Mickie James

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Mickie James
James at a May 2007 live event
James at a May 2007 live event
Statistics
Ring name(s) Mickie James
Alexis Laree[1]
Princess Alexis[2]
Queen Alexis[2]
Superball
Vicki Adams
Billed height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[3]
Billed weight 124 lb (56 kg/8.9 st)[3]
Born August 31, 1979 (1979-08-31) (age 28)[4]
Montpelier, Virginia[5]
Resides Aylett, Virginia[5]
Billed from Richmond, Virginia[3]
Trained by Extreme Championship Wrestling
Funking Conservatory[6][7]
KYDA Pro Training School[4]
OVW[8]
Debut 1999[4]

Mickie Laree James[4][9] (born August 31, 1979) is an American professional wrestler signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) appearing on its Raw brand where she is the reigning WWE Women's Champion.[10][11]

James began her professional wrestling career in 1999 as a valet on the independent circuit, where she was known under the name Alexis Laree.[8] She trained in several camps to improve her wrestling abilities before working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in June 2002, where she gained national attention.[8][12] After only a few appearances, she joined a stable called The Gathering and was written into angles with the group. She is also the first and only woman to be involved in Clockwork Orange House of Fun matches.[13]

James appeared in WWE 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 lasted almost a year.[1][8][14] She received a push, and she won her first WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 22, a title she has held a total of four times.[15]

Outside of wrestling, James has received her associate of arts degree in business administration and is studying for her Bachelor of Arts degree in operations management.[16] She also grew up on a farm and has an interest in horses, owning three Morgan horses and riding since she was 11 years old.[3][17]

Contents

Career

Early career

James grew up in Montpelier, Virginia and attended Patrick Henry High School. Following graduation, she worked at a bar.[8] After a suggestion from a friend, James attended a professional wrestling school in the Washington, D.C. area. She made her professional debut on the independent circuit in 1999 as a valet for KYDA Pro Wrestling under the ring name Alexis Laree, a name created as the result of a combination of her stage name from when she was a dancer and her middle name.[8][9][18] As Laree, she managed several male wrestlers, including managing Tommy Dreamer to win the KYDA Pro Heavyweight Championship.[13][19] In March, she wrestled in her first match, an intergender tag team match with Jake Damian against American Mike Brown and Candie.[13] She trained to improve her wrestling abilities by attending training camps such as the Funking Conservatory, a workshop run by Dory Funk, Jr., and an Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) dojo. She also started competing for Maryland Championship Wrestling, where she trained at camps run by Ricky Morton and Bobby Eaton.[8][13] Due to the low salary of the independent shows, James supplemented her income by working as a waitress at an Olive Garden restaurant.[5][8]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

While working in Ring of Honor for a year, James also debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on the company's second ever weekly pay-per-view under her Alexis Laree gimmick as a participant in a lingerie battle royal.[12][20] She was not prominently featured until March 26, 2003, when she teamed with Amazing Red as part of his feud against Kid Kash—the X Division Champion—and Trinity.[8][21] Weeks later, she became the first member of the Gathering, a stable led by Raven in his feud against NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett.[8] On April 16, Laree became the first (and thus far, only) woman to compete in a Clockwork Orange House of Fun match after the Gathering challenged and defeated Jarrett.[13][22] She continued to wrestle with the stable when they feuded with the Disciples of The New Church, taking part in an angle with Father James Mitchell kayfabe burning her with a fireball and wrestling in another Clockwork Orange House of Fun match before leaving the company.[23][24][25]

Ohio Valley Wrestling

After two years of sending tapes and making phone calls, as well as wrestling a tryout match with Dawn Marie, James was signed to a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment, who sent her to train at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), their farm territory, in August.[4][5][8][13][18] Still using the Alexis Laree name, she began making television appearances for OVW on January 29, 2004 and competed in several tag team matches throughout the year.[26][27] She also won a Halloween Costume Contest on October 30 and defeated Jillian Hall in a $1,000 match on November 12.[4][28]

On May 17, 2005, Laree was placed into a tournament for the OVW Television Championship. She was booked to go over Mike Mondo in the first round, only to lose to Blaster Lashley in the next one.[26][29] She began a feud with Beth Phoenix on July 20 after Phoenix interrupted Laree during an interview, setting up a match on July 29 which Laree lost.[26][27] Their angle continued into September, with Shelly Martinez being added to the storyline to side with Phoenix against Laree. On October 12, she appeared in OVW under her real name and finished the year on the losing end of matches against Martinez and Jillian Hall.[26]

