Melina Perez

 

Melina Perez (born March 9, 1979) is a Mexican-American model, professional wrestler, valet, and actress. She is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Melina. She is a former three-time Women’s Champion and a two-time WWE Divas Champion. Perez started her career as a beauty pageant contestant, winning Miss Hawiaiian Tropics Anaheim. In Perez’s modelling career, she has won many modelling competitions such as the Group USA Bridal Show, Group USA Fashion Show, and Ms. California Belleza Latina. In April 2005, Perez alongside MNM, made their debut to the main roster as part of the SmackDown! brand, where she managed the team to three reigns as WWE Tag Team Champions,  as well as Johnny Nitro to two reigns as WWE Intercontinental Champion.  The team later disbanded in July 2006. Also in 2006, Perez became Mick Foley’s valet, until she turned on him beforeVince McMahon’s fired him. In February 2007, Perez won her first WWE Women’s Championship from Mickie James, until she dropped the title back to James at a house show in Paris, France, but would re-invoke her title rematch clause to win the Women’s title for the second time.  In May 2007, she lost her Women’s title to Candice Michelle at the Vengenace pay-per-view. In 2008, Melina would align herself with Beth Phoenix, until May 2008 when Phoenix turned on Melina, turning her into a fan favorite for the first time in her wrestling career.  After returning for an ankle injury in November 2008, Melina continued her feud with Beth Phoenix defeating her at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January 2009, to become a three-time Women’s Championship. In April 2009, Melina was drafted to SmackDown to feud with Michelle McCool, dropping the Women’s title to McCool at the The Bash in September 2009. In October 2009, Melina was traded back to Raw, where she won her first ever WWE Divas Championship against Jillian Hall her first night on the brand.  In December 2009, having a torn ACL, Melina was forced to vacant the Divas Championship, leading to her rival Maryse winning the title.  Melina would return from injury in August 2010 to regain her Divas Championship from Alicia Fox at the SummerSlam pay-per-view, making this her second reign as Divas Champion. After winning her second WWE Divas Championshipin 2010, Melina became the first woman in WWE history to record multiple reigns with both WWE Women’s and WWE Divas titles. At the Night of Champions pay-per-view, Melina dropped the Divas title in a unification match to unify the Divas and Women’s title to Michelle McCool in September 2010. In August 2011, Melina was released from her contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. Perez has been cited by the WWE as having “perhaps the most impressive arsenal of offensive maneuvers in Diva history.”