Photo via @IMPACTWRESTLINGon Twitter
Mickie James on Jordynne Grace “We’ve never faced each other”
Mickie James challenges Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts championship in a title vs career match at Impact Hard to Kill 2023 on January 13th.
James appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts and discussed her Impact Wrestling history which dates back to the first show in 2002, making history for women in pro wrestling, and more. Excerpts from our chat are below.
Mickie James
The Last Rodeo concept and James’ twenty-plus-year journey with this company
“This is my third time at Impact Wrestling. So it’s funny how our careers just kind of come full circle and how small the wrestling world is. But I have a lot of love and loyalty for Impact Wrestling. They gave me my very first start as Alexis Laree. I was very blessed and fortunate to be able to work beside Raven. Be the first and the only woman for a long time until Daphne I guess broke that, it was for the only woman to do the Clockwork Orange House of Fun match.”
“Came back to Impact in 2010 and that’s where Hardcore Country was born. That was a whole reinvention of myself I think. It gave me a whole new lesson I think. At the time, I was in a much different place than I am now. Needed something fresh, needed something to help me believe in myself again. That’s really what Hardcore Country was about. So I’m always grateful for that. Because I thought that maybe at that point…my career was over. That’s the narrative or story that’s told to us.”
“That’s kind of what this Last Rodeo is about. It’s like you get compared to this new generation as if your generation wasn’t as good. I go like well if it wasn’t for my generation and the generation before me that have literally beat down the dirt road and laid the pavement for all these opportunities to be happening now. From main events to Wrestlemania moments… Getting more time, twenty minutes instead of five with entrances. All these things that have transpired and women are really being seen as equals… So I wanted to prove that I still belonged there.”
Impact Hard to Kill 2023
James’ thoughts on her upcoming opponent, Impact knockouts champion Jordynne Grace
“That’s what this title vs career match is about; whether I belong or not. I can’t think of a better opponent. Of someone who has dominated this division and been a very strong Knockouts champion and we’ve never faced each other. Never been in the ring against each other. Jordynne Grace I think is a beautiful representation of this generation.”
“She’s younger than me, she’s way stronger than me. I don’t know if I said faster but I don’t know that she’s faster because I’m pretty quick and nimble. That might be the only thing that I got on her. And a veteran and can stretch her, that part too.”
