|
[[Image:Faro de La Serena.jpg|thumb|258px|Faro of The City]]
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2006}}
[[Image:La Serena-Coquimbo-02.jpg|thumb|258px|The city of La Serena with the port city of [[Coquimbo, Chile|Coquimbo]] in the background]]
{{Infobox Wrestler
[[Image:Plaza de Armas - La Serena.jpg|thumb|250px|Plaza de Armas]]
|name=Melina Perez
|image=Melina Perez.jpg<!---Only freely-licensed images may be used to depict living people. Please see [[WP:FU]] before changing the image here.--->
|names='''Melina'''<br />Kyra<br />Melanie Little Deer
|height=5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
|weight=122 lb (55kg)
|birth_date=[[March 9]], [[1979]] (Age 28)
|death_date=
|birth_place=[[Los Angeles, California]]
|resides=
|billed=
|trainer=Jesse Hernandez<br />[[Lance Storm]]<br />[[Dave Finlay]]<br />[[Ultimate Pro Wrestling]]<br />[[OVW]]
|debut=[[2000]]
|retired=|}}
'''La Serena''' ("the serene one") is the second oldest city in [[Chile]]. The city, located 471 km north of [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]], has a population of 147,815, according to the 2002 census. There are also 12,333 inhabitants of the immediately surrounding countryside. It is one of the fastest-growing areas of Chile, witnessing a population increase of 32.6% between [[1992]] and [[2002]].
'''Melina Perez''' (born [[March 9]], [[1979]]) better known simply as '''Melina''', is a [[Hispanic-American]] [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and [[manager (professional wrestling)|manager]], currently signed to [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] working and wrestling on its ''[[WWE Raw|RAW]]'' [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]], where she is the reigning [[WWE Women's Championship|WWE Women's Champion]].
It was first founded by Spaniard Captain [[Juan Bohón]] in [[September 4]] [[1544]] on the orders of [[Pedro de Valdivia]] in order to provide a sea link between Santiago and [[Lima]]. In [[1549]] the town was totally destroyed by local Indians and re-founded the same year by Captain Francisco de Aguirre in a safer ___location. The town has retained its historic architecture and this, along with a selection of beaches (known as Avenida del Mar, "Sea Avenue"), has caused the city to become a significant tourist centre, attracting many foreigners (most of them Argentines from San Juan and Mendoza provinces) during January, and later Santiago residents fleeing February heat.
Melina is known for her ring entrance, which is a display of her flexibility. Standing beside the ring, she lifts her right leg onto the apron, then lifts her left leg, performing the splits, and then bends her upper body under the bottom rope. On [[WWE Raw|RAW]], she added another variation to this entrance where she stands on the apron before performing the splits and sliding under the bottom rope.
Its traditional architecture consists of a series of housing and public buildings, of late 19th-century vintage, built with wood from the [[USA|US]] state of [[Oregon]] brought to Chile as counterweight in sailing vessels coming to [[Coquimbo]], the nearby port, to load copper and other minerals for transport back to the US. This Oregon pine and the use of [[adobe]] create the genuine image of the city.
==Career==
Prior to her [[professional wrestling]] career, Perez was a [[Model (person)|fashion model]]. In 2000, after talking to Mike Henderson, she decided to become a professional wrestler and enrolled in [[Jesse Hernandez]]'s ''School of Hard Knocks'' to train.<ref name="internetconfessions2">{{cite web | url =http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/melina/internetconfessions/022307?cid=WWEADP-47 | title = Internet Confessions of a True Diva, No. 2 | author = Melina (WWE) | accessmonthday = March 6 | accessyear = 2007 | date = February 24, 2007 }}</ref> Perez's pro-wrestling debut came in [[2002]] on a tour of the [[Independent circuit|independent wrestling scene]]. She joined a number of California-based promotions, such as the [[Empire Wrestling Federation]] (EWF), where she wrestled for four years under the name '''Kyra'''. Melina Perez tried out for the WWE's reality show [[Tough Enough III]], but was eliminated from competition in the final cut of the first episode.
There is also a number of remarkable and valuable small churches built of sedimentary stone quarried 5 km to the north of the [[Elqui River]], having a characteristic color and texture formed by myriad small shells. These churches are all roughly 350 years old and have undergone restoration to varying degrees, bringing them back to their original form. San Francisco, San Agustín, Santo Domingo are the names of a few of them.
