Mickie James' contract close to expiring

[Steveweiser]

Taryn Terrell, 27, missed the TV this weekend for personal reasons and at this point she’s not expected back any time soon. Terrell was actually scheduled to win the Knockouts title from Mickie James at Bound for Glory in October. That leaves them with five woman wrestlers on the roster, Velvet Sky, Gail Kim, ODB, Miss Tessmacher and James. And James’ contract is expiring soon. James and A.J. Lee are pretty clearly the two best female characters in wrestling right now, but James being let go by WWE was not an issue of her performance, so who knows if they’ll be interested in her. I’d almost bet not since, even though there are no longer any restrictions from the top like there were when the lawsuit was going on, WWE has not been quick to go after TNA talent.

Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Maybe, but the way I see it, Vince could be smelling blood in the water, and could look to damage TNA a bit further by taking arguably one of their top 5 performers right now right when she's getting hot. They could get some mileage out of Mickie vs. AJ, and then there's the likes of Paige and Emma for her to work with after that. She'd probably be used more to put people over than be the top star in the division, but it'd be seen as WWE taking a valuable asset away from TNA rather than really wanting Mickie.

[Emmet Russell]

Mickie has been on absolute fire lately - I don't want her to leave TNA any time soon. Hopefully they get a new contract inked up for her soon to keep her.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

She'll probably resign given how much TNA has been investing in Mickie right now, and I agree that WWE probably really isn't looking at TNA as a talent source these days, especially since they have some good potential call-ups in NXT right now.

[theryno665]

What are the odds that TNA just forgets to renew her contract?

[SOR]

I'd re sign Mickie, keep Velvet and ODB. Release the rest of the Knockouts division. The division is dead and there aren't enough free agents to make it passable.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

If she gets an offer in the same ballpark as her present deal, I can't see her leaving, she's getting a push, her boyfriend looks to be in line for a main event run and she's allowed to work on her side projects like her country music career, also, didn't she leave the WWE under a cloud because of the way she handled the breakup of her relationship with a then married John Cena?

Aug 8, 2013 8:04:14 GMT -5 SOR said:

I'd re sign Mickie, keep Velvet and ODB. Release the rest of the Knockouts division. The division is dead and there aren't enough free agents to make it passable.

You'd keep the godawful Velvet and release Gail and Taryn who had one of the best PPV matches in TNA this year? Seriously? Gail Kim is someone who can carry a broomstick to a good match and should be an essential part of any roster as she can make almost anyone look good and Taryn is a vastly improved talent who should be given a shot at being the lead face of the knockout division to show what she can do.

[Ryushinku]

Aug 8, 2013 8:00:47 GMT -5 theryno665 said:

What are the odds that TNA just forgets to renew her contract?

Now Pritchard is out, hopefully a lot less than usual.

[Essential1]

If there is a god then Mickie will come back to WWE.

[JTG Fan]

Well the rumors were that Orton or Cena, whichever one was hitting that, was the reason she was sent packing, and they're both divorced now so maybe she'll be welcomed back.

[SOR]

Aug 8, 2013 8:05:40 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

If she gets an offer in the same ballpark as her present deal, I can't see her leaving, she's getting a push, her boyfriend looks to be in line for a main event run and she's allowed to work on her side projects like her country music career, also, didn't she leave the WWE under a cloud because of the way she handled the breakup of her relationship with a then married John Cena?

Aug 8, 2013 8:04:14 GMT -5 SOR said:

I'd re sign Mickie, keep Velvet and ODB. Release the rest of the Knockouts division. The division is dead and there aren't enough free agents to make it passable.

You'd keep the godawful Velvet and release Gail and Taryn who had one of the best PPV matches in TNA this year? Seriously? Gail Kim is someone who can carry a broomstick to a good match and should be an essential part of any roster as she can make almost anyone look good and Taryn is a vastly improved talent who should be given a shot at being the lead face of the knockout division to show what she can do.

