not replaced in The Gathering by CM Punk; they were actually both in The Gathering at the same time, she was just shifted out of it.
Ohio Valley Wrestling
October 2003 would mark a new calling for Mickie, however. After appearing on several PPVs for NWA-TNA, she caught the attention of World Wrestling Entertainment. She was signed to a developmental contract and immediately sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in Louisville, Kentucky to begin training.
In early 2004 she started making television appearances for the OVW promotion, still using the ring name "Alexis Laree", she was regularly included in storylines including feuds with Jillian Hall, Melina, Trudi Denucci, Nikita Fink, Passion, Shaniqua, Melissa Coates, Ms. Blu, Beth Phoenix, & Shelly.
In summer 2005 she and CM Punk were reunited for the first time since The Gathering. They were briefly reunited as a new team in WWE, with James serving as Punk's valet for a taping of WWE Heat in Cleveland, Ohio on July 25, 2005[5]. The match was not aired, for conflicting reasons. Plans to team the two together and bring them to TV were abandoned. Prior to this, she also briefly appeared on television for Memphis Wrestling in April 2005.
World Wrestling Entertainment
2005-2006
She made her debut on the main roster during the October 10, 2005 episode of RAW under her real name: Mickie James, and was billed as an obsessed fan of Trish Stratus. She came to the aid of Ashley and Stratus following an attack by Victoria[6]. In her first televised match a week later — a tag team match with Ashley Massaro and Trish Stratus against Victoria, Candice Michelle, and Torrie Wilson — ended with James being pinned by Victoria[7]. Reflecting her idolation of the then-Women's Champion, her behaviour in the coming weeks would take a turn for the bizzare. She dressed up as 'Trish Stratus' (complete with a crudely constructed replica of the Women's Championship strap) during a Diva Halloween Costume Contest on RAW[8]. She also began utilizing Stratus' established finishing moves - the Chick Kick (re-dubbed the "Mick Kick") and the Stratusfaction to win her matches. James even helped Stratus to win the "Fulfill Your Fantasy" Diva battle royal for the WWE Women's Championship during the Taboo Tuesday 2005 PPV, by eliminating herself as she eliminated Victoria[9].
On the December 12, 2005 edition RAW Mickie James defeated Victoria with her debuting Tornado DDT finisher to receive a match against Stratus for the WWE Women's Championship at New Year's Revolution 2006 [10].
Subsequently, James developed a lesbian crush on Trish Stratus, frequently getting her into various compromising situations, such as kissing her beneath the mistletoe[11] and interrupting her shower[12]. Following her pinfall loss to Stratus for the WWE Women's Championship at New Year's Revolution[13], James commented that it "felt like silk" when her skin touched Stratus's. The match between them was highly praised.
Hints at James' heel turn began after she attacked fan favorite Ashley Massaro during a tag-team match[14]. At the Royal Rumble 2006, James faced Ashley in a match where Stratus acted as the Special Guest Referee. Before the match, Mickie confessed her "love" for Stratus, and after her win, attempted to celebrate with her hero, but Stratus did not cooperate[15].
In February, Mickie tried to put the moves on Stratus' boyfriend Jack. However, she claimed to be a victim of an unwanted advance by Jack even though she was the aggressor[16]. Subsequently, Mickie provocatively licked an oversized photograph of a lingerie-clad Stratus on television. Stratus confronted James and asked that they "maintain their space." On the March 18 WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, James agreed to give Stratus her space. The two shook hands as though they were parting ways, but James attempted to hug and kiss her partner. James then attacked Stratus after she pushed her away, thus completing her heel turn[17]. In March, it was revealed that James had a shrine to Trish, which included dozens of pictures of Trish with her eyes cut out. James would continue to play mind games with Stratus for several weeks stating that even though "I (James) admired Trish for so long" at WrestleMania 22 she had two goals, to take the WWE Women's Championship and also to see Trish's destruction[18].
At WrestleMania 22, James defeated Trish Stratus following a Mick Kick, to claim her first WWE Women's Championship in her debut WrestleMania [19]. During the match, despite the fact that James was the heel, the fans frequently cheered for her, and booed Stratus whenever she hit an offensive move[20].