World Wrestling Entertainment

2005–2006

James debuted in WWE on the October 10, 2005 episode of Raw, continuing to use her real name, under the gimmick of WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus' biggest fan.[1][4][30][31] The angle had the two WWE Divas competing together in tag team matches, with James' character becoming increasingly obsessed with Stratus.[32][33][34] The storyline included a Halloween Costume Contest in which James was dressed like Stratus and helped Stratus retain the Women's Championship in a Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal at Taboo Tuesday by eliminating herself and Victoria at the same time.[35][36][37] She even began utilizing Stratus' signature finishing moves as her own during matches. James became the number one contender for the Women's Title on December 12 by defeating Victoria in a match to determine who would face Stratus at New Year's Revolution.[38] Subsequently, the storyline between James and Stratus developed into a lesbian angle after James initiated an intimate kiss with Stratus under a sprig of mistletoe and complimented Stratus on her breasts.[1][14][39] In the championship match at the pay-per-view, James jobbed to Stratus but continued to be enamored of her the next night on Raw, and she confessed her love for Stratus at the Royal Rumble.[4][14][40][41]

On March 6, 2006 the storyline had Stratus confront James, telling her that they needed time apart from each other.[1][14][42] The duo teamed together at Saturday Night's Main Event to defeat Candice Michelle and Victoria. After the match, James agreed to honor Stratus' wishes and attempted to kiss her. After Stratus pushed her away, James' character made a complete heel turn by attacking Stratus in the ring and later vowing to destroy her.[1][14][43][44] The two women wrestled each other at WrestleMania 22, where James was booked to win the match to claim her first reign as Women's Champion.[45] During the match, despite the fact that James was playing the heel character, the fans frequently cheered James and booed Stratus whenever Stratus hit an offensive maneuver.[46][47] The angle ended at Backlash during a rematch after Stratus legitimately dislocated her shoulder when James threw her out of the ring.[48][49] James dropped the Women's Title on August 14 to Lita after Lita hit James with the title belt while Lita's on-screen boyfriend Edge distracted the referee, resulting in a face turn for James' on-screen persona.[50] After the Women's Championship was vacated due to the legitimate retirement of Trish Stratus, James entered a tournament to determine the new champion.[51] She defeated Victoria and Melina in the qualifying rounds before making it to the finals at Cyber Sunday, where she lost to Lita.[49][51][52][53] The two Divas wrestled in a series of matches where Lita kayfabe chose the stipulations, all of which involved hindering James' wrestling ability.[54] The storyline feud ended at Survivor Series, where James defeated Lita to win her second Women's Championship.[55]

2007 – present

James at a Raw live event
James at a Raw live event

An angle was created between James and Melina, beginning on January 29, 2007 when Melina became the number one contender for the Women's Title.[56][57] Following a successful title defense on February 5,[58] James teamed with Super Crazy in a mixed tag team match against Melina and Johnny Nitro. After Melina pinned James for the victory, she challenged her to a rematch for the title.[59] James dropped the Women's Championship to Melina on February 19 and, in continuation of their storyline feud, failed to regain the title during the first ever Women's Falls Count Anywhere match in WWE history.[60][61] Near the end of the match, James fell from the turnbuckle and landed on her neck but was not seriously injured.[62]

The scripted feud between James and Melina continued on April 2 when James interrupted and attacked Melina during a photo op on Raw.[63] At a house show in Paris, France on April 24, James won her third Women's Championship during a Triple Threat Match that also involved Victoria. However, since James pinned Victoria and not Melina, Jonathan Coachman announced that a rematch would take place immediately. James dropped the title back to Melina, giving her the shortest Women’s Championship reign in WWE history.[64]

On the November 26 edition of Raw, James defeated Melina in a number one contenders match for Phoenix's Women's Championship,[65] setting up a title match between the two at Armageddon 2007, a match in which Phoenix successfully defended her Women's title.[66]

On the April 14, 2008 edition of Raw, held in London, James defeated Beth Phoenix to win her fourth Women's Championship.[67][10] At Judgment Day 2008 James successfully defended the Women's Championship against Beth Phoenix and Melina in a Triple Threat Match, pinning Melina after a Mickie-DT to win.