Definitely would. The Knockouts don't need to be good wrestlers to draw people in.

[cabbageboy]

There really isn't anyone in particular that TNA could lose and damage the company in any notable way. If Mickie leaves then job her to Gail Kim or Velvet Sky and move on. And it's not like having Mickie back in WWE would massively help WWE's product or anything.

[TK The Friendly Robot]

Aug 8, 2013 8:45:10 GMT -5 SOR said:

Aug 8, 2013 8:05:40 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

If she gets an offer in the same ballpark as her present deal, I can't see her leaving, she's getting a push, her boyfriend looks to be in line for a main event run and she's allowed to work on her side projects like her country music career, also, didn't she leave the WWE under a cloud because of the way she handled the breakup of her relationship with a then married John Cena?

You'd keep the godawful Velvet and release Gail and Taryn who had one of the best PPV matches in TNA this year? Seriously? Gail Kim is someone who can carry a broomstick to a good match and should be an essential part of any roster as she can make almost anyone look good and Taryn is a vastly improved talent who should be given a shot at being the lead face of the knockout division to show what she can do.

Definitely would. The Knockouts don't need to be good wrestlers to draw people in.

That's idiotic. There's a reason why people call WWE Divas matches "piss breaks" and for the majority of the time don't say the same thing when it comes to TNA. Good female wrestling is what sets WWE apart from TNA and why a LOT of people tune in to TNA even when they don't really dig the rest of the product. TNA needs to NOT be WWE light, I understand you think that WWE is successful and therefore TNA doing what they do might replicate that success but it won't, they need to get as far away from replicating the WWE product wise as possible and having talented women's wrestlers putting on great matches is one of the many ways to do that.

As far as Mickie going? It might happen, it might not. I think people can only stick around in a specific place for a time before they're repeating themselves. James' heel turn is new, fresh and entertaining and I hope they don't let her go but if it's going to cost them more than she's worth to keep her around or if she's demanding unreasonable money then I would have no problem with them letting her go. That would allow them to bring in other talented female workers to give them a shot, which in turn would freshen up the faces in TNA which I think is something that is sorely needed.

[SOR]

Aug 8, 2013 9:51:26 GMT -5 TK The Friendly Robot said:

Aug 8, 2013 8:45:10 GMT -5 SOR said:

Definitely would. The Knockouts don't need to be good wrestlers to draw people in.

That's idiotic. There's a reason why people call WWE Divas matches "piss breaks" and for the majority of the time don't say the same thing when it comes to TNA. Good female wrestling is what sets WWE apart from TNA and why a LOT of people tune in to TNA even when they don't really dig the rest of the product. TNA needs to NOT be WWE light, I understand you think that WWE is successful and therefore TNA doing what they do might replicate that success but it won't, they need to get as far away from replicating the WWE product wise as possible and having talented women's wrestlers putting on great matches is one of the many ways to do that.

If men aren't into the whole "These chicks are hot omg" thing then how come men went crazy for WWE sex sells segments? Simply watch a WWE sex sells segment the crowd pop huge for it all the time.

Hell, you can even look at the FAN board. We have a thread dedicated to the hotness of the Knockouts. There isn't a 20+ page thread about "What Knockout match was the best" is there?

Sex sells, TNA should go with that. The women will never be able to compete with the men match wise but looks wise? Easily they can.

[Kash Flagg]

It might only be smarkbait, but if the rumors of the Bellas having Maria's deal pulled is true, I highly doubt they're gonna let one of Cena's previous flames back in...especially considering the rumored reason why she was let go in the first place.

