Candice Michelle: TNA Signing, Return to Wrestling & Beth Phoenix Injury Story

Candice Michelle, a veteran of professional wrestling known for her time in WWE, is embarking on a recent chapter with TNA Wrestling, initially as an agent, but with aspirations for a return to the ring. The announcement comes as Michelle reflects on a career that includes both triumphs and a significant injury sustained during a match with Beth Phoenix.

The opportunity with TNA arose from a call by Tommy Dreamer, who offered Michelle a position as an agent in January of 2026. “He’s like, come and shadow me the first weekend, and the next weekend you’ll be an agent,” Michelle recounted in an interview with Chris Van Vliet. “All I can think about is that it’s wrestling, you know, we’re gonna observe if you’re going to survive or not, and if you can do it or not and throw them to the wolves. I was like, Okay, let’s go.”

While initially brought on in a backstage capacity, Michelle expressed optimism that her role could evolve into an on-screen presence. “I think that this initial call was my hope spot, and I think it’s going to lead into my comeback,” she stated. This sentiment was further fueled by a conversation with Dustin Rhodes at WrestleCon, where she voiced her desire to wrestle again.

“I was at WrestleCon, and I was doing an appearance, my promoter had Dustin [Rhodes] on, and somebody said, ‘Go up to him and tell him how you want to wrestle again,’” Michelle explained. “I was going to the Hall of Fame that year to watch Michelle [McCool] be inducted. I go over to him, I was like, ‘Hey, I know you have a school in Texas, and I think I have the itch.’ He’s like, what? I don’t know if she really does.” The subsequent call from Tommy Dreamer in December solidified her feeling that a return to wrestling was imminent. “I just feel it coming. I don’t know when it’s coming, but it’s coming.”

Michelle’s wrestling journey has been marked by both success and adversity. A particularly harrowing moment came during a match against Beth Phoenix, an event she revisited in the interview. The match took place overseas, during a period when Arn Anderson and Ricky Steamboat were actively involved in her training. “So you see how really towards the end of my wrestling career is when I really felt like I was getting the knowledge. It was the first time I understood that there’s a philosophy to the match. I literally had no idea. I was never taught it or anything,” Michelle said, reflecting on the late-career mentorship.

The match involved a risky maneuver – a top rope leg drop – that ultimately led to injury. “We had this move where it was supposed to be, you know how you open your legs on the top rope and fall in. I guess I’m not that flexible. I think about it to this day. I just saw somebody on TNA do this move, and I was like, yeah, that’s not for me. So I was like, I’ll do my knees instead. That’s a little less flexible.” During a subsequent attempt, her boot caught the rope, causing her to land on her head.

The impact resulted in a concussion and a broken collarbone. “I was knocked out. I don’t remember it. The first thing I remember is being on the stretcher, and Stephanie McMahon was leaning over me, and they’re going into Gorilla, and she goes, ‘Don’t worry, we’re flying your husband out.’ I was like, they don’t fly your husband out [unless it’s serious]. So instantly, I was worried.” Michelle emphasized the lack of understanding surrounding concussion protocols at the time, noting that being carried to the center of the ring after the injury could have resulted in paralysis.

Despite the serious injury, Michelle’s passion for wrestling remains undiminished. Her current role with TNA, coupled with her expressed desire to return to the ring, suggests a new and potentially exciting phase in her career. The veteran performer is clearly eager to contribute to the sport she loves, both behind the scenes and, potentially, once again in front of the cameras.