Along with several other Superstars, WWE veteran Mickie James was released from the company last month, and when it came to light that the former Women's champion's belongings were sent to her in a black garbage bag, the story exploded on social media.
The man responsible (Mark Carano) actually ended up being fired, but it sounds like WWE and the fans might have made a slightly bigger deal out of what happened than James herself.
Mickie's husband, NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis, was asked about #TrashBagGate during an interview with Spencer Love, and had the following to say.
"Well, I hope this doesn’t destroy anyone’s delusion of it. But, you know, the craziest thing about all that for us was that she really – it wasn’t like she was super offended. It wasn’t like she was really upset. She was kind of laughing at the symbolism. It wasn’t like this thing where she went ‘ah, I’m devastated, I’m heartbroken, how would they do this to me,’ and I’ve seen some people sort of refer to it like that as if that was the sort of tone. If you go back and look at her post with the video and stuff, she was very tongue-in-cheek about it. She was very kind of, ‘well, that’s about [frick]ing right!’ In other words, they chew you up and spit you out, and that’s just the way the business is. And, look. She’s been through a hell of a lot worse. "
"The reality is, is that symbolism and sort of tone-deaf gesture, I guess, is the best way to describe it, it’s not even in the top-10 of the most cold, heartless things that have happened to her or me in this business. So, it’s kind of like, hey, man, we’ve got thick skins. She just thought it was enlightening, I guess, to sort of share with the world like, ‘Hey, you think it’s all special and glamorous? It’s sometimes not so much.’ I was very amazed at the level of traction it got. And, I was amazed at the level of response on the corporate level from those guys. From Triple H, and Stephanie [to] Vince, they all – and, hey, I will say that Vince McMahon went out of his way to express to Mickie his respect for her and her contributions. That’s at least some consolation to take from it. Although, I would politely suggest that maybe a little more respect could have been shown to her while she was there.”
It's good to hear that James wasn't too offended by the whole trash-bag situation, and If nothing else, her publicly calling this type of thing out might ensure that it doesn't happen again.