In wrestling

  • Finishing moves
  • Signature moves
  • Nicknames
  • Psycho
  • The Psychotic Diva

Championships and accomplishments

  • CyberSpace Wrestling Federation
    • CSWF Women's Championship (1 time)[2]
  • Delaware Championship Wrestling
    • DCW Women's Championship (1 time)[2]
  • Impact Championship Wrestling
    • ICW Super Juniors Championship (1 time)[2]
  • Premier Wrestling Federation
    • PWF Universal Women's Championship (1 time)[2]
  • Southern Championship Wrestling
    • SCW Diva Championship (1 time)[2]
  • Ultimate Championship Wrestling
    • UCW Women's Championship (1 time)[2]
  • Ultimate Wrestling Federation
    • UWF Women's Championship (2 times)[2]
  • World Wrestling Entertainment

Personal life

James was raised on a farm with her sister Latoya.[16][17] She is a fan of horses and grew up watching weekend horse shows.[5][16] She started riding when she was eleven years old after her grandmother bought her a horse,[3] and today she owns three Morgan horses named Rhapsody, Bunny and Casanova.[17] After she has finished her wrestling career, James plans to own a farm and be an equine trainer.[3] James also owns a dog called Butch.[77]

As a child, James was a fan of wrestling and used to watch it with her father.[5] Her favorite wrestlers were Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair and Sherri Martel.[78]

Before gaining fame in WWE, James posed nude in the May 2000 issue of Leg Show magazine.[79]

She was previously engaged to WWE Superstar Ken Doane, better known by his ring name "Kenny Dykstra".[62][80] [81] She was also previously in a three-and-a-half year relationship with Joey Mercury and lived with him in Virginia.[82]

Although James did not attend college immediately after high school, she completed her associate of arts degree in business administration in late 2006 and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in operations management.

Although she seldom watches television due to studying for her college degree, spending time with her animals and traveling with WWE, James enjoys watching Family Guy and the three CSI programs.[83]

Her favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys.[84] She has a tattoo, a dragon, on her ankle and another, an Asian symbol meaning love.[85][86]