[TK The Friendly Robot]

Aug 8, 2013 10:01:12 GMT -5 SOR said:

Aug 8, 2013 9:51:26 GMT -5 TK The Friendly Robot said:

That's idiotic. There's a reason why people call WWE Divas matches "piss breaks" and for the majority of the time don't say the same thing when it comes to TNA. Good female wrestling is what sets WWE apart from TNA and why a LOT of people tune in to TNA even when they don't really dig the rest of the product. TNA needs to NOT be WWE light, I understand you think that WWE is successful and therefore TNA doing what they do might replicate that success but it won't, they need to get as far away from replicating the WWE product wise as possible and having talented women's wrestlers putting on great matches is one of the many ways to do that.

If men aren't into the whole "These chicks are hot omg" thing then how come men went crazy for WWE sex sells segments? Simply watch a WWE sex sells segment the crowd pop huge for it all the time.

Hell, you can even look at the FAN board. We have a thread dedicated to the hotness of the Knockouts. There isn't a 20+ page thread about "What Knockout match was the best" is there?

Sex sells, TNA should go with that. The women will never be able to compete with the men match wise but looks wise? Easily they can.

Sex sells is an argument that can literally be used for anything in recent popular culture. My argument is that when bad womens wrestling is going on the crowds are silent, when good womans wrestling is going on the crowds are popping and the women are getting bigger pops than the guys sometimes. I'll admit that sex sells but I'd rather see those people I'm hypothetically lusting after in a scenario that I enjoy than to have to suffer through something terrible just to see them. Hence why good womens wrestling with hot women is better than shitty womens wrestling with hot women.

[SOR]

Aug 8, 2013 10:07:30 GMT -5 TK The Friendly Robot said:

Aug 8, 2013 10:01:12 GMT -5 SOR said:

If men aren't into the whole "These chicks are hot omg" thing then how come men went crazy for WWE sex sells segments? Simply watch a WWE sex sells segment the crowd pop huge for it all the time.

Hell, you can even look at the FAN board. We have a thread dedicated to the hotness of the Knockouts. There isn't a 20+ page thread about "What Knockout match was the best" is there?

Sex sells, TNA should go with that. The women will never be able to compete with the men match wise but looks wise? Easily they can.

Sex sells is an argument that can literally be used for anything in recent popular culture. My argument is that when bad womens wrestling is going on the crowds are silent, when good womans wrestling is going on the crowds are popping and the women are getting bigger pops than the guys sometimes. I'll admit that sex sells but I'd rather see those people I'm hypothetically lusting after in a scenario that I enjoy than to have to suffer through something terrible just to see them. Hence why good womens wrestling with hot women is better than shitty womens wrestling with hot women.

I'm saying don't even have the girls wrestle. Get rid of the Knockouts division entirely.

You go completely WWE 02-04 on it and have a sex sells match or angle each week. You use Velvet, Val, Christy Mickie and you use ODB as your typical "Heel that doesn't want to do things for the crowd" character.

The way I see it:

Chicks getting in bikini's/lingerie>Good Womens Wrestling>Bad Womens Wrestling>No Womens Wrestling

At least in the eyes of a casual fan.

[Deleted]

Aug 8, 2013 10:02:20 GMT -5 Kash Flagg said:

It might only be smarkbait, but if the rumors of the Bellas having Maria's deal pulled is true, I highly doubt they're gonna let one of Cena's previous flames back in...especially considering the rumored reason why she was let go in the first place.

It amuses me to no end that the Bella's are supposedly the free agent diva Terminators now.

I doubt that E would have much interest in her regardless.

[________ has left the building]

Casual fans have the internet and cable tv if they want to see half naked women. If you pigeon holed all fans into they only want T&A, you make lose that demographic who actually want to see women involved athletic competitions and engaging storylines. It's best to find a happy medium. Women who can wrestle and look good while doing that.

And I guess Mickie will stick with TNA due to them letting her go play country music singer whenever she wants to.

[Pushed to the Moon]

What's up with Taryn?

[________ has left the building]

Aug 8, 2013 11:30:51 GMT -5 Pushed to the Moon said:

What's up with Taryn?

Time off for personal reasons.