¡Feliz Cumpleaños, número 34 ~ Melina! That's right, it was on this date in pro wrestling history, March 9, 1979, that former fashion model and Californian native Melina Nava Perez, known simply by her pro wrestling moniker of "Melina," was born.
Despite failing to make the final cut for the third installment of World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) reality show Tough Enough back in 2002, Melina continued pursuing "the business". First, at Jesse Hernandez's "School of Hard Knocks" in San Bernardino, CA before transitioning East ward to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in 2004.
From WWE.com:
"I was always told I was too short, too fat, too small, too ugly or not good enough. People would tell me every negative comment under the moon, and that I would never make it. I kept going. I knew in my heart that I could make it, and that I was meant for this. My love for wrestling and my determination got me through everything I had to endure."
Her WWE debut came via sporadic appearances later that year, but didn't get started full time until 2005 alongside fellow OVW alums John Morrison and Joey Mercury (as "MNM"), complete with trademark "split" ring entrance.
Unfortunately, most pro wrestling fans won't remember her for her in-ring prowess or reign as Diva's Champion, but rather her much-publicized relationship with Morrison and gratuitous fling with Dave Bautista.
Anyone disagree?
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Here is an interview via fightnetwork.com which was uploaded to their YouTube on 11 Aug 2011, featuring the birthday girl, our former WWE Diva, Ms. Melina Perez.
Fight Network describes the interview below:
"[Melina] chats with John Pollock one-week prior to her release from the company. Melina discusses her comments on Twitter earlier this year [2011], Zack Ryder's online following [at the time] and being a part of the greatest match of all-time with Alicia Fox."
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09 MAR 2011
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09 MAR 2010
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