The OhSoDivalicious family had the privilege and honor to get in contact with Mickie Knuckles, formally Moose in TNA. She was so down to earth and said she was honoured to to an interview with us! Mickie has been involved with the so many companies even she can’t recall them all! She also was a part of the TNA roster for a short period. Mickie discussed her experiences training to wrestle, where the name ‘Knuckles’ came from, her time in TNA and IWA Mid-South and much much more. We’d like to express our deepest and upmost gratitude to her. Mickie sent the interview back in just over an hour; we were totally amazed! We were so pleased to get into contact with Mickie, she is a down to earth girl who speaks her mind! So, check out the interview below!

Hey Mickie, thank you for agreeing to do this interview. Let’s start it off with how are you doing today?
Mickie: I am doing FREAKING AWESOME, how about you?

Growing up as a child, were you into wrestling at all? Did you see yourself becoming a full fledge wrestler or did you have other dreams and aspirations?
Mickie:As a child, I really didn’t know how to go about getting into wrestling. I just thought is was cool to watch and enjoyed it. I wanted to be a singer or vet. when I grew up but I really think that I have chosen the right path.

If answered yes to the above, out of the wrestlers you watched growing up, who was your favourites?
Mickie: Miss Texas, Chris Benoit, Ric Flair, Midnight Express.

How did you get into the wrestling business?
Mickie: I was backyard wrestling and Ian’s wife, Patti, suggested I train to be a pro. I always wanted to and decided to try. I trained and started with IWA Mid South.

How long did you train for, and which company was it you that you trained with?
Mickie: 1 ½ yrs. And I trained with IWA Mid South.

To see how Mickie got the ‘Mickie Knuckles’ ring name, what t was like facing men, who her favourite Divas and Knockouts are and much more, continue reading this hardcore interview!

Tell us more about your experiences with training to wrestle – like what the experience was like, how you came up with a finisher and such.
Mickie: It was rough. They tried like hell to get me to quit but I kept at it. The finisher came about by accident. Dave Prazack wanted me to do a step-up ax kick and instead I did the Shining Kawada. Funny how some things just come together.

Did the ring name ‘Knuckles’ come from your hardcore brawling style? If not, tell us how you came up with it!
Mickie: Well…..when I was born, my mom decided to name me Mickie Lee Knuckles. I guess she knew something I didn’t, lol.

If I’m correct, your debut match was in August of 2003 and it was a King of the Death match against Hailey Hatred. You got powerbombed across two steel chairs and the match had to be stopped. What was your first match really like? And did you expect your first experience to be that dangerous?
Mickie: Actually, the powerbomb came after the match was over. I won against Hailey and she got mad and powerbombed me. I expected not to expect anything really. I was so nervous because I have trained so hard for so long and wanted to do well.

You faced a lot of men in intergender matches. What was that experience like and was it a lot different than facing women?
Mickie: Men are a lot different than women in the fact of they can usually sustain more physical punishment than most women. Now some of the Girls that I have wrestled with a lot are actually trained and perform a lot like men. I guess that’s what makes them so good.

In 2004, you were knocked out of a Women’s championship tournament with IWA Mid-South. During that time, Traci Brooks said she’d “never seen a girl train as hard” as you. Did you know about this and how did it make you feel?
Mickie: I knew Tracy has said some things about me and I know I have a lot of respect for her. Not only does she wrestle incredibly well, she looks good while doing it. I have heard she has said it, because I think she said it to me first. It makes me feel like I have done something in this business when people think of me like this. Especially women and men whom I have the up-most respect for.

A year later, you later went on to win the IWA Mid-South Women’s title. However, six days later, the title got returned to MsChif. But you were still recognized as the champ, so two separate titles were born. Can you tell us more about this situation, how you felt about the title separation and what it was like to win that Women’s title?
Mickie: Winning that title was amazing. At the time it was the NWA Mid South Women’s title at it was my debut match at the ECW arena. When Ed Chuman announced that the match wasn’t in the sanction of the NWA and that I was not recognized, that kind of sucked but I think dividing the two titles was good.

