Mickie James spoke with Megan Morant backstage at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri after her history-making appearance in the Women's Royal Rumble match at the 35th annual WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view on Saturday night.
During the discussion, the IMPACT Knockouts Champion spoke about making history at the event, getting to mix it up with Lita after so many years and how she is thankful to WWE and IMPACT Wrestling for allowing her to make the historic appearance.
Featured below are some of the highlights from the interview, as well as a complete video archive of the post-show discussion.
On her WWE return in the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match and how she broke down one of the biggest ceilings in pro wrestling as the active IMPACT Knockouts Champion -- with her title -- in the ring at the second biggest WWE show of the year: “[It felt] unbelievable, unbelievable. If you would’ve said to me that this moment would be happening right now, I would’ve said you’re insane. And here we are. We went out there and made history. I mean, obviously I wanted to win, I had my sights set high because obviously the winner goes on to WrestleMania, and I wanted that moment, but just to go out there as WWE family, as Mickie James – the legend, but also as Mickie James… ‘Hardcore Country’ Mickie James, something that the WWE Universe never saw, and to represent Impact as the Knockouts World Champion… I thought I did a great job, I had a heck of a showing and I’m sorry guys, I didn’t win, but in my heart the world won because we just broke down one of the biggest ceilings you’ve ever seen, and we did it for the ladies! You know what I mean?”
On what it was like to work again with women's stars she has history with such as Lita and how she wished Melina would have lasted a little bit longer so she could have mixed it up with her as well: “There’s one person that I was very excited to see and I wish she had stayed in there long enough for us to tangle up because ‘Little M&M’… the people would’ve loved it is Miss Melina, and what an ovation she got. So I just want to put that over, I love you girl."
On being thankful to WWE and IMPACT Wrestling for allowing her to take part in the history-making appearance at the Royal Rumble: “But yeah, it’s been an incredible night and I’m just grateful to be here, and for an opportunity to make history. So thank you, WWE. Thank you, Impact. Thank you, ladies. This was awesome, this was so awesome. I’m trying not to cry today, I’ve promised. I’ve cried, Beth [Phoenix] made me cry last night with her Instagram post, I’ve cried back there in Gorilla [Position], I’ve cried all day, but I’m tough, so I don’t cry, but thanks. I am ‘Hardcore Country’, I promise [laughs].”
Check out the complete interview via the video embedded below courtesy of the official WWE YouTube channel. Also below is some video footage of Mickie James' appearance in the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match.
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