WWE News Roundup: 734-day streak ends; released star breaks silence; Bobby Lashley on beating Brock Lesnar (January 30, 2022)

#2. Mickie James reacts to making history at WWE Royal Rumble

Mickie James' WWE return saw her enter the Women's Rumble at No. 20 and last for almost 12 minutes in the match. Unlike most participants, the veteran's affiliation with IMPACT Wrestling allowed her to stand out from the rest of the pack.

WWE's opening of the 'Forbidden Door' is not something many expected to happen in the first place. So after the 30-woman contest, James highlighted the significance of her Rumble appearance in a backstage interview:

"Unbelievable. If you would have said to me that this moment [being in the Rumble] would be happening right now, I would've said you're insane. And here we are, we went out there and made history." [0:11-0:21]

While the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion had aimed to win the multi-woman match, she thought she still had "a heck of a showing."

"Just to go out there as WWE family, as Mickie James - the legend, also as Hardcore Country Mickie, something that the WWE Universe never saw and to represent IMPACT as the Knockouts World Champion, I thought I did a great job. I had a heck of a showing. I'm sorry guys, I didn't win, but in my heart the world won because we just broke down one of the biggest ceilings you've ever seen. And we did it for the women." said James. [0:30-0:56]

During her stay in the bout, the 42-year-old eliminated a fellow legend, Michelle McCool. Mickie James was eventually taken out of the equation by Lita, another prominent name from the past.