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Revision as of 22:39, 14 June 2006 by 165.196.194.167 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Melina Perez | |
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| Born | March 9, 1979 Los Angeles, California |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Melina, Kyra, Melanie Little Deer |
| Billed height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
| Billed weight | 122 lb (55 kg) |
| Trained by | Jesse Hernandez, OVW, Dave Finlay |
| Debut | 2001; November 29, 2004 (WWE) |
Melina Perez (born March 9, 1979 in Los Angeles, California) better known simply as Melina, is a Mexican-American professional wrestler and manager, currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its RAW brand.
Melina's ring entrance is a display of her flexibility. Standing beside the ring, she lifts her right leg onto the apron, then lifts her left leg (At this point she is doing a split on the apron.), and then bends her upper body under the bottom rope. Michael Cole and Tazz were quick to label this "the greatest ring entrance in the history of sports entertainment." Melina would go on to add a high-pitched scream during matches when cheering on her team, which has been labeled the "primal scream."
Career
Prior to Perez's career in pro wrestling, she was a fashion model. During her run at modeling, she won the title of Miss California. In 2001, Perez decided to become a professional wrestler after being convinced by Mike Henderson and enrolled in Jesse Hernandez's School of Hard Knocks to train. Perez's debut in pro wrestling happened in 2002 by touring the independent wrestling scene. She joined a number of California-based promotions, such as the Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) and the now-defunct CRUSH all-women's promotion in which she worked with Mickie James. While working as Kyra in various Southern California Indy promotions, Perez received a WWE developmental contract in December 2003. She appeared on Tough Enough 3 for WWE.
Perez made her Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) debut in March 2004 when Matt Cappotelli brought Melina in as a way to taunt Johnny Nitro, who was Melina's ex-boyfriend. However, Melina betrayed Cappotelli and quickly aligned herself with Nitro. Soon after, Nitro teamed with fellow superstar Joey Matthews, now known as Joey Mercury. On November 10, 2004, the trio now known as MNM won the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles.
World Wrestling Entertainment
WWE SmackDown!
On the April 14, 2005 edition of SmackDown!, Melina debuted along with her tag team of Mercury and Nitro as MNM. The team interrupted the first ever "Carlito's Cabana" on which one half of the-then WWE Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio was a guest. Melina insulted Mysterio and had Mercury and Nitro attack him. This would lead to MNM's ring debut being a match for the Tag Team Titles on the next edition of SmackDown!. Melina would lead her men to victory over Mysterio and his tag team partner Eddie Guerrero which would begin MNM's first title reign.
Melina would continue to aid her team in defending their tag team belts from challengers like Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas, as well as the team of Heidenreich and Road Warrior Animal.
Melina would also feud and attack many of the Divas within WWE at this time, proclaiming herself to be the most dominant diva in WWE. Melina would have her first WWE match against Michelle McCool. Melina's first pay-per-view match would be against Torrie Wilson and would see the two divas face off in a Bra and Panties match at the Great American Bash, which Melina would win.
After a tag team title loss at The Great American Bash, she aligned MNM with a "fixer" Jillian Hall who would assist Melina in feuds with WWE Divas, including Sharmell and Christy Hemme manager of the new Tag Team Champions, Heidenreich and Road Warrior Animal.
MNM would regain the WWE Tag Team Championship during this time on the October 28, 2005 edition of SmackDown!. Not long after this Melina would get involved with an in-ring confrontation with America's Next Top Model contestant Michelle Deighton.
On the Eddie Guerrero Tribute edition of RAW, Melina accompanied MNM to the ring for their match against RAW's then-World Tag Team Champions Kane and The Big Show before competing in an interpromotional diva battle royal, which Melina won, last eliminating RAW's then-Women's Champion Trish Stratus. This match would lead to an interpromotional feud that would see SmackDown!'s Melina get a chance to win the Women's Championship at Survivor Series in a match that would be proclaimed the divas match of the year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. However, Melina lost the match after interference by Mickie James.
During this time MNM was set to defend their tag titles at WWE Armageddon in a match against The Mexicools, but before the event they would first have to defend the titles against the team of Rey Mysterio and the then-World Heavyweight Champion Batista. Melina would visit Batista in the locker room area to seductively suggest that she could make it worth his while to skip the match and allow MNM time to prepare for their title defence at Armageddon. Batista, who seemed very receptive to the idea, allowed Melina to engage in sexual acts only to simply thank Melina for the "warmup" before leaving to take part in the match. Mysterio and Batista would win this match and take the titles from MNM.
After 'Armageddon; on the last SmackDown! of 2005, MNM envoked their rematch clause for a match against Batista and Rey Mysterio. However, before the match to place, Melina, accompanied by a lawyer, held a press conference in the ring where she claimed that Batista had sexually harrassed. During the tag team match, Mark Henry (making his WWE return) aided MNM in winning back their WWE Tag Team Champions.
On the first SmackDown! of 2006, Melina announced that Mark Henry was there for her personal protection against Batista. Henry would accompany Melina and aid the other members of MNM in matches involving Batista and his tag team partner, Mysterio. MNM and Mark Henry feuded with Kurt Angle and would soon be joined by Daivari. Melina would later give Henry's services to Daivari and both teams went separate ways.
Melina would continue to aid her team in defending their tag team belts from a variety of challengers including The Mexicools, Matt Hardy and his various partners as well as the team of London & Kendrick.
On the April 28, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, Melina would begin a feud with Jillian Hall after getting into a catfight backstage. This would lead to a match between the two divas at WWE Judgment Day. At this time Paul London and Brian Kendrick were also set to face MNM for the tag titles at Judgment Day.
At Judgement Day 2006, MNM would lose their WWE Tag Team Championship to London and Kendrick. The trio then imploded as Melina and Nitro attacked Mercury. Later that night, Melina would lose to Jillian Hall by a controversial decision and, after slapping General Manager Theodore Long in anger, she and Johnny Nitro were fired from SmackDown!.
WWE Raw
Melina and Johnny Nitro made their return to the RAW brand on May 29, 2006, after being "fired" from SmackDown with Nitro taking on John Cena, Nitro lost by tapping out to the STFU. The following week, Melina faked a sprained ankle allowing Nitro to roll up Charlie Haas for his first RAW win.
On the June 12 2006 edition of RAW, Melina and Shelton Benjamin helped Nitro to defeat Carlito. It was also announced that Nitro will be facing the two at Vengeance for the Intercontinental Title at the Vengeance PPV. Melina will be in Nitro's corner.
Wrestling facts
Finishing and signature moves
- As Kyra
- KyraPractor (Sickle hold)
- Kyranium Buster (Diving neckbreaker)
- Divastator (kicking combination)
- Headscissors takedown
- Powerbomb
- Frog splash
- As Melina
- Face First (Spinning facebuster)
- Melina Clamp (Surfboard submission)
- Flying double axe handle
- Neck scissors
- Rear naked choke with body scissors
- Crossfaces
- Mat Slam
Wrestlers Managed by Melina
Personal information
Melina is currently dating John Hennigan, better known as "Johnny Nitro" as confirmed by Melina herself and the owners of her official site. She currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky with Hennigan. She speaks both English and Spanish fluently. Melina has a brother called P.J. Perez.
Accomplishments
- Melina was the second diva to crack WWE.com's Power 25 (in her solo spot) at number 24, for the week starting November 26, 2005.
- Her Survivor Series 2005 match against Trish Stratus was proclaimed as "The Divas Match of the Year" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.