Tag: McKenzie Mitchell

McKenzie Mitchell is always on the move with business in mind. Whether that be ring announcing for TNA, running her jewelry business Headline by MM, or even writing a coffee book. The latter, called “Threads of Triumph: Professional Wrestling’s Most Iconic Looks,” was a labor of love for the 31-year-old. It also combines her love and appreciation for what she is passionate about. For Mitchell, it’s surreal to be seeing a five-year vision realized with the project set for release next April and available for preorder now. 

It all started with an idea pitched to WWE and other avenues, but the budding author wasn’t getting any traction. Doubters weren’t quite sure what the demographic would be for something  based on pro wrestling gear. Mitchell was undeterred. 

“I actually filmed a pilot with Johnny Gargano that lives somewhere within the WWE archives for an actual episode with WWE,” she recalled. “We filmed it, and it was great. The conversation just flowed. It was amazing. Then it just never found its footing . When I was released in 2023 I was like, “what do I want to do? I put that idea to work, and ‘Threads with McKenzie Mitchell’ was born. I got a lot of love then and traction.” 

A sitdown with Natalya set the wheels in motion for what would become the book. The trailblazing former women’s champion encouraged Mitchell to pursue the concept further. This led to writing a full 30-page book proposal and securing a literary agent. “I got four offers in two weeks,” she said.

With an official offer in hand last October from publisher Chronicle Books, she got to work and began writing. Mitchell pulled out her proverbial rolodex meeting with the likes of Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and Rhea Ripley. Despite having a busy schedule, she would find time to write. 

“It has been a lot of time and consumption of my life,” Mitchelle added. “(Husband) Vic [Joseph] and I took a cruise for my birthday in March. I was writing on the cruise. Literally, it was land, air, and sea, I have been writing this book almost in secret everywhere I am this year.”

Mitchell has been touched by the response from fans and those in the industry. Someone even said, ‘finally, a book for me.” It’s a gratifying feeling for her.  

“It’s no secret I didn\’t grow up watching professional wrestling, but I always loved the fashion side of professional wrestling,” she said. “That the wrestlers would wear and present themselves to an audience and that connection from a fan to a wrestler. A lot of times fans look at professional wrestlers and say, ‘I love this person,’ but they don’t know why they connect to them. This book really connects those dots. It comes from them wearing something and telling a story with it without them speaking at all.” 

The book chronicles the evolution from the 1940s as professional wrestling entered television’s golden era into the colorful decades that followed. From Ric Flair and “Macho Man” Randy Savage to Chyna and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to Rey Mysterio and Bianca Belair, it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane in a way never really done before. 

“Gorgeous George was doing all these ideas. He was implementing these ideas that were so out-of-the-box and out of character and out of the norm at that timeframe,” Mitchell explained. “You’re able to take what he did and implement and see that in the Ric Flair’s and see that in the Charlotte Flair’s and see that within all these people that are making this path if you will that started back in the 1940s with Gorgeous George. 

“It’s a story to be told, how we evolve as people, how fashion has evolved over time. But fashion in the sport of professional wrestling and pop culture. How these athletes and celebrity figures were doing things over time that stood out and were different and now we’re able to celebrate that path and honor what they did and we’re still able to see these moments laced if you will into the threads of the current professional wrestlers you’re seeing today in WWE, AEW, TNA, and all the major promotions. It started somewhere. It started back in the day.”

When it came to who should contribute the foreword, Mitchell knew she wanted a female voice to bring that unique perspective. After time and care went into choosing a name she slid into the DMs of Mercedes Moné.She was connected to Moné’s agent. Mitchell described the process as a seamless moment with a foreword sent to her within a week. The AEW TBS Champion was honored to have the opportunity. By the same token, having a marquee name certainly adds more bankability to the project. 

“She has had such an amazing career in her own right going back to Sasha Banks and all that she has done in AEW and her time in Japan and the anime she brings to life as well,” Mitchell explained. “She is very true to who she is, and you are able to see that come across her character in any way she is presenting herself. I wanted this person to make sense for ‘Threads.’”

Bound For Glory was a time of celebration for the entire TNA Wrestling roster. For McKenzie Mitchell, it was a time to reflect on the company’s rollercoaster journey. Her start into the business came through a three-year stint with the company. Earlier this year she returned home back in the role of ring announcer. Certainly, things like introducing the Hardy Boyz and Team 3D in their “One Final Table” will be a career highlight. 

“Standing in the ring at Bound For Glory in Boston with nearly 8,000 people. Sometimes you don’t take the moment to stop and truly look around and look at what is happening before your eyes. For me, it was a moment to soak everything in,” Mitchell said. “You talk about the ‘One Final Table’ match with the Hardyz and Dudleys. That is the last time those two iconic tag teams will be in the ring together. 