On April 13, 2008, James, along with Layla, Melina and Kelly Kelly, appeared in an episode of Celebrity Fit Club Boot Camp.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ian Hamilton. Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition (p.222)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i WWE Superstars - Mickie James. bodyslamming.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-04.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Superstars > Raw > Mickie James > Bio. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Gerweck Profile. gerweck.net. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Andy Thompson (2007-06-15). Pile-driving Diva's a Hanover horse lover. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
  6. ^ Home Page of Dory Funk Jr.. www.dory-funk.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-18. “Mickie James - Funking Conservatory Alumnus”
  7. ^ Exklusivinterview mit Dory Funk Jr.. Genickbruch.com (2005-10-22). Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Greg Oliver (2006-05-26). Mickie James quick to dish out credit. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  9. ^ a b How Did You Get Your Name. KYDA.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
  10. ^ a b History Of The Women's Championship - Mickie James(4). WWE (2008-04-14). Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  11. ^ WWE: Superstars > Raw. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  12. ^ a b NWA TNA PPV #2 results - June 26, 2002. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Alexis Laree of G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling. G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
  14. ^ a b c d e Mickie see, Mickie do. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  15. ^ a b Mickie James' Title History. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
  16. ^ a b c Kara A. Medalis (2006-12-22). Mickie James earns college degree. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-01.
  17. ^ a b c Jen Hunt and Kara A. Medalis (2007-03-09). Diva Dish: Kiss and tell. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-04.
  18. ^ a b c d e Carlson 316 Wrestling Profile. Carlson 316 Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
  19. ^ Title History. KYDA.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  20. ^ ROH - Past Results. ROHWrestling.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
  21. ^ NWA TNA PPV #37 results - March 26, 2003. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
  22. ^ NWA TNA PPV #40 results - April 16, 2003. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
  23. ^ Donnie Abreu (2003-07-10). NWA TNA PPV #52 results - July 9, 2003. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
  24. ^ Donnie Abreu (2003-07-24). NWA TNA PPV #54 results - July 23, 2003. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-10-29. “Alexis Laree, still selling her burn injury, was nowhere to be seen.”
  25. ^ NWA TNA PPV #55 results - July 30, 2003. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
  26. ^ a b c d e WWE OVW, FCW. and DSW Archives. Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
  27. ^ a b Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Shows. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
  28. ^ OVW Show Information. The Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster. Retrieved on 2007-10-30. “Alexis Laree won a "$1,000" Match over Jillian Hall”
  29. ^ OVW TV Title Tournament 2005 results - May 18 - June 8, 2005. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
  30. ^ Raw results - October 10, 2005. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  31. ^ WWE: Superstars > WWE Alumni > Trish Stratus > Bio. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  32. ^ Raw results - October 17, 2005. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  33. ^ Raw results - November 7, 2005. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  34. ^ Raw results - November 28, 2005. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  35. ^ Raw results - October 31, 2005. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  36. ^ PWI Staff. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts", "Wrestling’s historical cards", Kappa Publishing, 2007, pp. 119. (English) 
  37. ^ Chris Sokol (2005-11-02). Taboo Tuesday results - November 1, 2005. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  38. ^ a b Raw results - December 12, 2005. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
  39. ^ Raw results - January 2, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  40. ^ New Year's Revolution results - January 8, 2006. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  41. ^ Raw results - January 9, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  42. ^ Raw results - March 6, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  43. ^ Saturday Night's Main Event results - March 18, 2006. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  44. ^ Power Slam Staff. "Power Slam Magazine, issue 142", "Looking at WWE: SNME" (March 18, 2006), SW Publishing, 2006-04-20, pp. 25. (English) 
  45. ^ WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > Women's > 20060402 - Mickie James. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  46. ^ Nick Tylwalk (2006-04-04). We don't know everything. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  47. ^ Hurley, Oliver. "Power Slam Magazine, issue 142", "WrestleMania In Person” (WrestleMania 22), SW Publishing, 2006-04-20, pp. 16–19. (English) 
  48. ^ Backlash results - April 30, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  49. ^ a b PWI Staff. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts", "Wrestling’s historical cards", Kappa Publishing, 2007, pp. 121. (English) 
  50. ^ Dale Plummer (2006-08-15). Raw results - August 14, 2006. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  51. ^ a b Raw results - October 2, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  52. ^ Raw results - October 23, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  53. ^ Cyber Sunday results - November 5, 2006. prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  54. ^ Raw results - November 20, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  55. ^ WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > Women's > 20061126 - Mickie James. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  56. ^ Raw results - January 29, 2007. ENewsI.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  57. ^ PWI Staff. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2007", Arena Reports, Kappa Publishing, pp. 134. (English) 
  58. ^ Raw results - February 5, 2007. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  59. ^ Raw results - February 15, 2007. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  60. ^ Raw results - February 19, 2007. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  61. ^ RAW Results - March 5, 2007. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
  62. ^ a b Mickie & Kenny "train" for Wrestlemania 23. SLAM! Wrestling (2007-03-21). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  63. ^ Raw results - April 2, 2007. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  64. ^ WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > Women's > 20070424 - Mickie James. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  65. ^ Greg Adkins (November 26, 2007). The Glamazon Awaits. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  66. ^ Greg Adkins (December 16, 2007). Glamazon pushed to the limit. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  67. ^ Royal Reception. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  68. ^ a b (2007-09-14). WTVF Show - WWE Diva Mickie James (rich media stream) [Television production]. Nashville, Tennessee: NewsChannel 5.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  69. ^ Myke Hinkley (2006-09-12). Raw results - September 11, 2006. TrishStratus.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02. “[…]set Trish up for the Mickie-DT.”
  70. ^ a b Saturday Night's Main Event results - March 18, 2006. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  71. ^ Ian Hamilton. Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition (p.223)
  72. ^ WWE News - Melina, Viscera, C.M. Punk and Alexis Laree. LordsofPain.net. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
  73. ^ WWE & TNA News: Pacman, Mickie James, Angle, More. WrestlingInc.com (2007-08-19). Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  74. ^ WWE The Music, Vol. 7: The Good, The Bad, The Celmatic Part VIII. Epinions.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
  75. ^ WWE: Superstars > Raw > Mickie James. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
  76. ^ Tim Baines (2006-09-17). Stratusfaction comes to an end. Ottawa Sun. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
  77. ^ Kara A. Medalis (2008-04-15). Paws-tively preposterous or purr-fect? Divas weigh-in on pet shoes. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  78. ^ Zack Zeigler (2007-04-29). Following Mickie James (archived June 30, 2007). WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-01.
  79. ^ Leg Show Magazine, May 2000
  80. ^ Jim Wilson (2007-02-12). The road to WWE stardom. telegram.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  81. ^ On a side note, he no longer dates Mickie James.
  82. ^ RF Video (2008). Shoot with Joey Matthews. http://rfvideo.com.
  83. ^ Kara A. Medalis & Zack Zeigler (2007-05-18). Divas Talk Tube. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  84. ^ Kara A. Medalis & Zack Zeigler (2007-09-28). Go Team!. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
  85. ^ Mickie James and Kat Von D (2007-10-10). Inking out Loud. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
  86. ^ Divas dish on their ink. WWE.

References

External links

Professional wrestling
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Persondata
NAME James, Mickie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Laree, Alexis; Superball; Adams, Vicki; Queen Alexis; Princess Alexis
SHORT DESCRIPTION Professional wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH August 31, 1979
PLACE OF BIRTH Montpelier, Virginia
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH