WWE Gives Big Mention To Impact Wrestling During SmackDown

Mickie James will be the first Impact Wrestling star to step through the forbidden door and into WWE. The legendary wrestler was announced for the upcoming Royal Rumble on last night’s SmackDown. Commentator Pat McAfee even acknowledged James as the Impact Wrestling Knockouts World Champion.

WWE also made the same acknowledgement on their official Twitter account shortly afterwards. Fans were shocked that the company even mentioned Impact, let alone putting Mickie over as a world champion from another organization. It was a rare case of WWE being willing to work with a competing wrestling group.

“Impact Knockouts World Champion @MickieJames will be in the #RoyalRumble Match!”

Fans began to speculate what the appearance could mean going forward. No other wrestlers who are currently active outside of WWE have been announced for the Rumble. The natural thought process would lead anyone to believe that the door is now open to work with Impact more.

Mickie James is the current Knockouts champion in Impact. James will put that title on the line at tonight’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view against Deonna Purrazzo. If Mickie is victorious, she will enter the Royal Rumble as the champion of the third-largest wrestling company in the United States.

The addition of James to the Royal Rumble adds an exciting twist to an already unpredictable match. Fans of both Impact and WWE should be thrilled at the rare collaboration. Time will tell if this means WWE will be more willing to work with Impact on talent exchanges in the future.