Oklafan.com v5 Beta > News > Impact's Mickie James reflects on 'The Last Rodeo,' idolizing Sherri Martel

Home
News

Impact's Mickie James reflects on 'The Last Rodeo,' idolizing Sherri Martel

Posted: Mar 16th 2023 By: Denise Salcedo

Reigning Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James is enjoying her fifth reign after defeating Jordynne Grace at January's Hard To Kill in a title vs. career match to win the gold.

She will rematch Grace for the title at next Friday's Sacrifice before a four-way title defense at Impact x NJPW Multiverse United the following Thursday if she can survive that match.

I caught up with James for a 30+ minute conversation you can watch above.

Prior to winning the title, she embarked on her self-titled "Last Rodeo" where she would retire the next time she lost unless she won the Knockouts title. That stretch saw her have some top notch-matches with former champions such as Mia Yim and Taylor Wilde.

While James has had a few runs in Impact dating back to 2002, her most recent stint with the company commenced during the summer of 2021 at Slammiversary after she had previously been released by WWE in the spring.

"I came back to Impact with one goal and that was for Empower. That was to find a way to celebrate women's wrestling and make it this really united cause across the board from company to company to really celebrate their women and to prove that women could deliver and in an element when given the proper opportunities," she said. "I was in a very transitional phase of, 'OK, well, what else can I prove in the ring?' I have been able to do it all. I have been very blessed. I have had a very illustrious career. I have done more than I ever imagined and and I am very grateful for that."

While James has always been at the top of her game, she did recall questioning whether or not she could compete with the current women.

"...There was this opportunity to come in and fight for the championship. And at the time, I wasn't for sure that I could still (go). The women are killing it across the board everywhere you go. And I was like, 'Can I still hang with this group and do I want to?' Because, it's a task and not just a task on a physical level, but on an emotional level of mine."

One of the things about James and her matches is she always does something different and it always feels unique to the opponent.

"My style, like "Hardcore Country," is very adaptable. But you're going to have a different style match with every person that you're in there with because there's different stories and they are very different athletes between their moveset or how they just move out there. I always want to tell that story or be able to build that and make sure that everyone shines in that match no matter who. You're only as good as the person that you're standing across the ring from ever."

Supplemental Information

Polling Booth

Why didn't you vote in the Oklafan Year End Polls?

Upcoming Events

There are currently no upcoming appearences.

Complete Calendar

Spotlight in History

2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title

04-29

Sunshine Apr 29th Today!
Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
Prince Maivia May 1st
Barrett Brown May 2nd
Americos May 2nd
Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
Big Bossman May 2nd
Don Fields May 2nd
Kari Wright May 2nd
Lester Welch May 3rd
Lily McKenzie May 3rd
Johnny Humble May 3rd
Dory Funk May 4th
Bull Schmitt May 4th
Jay Hazzard May 4th
Malik Mayfield May 4th
El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
Maria Brigitte May 5th
Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
Olivier Vegos May 5th
El Gallardo May 5th
Bill Watts May 5th
Princess Victoria May 5th
Zane Morris May 5th
El Matador Dos May 5th
Claire Watson May 6th
Hercules May 7th
Richie Adams May 8th
Jake Danielsson May 9th
Tito Santana May 10th
Jerry Brown May 10th
Rook Tyler May 10th
Sunny War Cloud May 10th
Billy Brown May 10th
Psycho May 11th
Big J May 11th
Charming Charles May 11th
Bill Howard May 12th
Brock Baker May 12th
Sensei Jamo May 12th
Sol Yang May 12th

2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion

More Look Back In History