On the April 3, 2006 edition of RAW, James came down to the ring dressed as Trish, complete with a blonde wig, Stratus' wrestling outfit, and theme music that began with Stratus' laughter as in Stratus' theme music[21]. Stratus responded by dressing and acting like James the next week in an attempt to play mind games with her rival[22]. James was disqualified in her WWE Women's Championship match vs. Stratus at Backlash 2006. This was rumoured not to be the original finish for the match, but Trish sustained a dislocated shoulder, and thus the match had to be cut short[23].
On the May 8, 2006 edition of RAW, following James' attack on Maria, an unknown woman confronted James. The women was removed by security, but it seemes as though Mickie knew her because she shouted at her as she left the arena[24]. The woman — later revealed as Beth Phoenix[25] — attacked James on RAW for several weeks, repeatedly shouting "I am not going to let you get away with what you did to me!"[26] This feud was cut short, after Phoenix injured her jaw in a match against Victoria[27].
Mickie James lost her Women's Championship on the August 14, 2006 edition of RAW to Lita after she hit Mickie with the belt while Edge distracted the referee[28]. Mickie's rematch occured on the August 28, 2006 edition of RAW, but she once again lost to Lita after she used the ropes for leverage[29]. Mickie James was defeated by Trish Stratus in Stratus' last match on September 11 at Madison Square Garden, where both hugged each other following the match[30]. Because she was retiring, Trish Stratus vacated the title[31], which led to a Women's Championship Tournament to determine the new champion. In the tournament, James defeated both Victoria[32] and Melina[33], before losing to Lita at Cyber Sunday 2006[34]. Mickie and Lita would fight in a series of matches where Lita took an unfair advantage over Mickie by having her legs shackled together[35], one arm tied behind her back[36], or being blindfolded[37]. At Survivor Series 2006, James won her second Women's Championship by pinning Lita in Lita's retirement match [19].
2007
On the November 27, 2006 episode of RAW, Victoria won a Diva Battle Royal to face James at New Year's Revolution 2007 for the WWE Women's Title[38]. After several weeks of feuding, James pinned Victoria at New Year's Revolution, successfully defending her Women's Championship[39]. Following New Year's Revolution, Melina would become the #1 contender for the WWE Women's Championship[40]. For a brief time, Mickie would align herself with Super Crazy against Melina and Johnny Nitro. On the February 5,2007 episode of RAW, Mickie defeated Melina to retain the Women's Championship[41], but two weeks later, she lost her championship to Melina[42]. On the March 5th edition of RAW, Mickie James got a rematch, where she faced in the first ever Women's Championship Falls Count Anywhere Match. Melina pinned Mickie after she attempted to do a hurricanrana from the top rope, which Melina blocked, causing James to fall on her neck and almost causing a serious injury[43].
Mickie James appeared at WrestleMania 23 as a Lumberjill in the Women's Championship Match which pitted Ashley Massaro against Mickie's enemy Melina. Melina retained the title and decided to get photos of her with the title the Raw following WrestleMania. Mickie James interrupted Melina and attacked her giving her a DDT. This would begin another feud between the two once again over the Women's Championship. On April 24 at a live event in Paris, France, James won the WWE Women's Championship for the third time in a triple threat match against Melina and Victoria. However, on the orders of Jonathan Coachman, Mickie defended the title later that same night and lost it back to Melina. [44] On April 29, at Backlash 2007, Mickie failed to capture the WWE Women's Championship from Melina.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Impailer DDT (Stalling Tornado DDT, or Jumping Spike DDT)
- Mick Kick (Roundhouse Kick)
- Spinning back kick
- Mick Kick Combo (Back kick to the midsection, followed by a front kick to the face and chest and finished with a reverse roundhouse kick to the head)
- Mick-a-rana [10] (Back elbow from the corner, followed by rope-aided frankensteiner)
- Spinning back kick to midsection
- Fisherman suplex pin
- Repeated over-the-shoulder arm drags
- One-handed cartwheel followed by monkey flip as a reversal
- Snapmare into a baseball slide to the face
- Wheelbarrow victory roll reversal
- Arm-trap neckbreaker slam
- Clothesline, back elbow, followed by a double handed chop into pinfall attempt
- Spear
- Lou Thesz Press variants
- As Alexis Laree
- Laree-DDT (Top rope tornado DDT)
- Laree-DDT II (Swinging reverse DDT)
- Texas cloverleaf
- Theme songs
- James used Trish Stratus's theme from her debut til New Year's Revolution 2006
- Her first exclusive theme was titled "Iced Out", or better known as "Ice Breaker", a WWE Production theme
- James's current theme song is titled "Obsession" and is available on iTunes on WWE The Music, Vol. 7.
