Melina Didn’t Want To Drop WWE Women’s Title To Candice Michelle

During the mid-2000s, Candice Michelle was a prominent figure in the women’s division and a well-respected champion. She gained a lot of admiration from fans during her tenure with the company, and her popularity was well-deserved. While she was loved by many, it seems Melina wasn’t one of them. In fact, Melina didn’t want to drop the WWE Women’s Championship to Candice Michelle.

On the other hand, Melina played a vital role in the women’s division during the mid-2000s, when the era of Lita and Trish Stratus was coming to a close. Alongside talented performers such as Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix, and Mickie James, Melina helped lead the division during a time when female wrestlers did not have the same opportunities as they do today.

While speaking to WrestlingNews.co, Candice Michelle talked about her time working with Melina, where Michelle revealed that Melina did not want to drop the WWE Women’s Championship to her.

According to Candice Michelle, Melina was not willing to drop the title to her during their match. Candice came from a Hollywood background and understood the entertainment industry, while Melina had a background in wrestling and felt that she had put in more work. This caused tension between the two, but it also pushed Candice to be better. She didn’t know what to expect during their matches, as Melina would not talk to her, and this frustrated Candice.

However, looking back on the experience, Candice realizes that Melina’s animosity helped her become a better wrestler and ultimately a champion. Candice and Melina have since become friends, and Candice thanked her for the challenge that pushed her to succeed.

“She did not want this to happen. She did not want to drop that title to me. I came from Hollywood and I understood it. She came up from wrestling and wrestling schools and doing Indie shows, and to her, she put the work in more so than me in her mind. But she didn’t see the work that I put in leaving Wisconsin and going to Hollywood and the auditions I did every day. It’s the same thing, just from a different standpoint, right? So her hating that so much was very difficult, yet it pushed me to be extra great.”

I mean, there were times when we’re going into that match, I legit didn’t know if that was going to be a shoot match, or we’re going to have a match. Like I had no idea what we’re going to do, and I didn’t train in wrestling so I was like, I don’t know, we’re going out there to fight. I just know I’m going out there. I have an opportunity to go out there, so we’ll see what happens.

We get out there and we put on one hell of a show. The next one would come. I’d be like, ‘What are we gonna do?’ It was like, she wouldn’t even talk to me and I was like, so frustrated. I’m like, I want to give it my all and be my best and I can’t work with this girl. What I just learned is that hate in that moment made me respect her because it pushed me. So after the fact years later, I just shook her hand, and we’re friends now, and I just said ‘You know what? Thank you for that because I’m not so sure I would have become the champion if you were nice to me back then.’

Candice Michelle also recently explained why she has been absent from WWE television. Michelle also almost had a real-life fight with Melina during a WWE house show.

What do you think of Candice Michelle’s experience with Melina? Have you ever been in a similar situation where someone’s animosity pushed you to become better? Sound off in the comments!