Mickie James On 2017 WWE Return As La Luchadora, Difficulty Of Sidekick Role

Mickie James is a six-time Women’s Champion that returned to WWE in 2017 after seven years away, but she’s not sure how she feels about returning to WWE as a sidekick in a mask.

When James returned to WWE in early 2017 as an ally of Alexa Bliss, who was feuding with Becky Lynch, Mickie returned as the masked character named La Luchadora.

In a recent interview with Inside The Ropes‘ Lead Writer Gary Cassidyfor Issue 12 of Inside The Ropes Magazine, James discussed how the storyline was “cool” but that she doesn’t think really think that was the best way for her to return.

“Yeah, it was cool. It was cool to come in. I don’t know how I feel. I always think back to that, I think… I’ll be honest, I thought it was cool to come back as La Luchadora, but I think I should have came back as Mickie James. I don’t think I should have came back in a mask as La Luchadora. I don’t think Mickie James needed to come back as La Luchadora.”

James noted that she wishes she got to return using her regular name instead of La Luchadora.

“Personally, when I look back in hindsight, because I kind of thought, I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t really know…’ But I think, I tried to speak up… These are things that I speak up about that kind of don’t get heard, but I try to speak up and go like, “Oh, I don’t know. I feel like I should just be Mickie James. I don’t know if this is… Like it’s cool to come back underneath a mask, but I’ve been this La Luchadora character the whole time? But it’s going to be obvious that it wasn’t me because different body styles and body movements, but it’s whatever. So sure, I’ll do it. I’m excited. I’m so excited to come back. I’m so excited to get the opportunity.”

James added that she didn’t think that role suited her based on her history in WWE. She also thought she shouldn’t come in as a sidekick.

“I wish I said, ‘You know what? I don’t think this suits Mickie James, the legend Mickie James. I think Mickie James should come in as Mickie James.’ And I think, if I had said that then that the rest of my career at that second run would have went way different because immediately I was aligned as a sidekick and then I stayed in that role for a very long time – for pretty much most of my second run.”

The pairing of Bliss with James had some success in WWE in 2017 leading to an eventual feud that Bliss won even though Bliss was a face. James noted in the interview she wishes she got to have programs with top WWE women like Sasha Banks and Bayley.

“And it was fun, and I love those girls and I love Alexa. I think she’s great. She’s brilliant. She’s so sweet. And I love all the ladies there. I loved working with them. I wish that I would have been able to work with Sasha, actually, or Bayley or actually do singles programs but I think because I came in as somebody’s sidekick or whatever, it kind of didn’t get the you know what I mean? I never was able to escape that role. I came in as that role and I didn’t escape it, and it was like… Dang it!”

James was a six-time WWE Women’s Champion during her first run in the company from late 2005 until early 2010. She feuded with all of WWE’s top women of that era while having her career highlight at WrestleMania 22 when she beat Trish Stratus in what was one of the best women’s storylines in WWE history.

While James was released from WWE earlier this year, she has moved on to have success as the Executive Producer at the recent NWA Empowerrr PPV on August 28. James has also recently appeared on Impact Wrestling shows as well.

You can read the full Inside The Ropes interview with Mickie James in this month’s Inside The Ropes Magazine or, for something a little bit different, check out their 20 Questions with Mickie James here.