Championships and accomplishments
- CyberSpace Wrestling Federation
- CSWF Women's Championship (1 time)
- Delaware Championship Wrestling
- DCW Women's Championship (1 time)
- Impact Championship Wrestling
- ICW Super Juniors Championship (1 time)
- Premier Wrestling Federation
- PWF Women's Championship (1 time)
- Southern Championship Wrestling
- SCW Diva Championship (1 time)
- Ultimate Championship Wrestling
- UCW Women's Championship (1 time)
- Ultimate Wrestling Federation
- UWF Women's Championship (2 times)
- World Wrestling Entertainment
Personal life
James loves horses and used to groom her grandmother's horses every day after school with her sister Latoya [45]. She owns three horses: Rhapsody, Bunny, and Casanova [46]. She plans to teach children how to ride horses and also plans on getting back into riding and showing horses after her wrestling career slows down [45].
As a child, her favorite wrestler was "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and she often wrestled her father and younger brother on the trampoline in their backyard [45]. Along with Randy Savage, James cites Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair, and Sherri Martell as her "all-time favorite" wrestlers when she was growing up [47].
Her old trainer, Dory Funk Jr., decided to take Mickie under his wing after he saw her at an event where Lita gave a speech to women trying to get into wrestling. During her training, she mostly wrestled men because her class had very few women. Also while training to become a wrestler, she worked as a waitress in an Olive Garden in Richmond, Virginia.
Before gaining fame in WWE, Mickie posed nude in the May 2000 issue of Leg Show magazine. (TP1)
Mickie has been engaged to fellow WWE superstar Ken Doane, currently known as Kenny Dykstra, since March 2006 [48]. The duo has lived together in King William County, Virginia since August 2006 [45].
In late 2006, Mickie completed her Associate's degree in Business Administration, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Operations Management [47][49].
References
- ^ NWA:TNA PPV - 26th June 2002 Results
- ^ NWA:TNA PPV - 26th March 2003 Results
- ^ NWA:TNA PPV - 9th April 2003 Results
- ^ NWA:TNA PPV - 16th April 2003 Results
- ^ RAW - 25th July 2005 Results
- ^ RAW - 10th October 2005 Results
- ^ RAW - 17th October 2005 Results
- ^ RAW - 31st October 2005 Results
- ^ Taboo Tuesday 2005 Results
- ^ a b "Elimination Chamber set". December 12, 2005.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=
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ignored (|access-date=
suggested) (help) - ^ RAW - 26th December 2005 Results
- ^ RAW - 2nd January 2006 Results
- ^ New Year's Revolution 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 23rd January 2006 Results
- ^ Royal Rumble 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 13th February 2006 Results
- ^ Saturday Night's Main Event - March 18th 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 27th March 2006 Results
- ^ a b "Mickie James' Title History".
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=
ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=
ignored (|access-date=
suggested) (help) - ^ WrestleMania 22 Results
- ^ RAW - 3rd April 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 10th April 2006 Results
- ^ Backlash 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - May 8th 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 15th May 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 22th May 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 5th June 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 14th August 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 28th August 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 11th September 2006 Results
- ^ Unforgiven 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 2nd October 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 23rd October 2006 Results
- ^ Cyber Sunday 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 13th November 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 6th November 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 20th November 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 27th November 2006 Results
- ^ New Year's Revolution 2006 Results
- ^ RAW - 29th January 2007 Results
- ^ RAW - 5th February 2007 Results
- ^ RAW - 19th February 2007 Results
- ^ RAW - 5th March 2007 Results
- ^ a b "History of the Women's Championship".
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Timothy Gorman (August 8, 2006). "From horse shows to world wrestling".
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Diane Mikho (March 9, 2007). "A Diva's Passion".
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Zack Zeigler (April 29, 2007). "Backlash 2007: Following Mickie James".
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Jim Wilson (February 12, 2007). "The road to WWE stardom".
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Kara A. Medalis (December 22, 2006). "Mickie James earns college degree".
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External links
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