In what may be surprising news in an otherwise slow week, PW Insider are reporting that former WWE Divas Champion, Melina (real name Melina Perez)is set to return to the company. The former WWE star has spent a decade away from a full-time deal with the WWE, but that now looks set to change.
Melina is, of course, something of a memorable and recognizable part of WWE’s “divas era” of the women’s division. As recently as last year, she made a one-night-only appearance on RAW, in what was her first WWE event since 2011. Clearly she has impressed someone behind the scenes and earned a new deal.
There had been interest in Perez earlier this year as the company attempted to book her for the 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble, but at the time, she was under an agreement with the NWA. That agreement has since expired. [PW Insider]
A three-time WWE Women’s Champion and a two-time WWE Divas Champion, Melina had a successful run in WWE. Initially debuting in 2004 as the valet of Johnny Nitro (John Morrison) and Joey Mercury, Melina helped MNM become something of a memorable tag team. She would depart MNM and go solo shortly after, going onto capture her first Women’s Championship in 2007, defeating Mickie James. If Mickie was the top women’s babyface of the mid-2000s, Melina was certainly the top heel. Whilst Mickie was the lovable, fun, white meat babyface who won fans over with good matches, Melina was the deceiving, vindictive character who personified the now frowned upon term “diva”.
WWE has changed dramatically since Melina’s heyday. Now 41, she certainly no longer possesses the element of time being on her side. She’s a veteran now and would be the oldest active competitor within the women’s division (given that she is five months older than former rival, Mickie James). However, Melina is infinitely better as a performer – having spent a considerable part of the last decade honing her craft on the independent circuit. Most recently, she has worked for the NWA and Warriors of Wrestling, where she is the current WOW Women’s Champion. Everyone better watch out – the Scream Queen is here to reclaim her throne.
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