Mickie James To Be Inducted Into The TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame at Bound For Glory 2025

James is the first announced member of the class of 2025 for the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame. Established in 2012, it has honored 12 individuals and two teams (comprising four members), totaling 16 inductees. James is the fourth-ever Knockout inducted into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame, joining Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, and Traci Brooks.

One of the Most Decorated Female Wrestlers of All Time

An 11-time Women’s World Champion, Mickie James has been wrestling for more than two decades, including multiple title runs in WWE and TNA Wrestling. She has been wrestling since 1999 and has been a multi-time winner of the Woman Wrestler of the Year award. The five-time Former TNA Knockouts World Champion Is One Of The Most Accomplished, Decorated Wrestlers Of All Time

Her 2021 Bound For Glory match against Deonna Purrazzo was voted the 2021 Knockouts Match of the Year. Away from the ring, James is a renowned country music singer, perhaps best known for her hit single “Hardcore Country.” She is an inductee into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame and is signed to Sony Music.

A Unique TNA Wrestling Path

In 2002, James debuted as Alexis Laree in TNA on the company’s first-ever weekly pay-per-view. She was not prominently featured until March 26, 2003, when she teamed with Amazing Red against the X Division Champion Kid Kash and Trinity. She would leave the company a month later, after being signed by WWE.

Mickie James returned in 2010 and feuded with Madison Rayne. A year later, James became the first woman in history to have held the WWE Women’s Championship, the WWE Divas Championship, and the TNA Knockouts Championship. She would become Champion 2 more times before leaving again for WWE in 2013.

James made a surprise return to TNA as a fan favorite, after a year and a half absence from the company, on January 30, 2015, during the tapings of Impact Wrestling in Glasgow, Scotland. James would then have several confrontations with Bram over his actions towards her real-life husband, Magnus, better known now as WWE SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis. A few months later, James retired from wrestling to focus on becoming a full-time mother.

The Last Rodeo

In 2021, James made her third return to TNA after a six-year absence. She challenged Purrazzo for the Knockouts Championship at Bound for Glory. James defeated Purrazzo to win the Impact Knockouts Championship for the fourth time.

After teasing retirement on X, James returned in September 2022 to announce that she would retire after she lost her next match unless she won the Knockouts World Championship once more, while also naming her final run The Last Rodeo.

James went on to win every match after this announcement, defeating Gisele Shaw at Victory Road, Mia Yim at Bound for Glory, Taylor Wilde at Over Drive, and eventually Jordynne Grace at Hard To Kill to end The Last Rodeo, winning the Knockouts World Championship for the fifth time.

Mickie James appeared in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble as the TNA Women’s Champion. At Bound for Glory 2023, James lost to Trinity, failing to win the Impact Knockouts World Championship in her final match for the company.

A Women’s Wrestling Revolutionary

The now-OVW Creative Director, Head of Female Talent, and Executive Producer has left an indelible mark through her charisma, relentless energy, and ground-breaking performances. She exemplifies perseverance, passion, and an unwavering dedication to the sport she loves.

Her relentless pursuit of excellence set a standard in women’s wrestling at a time when opportunities for female competitors were more limited. Mickie was instrumental in bridging eras within wrestling, transitioning smoothly from the “Divas era” to the modern evolution of women’s wrestling.

The TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame ceremony is Sunday, October 12, at Bound For Glory. It will air live on TNA+ worldwide from the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass. One of the most-anticipated BFG matches this year is The Hardys vs. Team 3D (members of the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame), One Last Time.