A reader, Dionne, wants to know who your favorite opponent was in IWA Mid-South and if you have a favorite match from your time there?
Mickie: Vs. LuFisto – no rope barbed wire, electrified light tubes match!

How many times did you in fact hold the IWA Mid-South Women’s title?
Mickie: I don’t really know… is that bad?

In 2008, TNA’s The Beautiful People kept hinting in backstage segments that “she” was coming. In June, you made your TNA debut when you attacked ODB, Roxxi and Gail Kim. What was this like?
Mickie: It was different. The whole atmosphere was different. But I had fun and it was a learning experience.

James wants to know what it was like to be put in the Beautiful People group?
Mickie: Kind of felt like I didn’t fit in there but oh well. It happens I guess.

Once in TNA, your ring name was changed to Moose. There were rumors on the internet that Velvet Sky chose this name. Do you know if that’s true?
Mickie: I really don’t know. I know that they couldn’t use my ring name because it is my legal name and they couldn’t copywriter it. But I had no clue they changed it to that until I went out through the curtain at the PPV.

Your first TNA match was a six Knockout tag match, where you, Angelina and Velvet lost to ODB, Gail Kim and Roxxi. What was it like to have a debut match on their biggest PPV?
Mickie: It was amazing. I couldn’t get enough of the intensity of the crowd and wrestling against Gail Kim made my night.

You later had several “bimbo brawl” matches. We know hardcore is your style, so were you happy to showcase your talents this way?
Mickie: I knew that’s what they wanted me for. You get paid to do things and if that’s what it took to have a spot on there, then so be it.

Whilst under contract by TNA, you suffered a broken leg, which put you out of action for a while. Can you tell us how you broke your leg?
Mickie: I never signed my contract. We were under negotiations. I broke my leg while jumping off a wall for a show for IWA Mid South against Sara Del Rey. It was a good match until that point and I wish it didn’t happen. But I found out from the doctor that he thought I may have had a previous fracture form the week before and just thought it was a deep thigh bruise. Just goes to show you never know.

It seemed like TNA were going somewhere with you, so do you know why TNA never asked you back?
Mickie: I have been told my spot is waiting for me when I was 100%, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know what they are doing with the women division. There are rumors they are getting rid of it and I don’t know who I would contact now to tell them I am healed with all the new set up they have.

What was it like wrestling for Chickfight?
Mickie: SWEET. I love Cali. And hanging out with those girls was phenomenal.

What other promotions have you worked for?
Mickie: IWA MS, IWA Deep South, IWA East Coast, WXW, WSU, XICW, Chickfights, CZW and many more I cannot remember right now.

Tell us more about your experiences there.
Mickie: Too many…. don’t think there is enough space!

Out of all the championships you’ve held, which win do you hold closest to you and why?
Mickie: The first time I won Queen….. IT was different knowing an all girls death match tournament had finally been to the US.

Wayaa would like to know how you feel about being ranked 25th of the best 50 female wrestlers in ‘PWI’s Female 50′ of 2008?
Mickie: I am intrigued cause I don’t really think that that list is accurate…. lol.

Another reader, Joshua, wants to know if you currently watch TNA or WWE?
Mickie: Not really, kind of pay more attention to the Indies and Japanese style.

If so, who are your favorite Divas and Knockouts?
Mickie: Tara, Jackie, Hamada, Mickie James.

Pam asked us to ask you if you’d ever consider going back to TNA or even joining WWE?
Mickie: Sure, it would be fun.

If we were to raid your iPod or music library, what kind of songs and artists would we find?
Mickie: EVERYTHING. I am a bit of a weirdo and it shows in my music choices… You could see Marilyn Manson to Johnny Cash to Morris Day and the Times. Depends on the day lol.

Let’s play one word association!
A. Ian Rotten Trainer
B. Angelina Love Ehhh
C. Velvet Sky Nice
D. ODB Drunk
E. Roxxi Hardcore
F. Gail Kim Talented
G. Hailey Hatred Joshi
H. MsChif Flexible

Well thank you once again for agreeing to do this interview with us, Mickie! Is there anything you wanna get out there to your fans or something you’d like to plug?
Mickie: I am coming back in full force. Be ready for me!