Reigning Impact Knockouts World Champion Mickie James is confirmed to be competing at WWE Royal Rumble on Jan. 29, 2022.

WWE officially announced that Mickie James will be competing in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match. This is an incredibly surprising development, as James is not currently signed to WWE.

The announcement comes after James was released by the company in April 2021. In the weeks after her release, James would publicly state that her belongings were returned to her in a trash bag, a move that later cost a WWE staff member their job.

Mickie James’ last match in WWE was the 2021 Royal Rumble match where she entered at number 19 before being eliminated by Lacey Evans.

Following her departure from the company, James returned to the ring as well as creating NWA EmPowerrr, an all-women’s pay-per-view.

In July 2021, Mickie James returned to IMPACT Wrestling for the third time. She won her fourth Knockouts Championship at Bound For Glory in 2021 – defeating the top woman in IMPACT Wrestling, Deonna Purrazzo.

In a video package for the Women’s Royal Rumble match, it was also confirmed that Hall of Famers, The Bella Twins and Lita will be appearing in the match.