In 2011, Rayne would start a rivalry with Mickie James over the Knockouts Championship, and would successfully defend the title against her at Genesis, and at Against All Odds in a Last Knockout Standing match, both times after interference from Tara. Afterwards, Rayne, claiming to now be done with James, announced the beginning of an open challenge series intended to find her new opponents, and, as part of it, successfully defended the Knockout Championship against former Knockouts ODB, Roxxi and Alissa Flash. However, during the storyling, Tara began claiming that Rayne had gone too far in her brutality towards James, but was forced to follow her orders due to being under exclusive contract with Rayne and not with TNA. After Rayne lost her title to James at Lockdown, ending her reign at 188 days, James agreed to give her a rematch for it on the condition that if she is unable to regain the title, Tara would be released from her contract with Rayne. On May 15 at Sacrifice, Tara turned on Rayne during her match with James, costing her the Knockout Championship and guaranteeing herself a release from her contract with Rayne. Rayne attacked Tara on the June 9 episode of "Impact Wrestling", costing her and Mickie James their tag team match against Angelina Love and Winter. The two faced each other in a singles match on the July 14 episode of "Impact Wrestling", where Tara was victorious after distracting Rayne with her pet tarantula Poison. Rayne returned on the September 29 episode of "Impact Wrestling", defeating Tara to earn a shot at the Knockouts Championship at Bound for Glory.