Mickie James may have returned to television not long and immediately earned a title shot at Velvet Sky but that doesn't mean she's happy about her place on the TNA roster. In fact, she's been rather upset at the way she's been used over the past year.
From an interview with Running the Ropes Radio:
"I know I've seemed a little bit frustrated as of late in some of my promos and stuff, but I honestly feel that for the past year I've probably been on less than 10 shows. I've barely done anything. It's awesome to be able to come back and win the number one contendership and go for the title, but I'm sick and tired of feeling like I'm sitting at home and watching all these other people. I did get injured and I was sick, but I was already off TV when I got hurt. It's so frustrating when you know that you're one of the best in the world, and you're sitting at home. I love going out there and making magic and telling a story, but I don't love pretending that I'm okay sitting at home when I'm not. I'm just being real and being honest about it. It's not me trying to be this awful person. I'm the one who has to look at myself in the mirror and if I'm not happy with what I'm doing or not doing, then I'm the one who has to face that. So that's kind of where I'm at. I know people question that like ‘Oh are you turning heel?' And I'm like ‘No, not really. I'm just being honest."
James had a medical issue that forced her to take a few months off and she's also been busy promoting, touring, and doing other work in support of her latest studio album. Still, she's not okay with her decreased role on Impact and it's difficult to blame her.
After all, the company is wasting far too much time on a storyline involving a heel stable that doesn't draw dimes while the Knockouts continue to have highly successful segments in the ratings each week.
Still, she's one of many and it's not likely she'll be pushed ahead of the main male stars on the roster. Unfortunate, but that's the way it is and will likely continue to be.