Melina was one of the mainstays of the WWE women’s division during the early to late 2000s and fans fondly remember her for all of her accomplishments. She was part of the Women’s Royal Rumble match last year and now Melina revealed why she didn’t re-sign with WWE a few years ago.
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 with Wrestling Shoot Interviews, Melina talked about the reason why she didn’t re-sign with WWE back in 2020 and mentioned that it felt like WWE was dangling a carrot in front of her when it came down to it.
“Actually, I was, but this is another thing where I keep thinking were they just dangling a carrot in front of me? Honestly, that was the time to dangle a carrot in front of me because my father just died and the last thing he said when I saw last him was if I had a chance to go back, go back. So for him, hell yeah I’d go back because i wanted to fulfil his vision of what he saw for me.”
“But when they took that carrot back, I thought, ‘No. My god, I remember how I felt when I was here last time, I don’t think I can go through it again if it’s the same kind of environment. I’m older now – I want to work, I don’t want to play games and I wanna work to the best of my abilities and not go through the games I went through when I was a kid. “
“It’s this thing where I wanna do, I wanna fulfil my father’s dreams. What he said – ”You’re so good at it, I think you should go back.’ I think part of me thought yeah I’d like to go back. But, when they did that, I was like nevermind. Sorry daddy, I’ll fulfil your vision of me in a different way. “
Melina would also reveal that WWE ended up cutting a portion of her entrance during the 2022 Royal Rumble and couldn’t exactly figure out why.
“Of course I wanted to do more. It would have been nice if i actually got the full minute they told me I was gonna get, especially with Sasha. It would’ve been a more beautiful closing of a chapter for me when it came to WWE, but even though they took everything out, they even tried to take my entrance out. If you pay attention, maybe it’s edited out, I tried to do the entrance, they cut away. They didn’t know I was goin to do that, they had to get it and I was like, ”Oh my goodness, why are you guys screwing with me like that?” It’s been a long time I’ve been here, I don’t understand.”
“The fans’ response, that’s all I’m gonna take away. That’s all that matters. Whatever they try to take, they can erase me from history. Whatever the case may be, it’s okay, I don’t need that. I don’t need validation. But when it comes to the fans, I die happy with that feeling that they gave me that day.”
Melina also made it clear she couldn’t care less if she never returned to WWE. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the former WWE Superstar, as a return to her company seems unlikely now.
What’s your view on what Melina said? Do you want to see her back on WWE television one day? Let us know in the comments below!
Transcription by Ringside News