“I was lucky to be a smart part of that. I told Bubba this the other day that I wanted to really do them justice of their careers and everything they’ve done putting their bodies on the line year after year. For me, I was very lucky. I was very honored to be a part of that. Again, in wrestling because it moves so quickly…For Bound For Glory, before I did the announcement for the Dudleys and the Hardyz, I just stopped and looked around and saw everyone on their feet for this moment. It was really an opportunity to pay respect to them. It was so cool I was just a small part.” 

It’s a great time to be a pro wrestling fan in this landscape of collaboration. Among those partnerships has been an unheard of one between TNA and WWE’s NXT brand. The two sides have been sharing talent, meshing, and overall working together. So much so that Mitchell was able to go back to her old stomping grounds at the WWE Performance Center where she helped ring announce for the NXT x TNA ‘Showdown’ special. An added bonus was getting to see her husband, voice of NXT Vic Joseph, at work.

“Obviously, I started my career at TNA for three or four years of my life. I remember back then, in my resume reel I was submitting to WWE to get hired by WWE, it was almost this feeling that I’m this TNA girl,” Mitchell recalled. “I think back then…I applied on the website, WWECareers.com. I also made a new resume reel that was things that were outside of professional wrestling, that wasn’t just TNA wrestling. I didn’t know that for a fact, but it kind of felt like it was hurting my chances of being able to make the transition to WWE. I went out and filmed other things to show my versatility and what I could do as a broadcaster. 

“Now you fast forward to this partnership, something we thought would never happen because they were separate brands. You were either TNA or WWE. Now to see this seamless blend of this partnership. I think it’s something the fans can appreciate. True TNA diehard fans are getting their feel. WWE fans are getting their feel. These are matches you would never have thought would happen. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater, what in the world? The talent these two have in the ring is really cool. What’s really awesome, to put it in a one-word way, but it’s awesome to see the growth that has been had and is still to come. Talking about working with my husband, it’s almost like this full-circle moment. Starting in TNA, going to WWE, and going back to TNA and still doing this handshake moment is really awesome for me.” 

Mitchell loves wearing many hats. Her skillset has taken her from ring announcing to broadcasting to interviewing. However, one part of the pro wrestling show we haven’t seen is an actual in-ring performer. Will that ever happen? 

“I have never taken a bump,” Mitchell answered. “In all of my years in professional wrestling, I’ve been in wrestling for 10 years, I’ve never taken a bump. Now something you say in wrestling is never say never. I always have to say never say never. I would like to take one kind of bump, whether it’s in a match or just behind the scenes just so when I have kids one day I can say, \’your mom did that one time and it hurt really, really bad.’ I think I would want to because I would then be able to relate what these athletes do week in and week out, putting their body on the line. 

“I have been approached several times about having the match. For me it\’s a matter of, I think I’m a better talker than I am wrestler or would-be wrestler. I did grow up an athlete. I was a cheerleader. I was a dancer. I played volleyball, so I was athletic growing up. If the right opportunity would present itself, maybe I would have my Michael Cole moment at WrestleMania. We all remember that moment. Never say never, but it would have to be the right opportunity for me.”

Though she might be a little too busy these days to buckle down for training. After all Mitchell is a mogul in the making. Not only does she have her commitments to TNA, but she is a business owner and brand boss within the jewelry industry.  The entrepreneur owns a Headline by MM online store, as well as a formal store in Nashville. For Mitchell, the business venture follows in the footsteps of her family, which spans more than 75 years in the jewelry business. Her Drippin collection took off thanks to those who have worn custom pieces from Seth Rollins to Trick Williams. Jeff Hardy even sported a piece of Mitchell’s collection during Bound For Glory. She also has some of country music’s biggest names like Sarah Evans and Lainey Wilson wearing her jewelry. 

“I wanted it to be the perfect blend within my professional life and personal life kind of creating this moment coming together,” she said. “…It has snowballed, and I’m so excited to see where we go with this and how we can build this dream.” 

One person who has yet to be a customer is her own husband. Joseph does support the wife, including the promotion of her upcoming book “Threads of Triumph Professional Wrestling\’s Most Iconic Looks.” However, McKenzie admits he owns zero Headline by MM products. 

“I say this to my husband all the time. I know a thing or two about fashion, why do you not want to just listen to me,’ she explained. “Put on a necklace, a lapel pin, there are so many things we can do. My husband is very set in his ways, and so we’re working on it. The other day we were at Disney with the Garganos, and Johnny was wearing a nice bracelet. I said, ‘See, Johnny is wearing a bracelet. Why can’t you wear a bracelet?’ Shawn Michaels was wearing a nice watch the other day. I said, ‘See, Shawn is wearing a nice watch.’ 

“This is how it goes. Maybe, maybe he’ll start wearing something. But to keep it simple, he owns zero pieces. It is one of those things too when you\’re growing up and your mom says you should wear this. And you think, ‘mom that’s a dumb idea.’ It’s similar. The fact he still doesn\’t believe I know what I\’m talking about. Maybe one day he’ll realize, ‘hey, maybe my wife does know what she is talking about.’”