Ex-WWE Star “Hated” Infamous Storyline
A former WWE star repeatedly apologised to a rival during an infamous storyline.
In 2009, Michelle McCool and her tag team partner Layla moved into a controversial feud with Mickie James. This saw the pair dub James “Piggy James” while regularly bulling her on-screen about her weight and appearance.
During one segment, LayCool, as the pair was known, attacked James and force-fed her a pig-shaped cake before pouring a bowl of punch over her head. In the aftermath, James was left sobbing in the ring.
During a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, McCool looked back on the storyline, confessing that hate, and repeatedly apologised to James.
“And I give credit to this day, and I said this to somebody the other day, and I said it to her, but the whole ‘Piggy James’ storyline, like me at heart, hated it just because of what it was, right? Like you’re bullying somebody supposedly that they’re supposedly overweight, and that has never been me.
Every week, I’d go up to her like, ‘Mickie, I’m so sorry. This is what they want us to say.’ Complete professional. Not once does she try to change things, which often girls did. Not once did she’s like, ‘No, it’s good, it’s cool.’
She knew that it took two to tango. She knew what her role was. She knew what our role was. And she really, I think, put us on the map with that storyline.”
Michelle McCool Full Of Praise For Former WWE Rival
After scoffing at the idea of the storyline being booked in 2025, McCool said she can’t remember how it was originally pitched, before giving credit to James for trying to make the best of an awful situation.
“I don’t remember it. A lot of times back then, things started with personal digs at somebody, or, you know, maybe somebody got in trouble, and they wanted to make fun. I don’t know what it was, but it just came out of the blue. Layla and I were young and a bit naive; we did some silly things, we had a lot of fun.
But when that storyline came about, I was like, ‘Oh, this is just mean.’ But it did get us over. And I give all the credit in the world to Mickie for that. She easily could have said, ‘Guys, this is too much, too far, I’m not doing it.’ She was already over, but she knew how the business worked, and it got her more over, and she helped us.”
During an interview back in October, Layla admitted she and McCool “got a lot of heat” for the angle, confirming “Piggy James” was a Vince McMahon creation.
Mickie James was released by WWE in April 2010 after teaming with Beth Phoenix in a defeat to LayCool. In a subsequent interview, James said she was told that the company wanted to take the women’s division in a different direction.
The former champion returned to WWE in 2016 but was released again in April 2021. James’ exit was the subject of great controversy with the company coming under fire for how they handled her departure after sending her back her belongings in a trash bag.
Michelle McCool retired in 2011 citing several injury problems and a desire to start a family. The star has since competed in a handful of Royal Rumble and Battle Royal matches with the last of these coming in 2023.
H/t to WrestlingNews.Co