Mickie James made her debut in wrestling in the summer of 1999. She was best known as Alexis Laree during her days on the indy circuit. Laree started out as a valet, but within due time, she decided to step into the ring and become a wrestler herself. She wrestled for various indy promotions for several years. Laree's indy work would lead her to NWA-TNA in 2003. Laree would manage Raven during her coffee cup stint in NWA-TNA. Laree eventually left TNA to sign a developmental deal with WWE in August of 2003.

Soon after signing with WWE, Alexis Laree transferred over to Ohio Valley Wrestling. After being bypassed for several other women for two long years, it seemed as though that Laree would never be called up to the majors. However, in July of 2005, Laree received word that she would finally be called up to WWE. Laree was CM Punk's valet at a WWE Heat taping on July 25, 2005. Unfortunately, the match never aired because WWE officials were not impressed with their work. It was back to the minors for the both of them. Would Alexis Laree ever catch a break?

After several years of toiling on the indy circuit, Laree finally hit it big when she was called up to WWE in October of 2005. Under the guise of her real name, Mickie James was billed as an obsessed fan of Trish Stratus. For weeks on end, Mickie would idolize and mimic her idol. After Trish broke her heart, it was Mickie's time to shine when she overcame the odds to unseat Trish for the WWE Women's Championship at Wrestlemania 22. She would later lose the belt to Lita on an episode of RAW in August 2006.