Mickie James vs. Lita Announced For WWE Evolution

WWE revealed another marquee match for the upcoming Evolution pay-per-view, announcing Monday night that Mickie James will take on WWE Hall of Famer Lita.

BREAKING: @WWE Hall of Famer @AmyDumas will return to the ring at #WWEEvolution to square off against former rival and 6-TIME #WomensChampion @MickieJames! https://t.co/h5pBEWGfb7

— WWE (@WWE) September 4, 2018

WWE’s official announcement of the match highlighted Mickie’s and Lita’s many accomplishments, as well as their history inside the ring:

“Together, the two Superstars have captured 10 Women’s Championships, with Lita winning four titles and James earning six. Both competitors can boast a championship victory over the other, including Mickie’s win in Lita’s retirement match at Survivor Series back in 2006.”

Of course, despite the retirement match, Lita has wrestled a handful of times for WWE since 2006. She faced and beat Heath Slater at Raw 1,000 in 2012, and – more notably – participated in the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble in January.

Furthermore, Lita deserves this rematch against James on a stage like Evolution. After her “retirement” at Survivor Series in 2006, Cryme Tyme (‘member them?!) humiliated her by selling her stolen personal belongings to the audience. A four-time women’s champion and WWE Hall of Famer deserves a better send-off than that.

Following the announcement of the match, Mickie expressed her gratitude and excitement on social media:

View this post on Instagram

I couldn’t be more #honored after tonight’s #announcement for #evolution vs @machetegirl … someone who was willing to help me when I was #nobody… someone I’ve looked up to my entire #career… someone I was able to make #history with! Now we are able to do that #Again & We’ve both come so far since the last time we faced each other. I #love you, I #admire you, and I have nothing but #respect for you & everything you’ve done as a #woman for our #business. However don’t forget my dear #friend, the last time we faced each other… I #retired you! #historyrepeatsitself #wwe #womenempowerment #womenswrestling #womenswrestlingmatters #hof #legend #Lita #LitaVsMickie

A post shared by Mickie James (@themickiejames) on Sep 3, 2018 at 10:50pm PDT

As for the WWE Universe – many seem upset and unsatisfied with the re-match, as per usual.

WWE:
– Mickie James will face Lita
– Alexa Bliss will face Trish Stratus

Sasha Fans: pic.twitter.com/IsTDp28fB3

— Pepe (@__PepeL) September 4, 2018

I'm not here for Lita returning and beating Mickie James. pic.twitter.com/IraOvBJyLq

— Alex Segreste. (@AlexSegreste) September 4, 2018

Would it not have made more sense to go with Trish vs Mickie?

Lita and Mickie James to once again square off at WWE Evolution  https://t.co/zg5RMKfIDV via @wwe

— Stevie Wilson (@thesteviewilson) September 4, 2018

Look, ima keep it real!
Lita vs Mickie James at Evolution? @WWE you all could have done better!
If we keep getting matches like this, ima just sell my ticket.

No shade! Love em both to death. #WWE #RAW #Evolution

— Joel Romero (@joel_romero01) September 4, 2018

Lita and Mickie James makes zero sense to me. Lita and Asuka, yes. Also, please give me LayCool and The Iconics at Evolution. I’m begging you.

— 2 Sweet Scorpio | Tanahashi's Hair Stan Account (@lovelyceelovely) September 4, 2018

So at the #Evolution ppv they're gonna do Lita vs Mickie James!? With the women they are inviting back and women on there roster this was there best!? Off the top of my head two names come to mind face to Lita! Sasha Banks and if she comes back AJ Lee!

— Joshua Andresen (@RainMakerVegeta) September 4, 2018

WWE throws us Lita vs. Mickie James then wonders why ticket sales are struggling. How about Lita vs. Becky? Straight Fire vs. the original fiery Diva of the World Wrestling Federation.

— brendan fraser as the encino man (@deathinkosovo) September 4, 2018

Just another day on wrestling Twitter.

To borrow a turn of phrase from Mr. Joel Romero up there, Ima keep it real: Lita vs. Mickie makes perfect sense.

Yes, Mickie has more history with Trish than she does Lita. But again: Mickie is the one who retired Lita, and Lita deserves so much better than the retirement match she got. This match at Evolution is undoubtedly WWE’s way of making up for the awful goodbye she got in 2006.

Furthermore, in what universe do any of the other suggestions being made make more sense than Lita vs. Mickie? Lita vs. Asuka? When have they ever even interacted? And, despite rumors to the contrary, I wouldn’t hold my breath on AJ Lee ever coming back. Have we already forgotten that WWE just floated a lawsuit against her husband?

Lita and Mickie James were two of the brightest spots in a dark era for women’s wrestling. WWE made a right call pitting them against each other at Evolution, and there are undoubtedly more great matches to come.