• Mickie James Reveals What WWE Officials Said About Female Wrestlers During The Divas Era
Mickie James has admitted that the “Divas Era” of WWE often left her conflicted, especially when she noticed the company shifting focus from trained wrestlers to hiring models.
On Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, the former multi-time champion said she began feeling frustrated during the mid-to-late 2000s as WWE emphasized looks over in-ring ability.
“I was like, this isn’t what I signed up for,” James recalled. “[WWE Officials] started saying things like, ‘Maybe the girls shouldn’t throw punches,’ and I’m thinking, ‘What? I worked hard on my punches!’”
She added that while some women from that period, such as Candice Michelle and Kelly Kelly, worked hard to earn respect, others “didn’t care about wrestling at all.”
“It was tough because I wanted to be known as the greatest Women’s Champion of all time – not just another Diva,” James said.
• “Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon were sleeping with each other” – Bret Hart
During his appearance on the Johnny I Pro Show in Montreal, Bret Hart made one of the most shocking claims of his career while reflecting on the events surrounding the Montreal Screwjob. As he revisited Shawn Michaels’ infamous 1997 promo – where Shawn claimed he needed time away to “find his smile” – Bret said the entire situation felt suspicious even at the time.
He recalled watching the segment backstage, noting how odd the emotions were between Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon. “Shawn was crying in the ring,” Bret said, describing Michaels’ speech. “And I just remember Vince… he had the tear rolled down his cheek.” That moment immediately sparked Bret’s suspicion. “I remember watching it and going, I think there’s more going on here between these two guys honestly.”
Bret then stated – without hesitation and without softening his words – that he now firmly believes Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels were romantically involved during that period. “I suspected, and now I really have serious – I think that Shawn and Vince were sleeping with each other,” he said. He doubled down: “I honestly… I’m very close to the truth here. Shawn and Vince were lovers.”
He emphasized that he was not speaking metaphorically or for shock value, insisting his belief is absolute. “I would say it to Shawn if he was right here. I would actually like to have Shawn come clean and say, ‘Look, we were lovers.’” Later in the conversation, Bret repeated: “If I saw either Vince or Shawn here, I would say I think you guys were lovers.”
Bret tied these beliefs directly to the environment around the Montreal Screwjob and the behavior he witnessed that year. He referenced Shawn forfeiting the WWF Championship on RAW, calling the injury explanation “a bunch of bullsh*t,” especially since Shawn performed “a standing backflip somersault off the top and lands right in the middle of the ring” immediately after claiming he was hurt.
Bret said he and The Undertaker exchanged looks backstage, with Taker signaling that the entire moment was inauthentic. “Undertaker looked at me and he pulled his eyelid down like this,” Bret recalled, suggesting both men sensed something was off.
As Bret re-evaluated the dynamic years later, he says the pieces all lined up in his mind. “When I look back, it’s like I got caught between two lovers, you know, and I got shafted and screwed over.” He went so far as to say that Shawn’s jealousy of him led to their alleged relationship influencing booking decisions: “Shawn was so envious and jealous of my position that he finally had to sleep with Vince to get it.”
Bret told the Montreal audience that this belief explains the special protection Shawn received and the emotional connection he saw between Michaels and McMahon. He noted Vince’s visible heartbreak when Shawn relinquished the belt, saying again that the whole interaction struck him as far more intimate than a standard boss–employee relationship. “I think there’s more going on here,” he reiterated.
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