Mickie James officially returned to WWE ... and she brought her Impact Wrestling Knockouts Championship with her.
It all went down on Saturday, January 29 at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The "Hardcore Country" champ entered the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match at number 20 and made her way to the ring as her Impact music rang out around the arena. The Impact Knockouts belt was around her waist, and commentary referred to her as the "Impact Women's Champion."
In the rumble, Mickie put in a good shift but was eventually eliminated by her fellow WWE legend, Lita (who was subsequently eliminated by Charlotte Flair later on).
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Mickie's participation in the Rumble was announced during the January 7 edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX. Soon after, both WWE and Impact referenced one another in tweets announcing Mickie's participation in the Rumble, while Impact's EVP Scott D'Amore congratulated WWE for finally walking through the forbidden door.
As you might recall, Mickie James was released by WWE back in April, allegedly due to budget cuts necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we reported, Mickie James returned to Impact after a six-year absence during the company's Slammiversary pay-per-view back in July. Her relationship with the company first began way back in 2002 when it was called TNA. She signed for WWE in 2003 but returned to Impact in 2010. The legend kicked off her fourth reign as Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion with a win over Deonna Purrazzo at Bound For Glory last October.
The extent of WWE's relationship with Impact remains a mystery. Whether James returning for the Rumble will be a one-time thing or if she and others from Impact will continue to appear in WWE. The company reportedly asked Knockouts Tag Champions The Iinsipiration to return for the Rumble as well, but the former WWE Superstars declined the invitation.