===World Wrestling Entertainment===
Perez debuted in the [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) "farm territory" [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] (OVW) in [[March 2004]] when [[Matt Cappotelli]] ([[kayfabe]]) brought her in as a way to taunt her ex-boyfriend [[John Hennigan|Johnny Nitro]]. Melina, however, [[Turn (professional wrestling)|turned on]] Cappotelli and aligned herself with Nitro. Soon after, Nitro began [[Tag team|teaming]] with [[Adam Birch|Joey Matthews]], later known as Joey Mercury. On [[November 10]] the trio, now known as '''[[MNM]]''', won the [[OVW Southern Tag Team Championship]].
The Cathedral, built from the same stone, dates from the 19th century. It must be said that although it lacks the same historical value as the older churches, this is a stone building in a country prone to seismic activity, and has survived various earthquakes. Indeed, during centuries of existence, there is almost no visible damage. All of these churches, along with others of minor importance, provide a unique urban landscape, an image for the city, giving it the nickname "''The City of Churches''."
While in OVW, Melina made occasional appearances on WWE television. On a [[Thanksgiving]] episode of ''[[SmackDown!]]'' in [[2003]], Melina dressed up as a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] and was shown serving food and drinks,. She was also one of the girls to which [[John Cena]] rapped.
A few of the major sectors are: El Centro ("downtown"), Peñuelas (actually a suburb between La Serena and its sister city [[Coquimbo]]), San Joaquín (neighborhood on a hill overlooking the ocean), La Florida, Las Compañías ("the companies"), Cerro Grande ("big hill"), La Antena and the new El Milagro ("the miracle") development.
Melina made her first ''[[WWE Raw|RAW]]'' appearance on [[November 24]], [[2004]] when [[Randy Orton]] was the guest [[General Manager]] and hosted a diva [[lingerie]] fashion show. Melina made more ''RAW'' appearances in late [[2004]], including a limbo contest in [[December 2004]], but she ultimately returned to Ohio Valley Wrestling and MNM.
====SmackDown!====
MNM debuted on ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown!|SmackDown!]]'' on [[April 14]], [[2005]]. The team debuted by interrupting the first ever "[[Carly Colon|Carlito]]'s Cabana" interview segment, where one half of the [[WWE Tag Team Championship|WWE Tag Team Champions]] [[Oscar Gutierrez|Rey Mysterio]] was a guest. Melina insulted Mysterio and had Mercury and Nitro attack him, leading to MNM's in-ring debut the next week on ''SmackDown!'' in a title match. Melina lead the team to victory over Mysterio and [[Eddie Guerrero]]. This was MNM's first title reign.
While [[Manager (professional wrestling)|managing]] the tag-team champions, Melina [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feuded]] with and attacked many of her fellow [[WWE Diva|Divas]], proclaiming herself to be "the most dominant diva in WWE". Her first feud was with [[Michelle McCool]], after Melina insulted McCool's friend [[Jon Heidenreich|Heidenreich]], in which Perez made her WWE in ring debut, a victory over McCool on ''SmackDown!''.
In June of 2005, Melina feuded with [[Torrie Wilson]], in which Perez won her first pay-per-view match, a victory over Wilson in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Bra and Panties match|Bra and Panties match]] at the ''[[Great American Bash#2005|Great American Bash 2005]]''. Also at the ''Bash'', MNM lost their championship, prompting Melina to bring in [[Jillian Hall]], a "[[Public relations#Spin doctor|fixer]]" to assist Melina in feuds with the other WWE Divas.
Around October 2005, Melina feuded with [[Christy Hemme]] and in the process, Christy joined forces with the [[Road Warriors|Legion of Doom]], and feuded with all of MNM. At [[WWE No Mercy#2005|No Mercy 2005]] on October 9, 2005, Hemme and the Legion of Doom, defeated MNM in a six-person intergender tag team match. Melina's feud with Christy continued into November, with Melina defeating Hemme in two televised singles bouts.
On the Eddie Guerrero Tribute edition of ''RAW'', Melina won an interpromotional Divas [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] by eliminating ''RAW's'' [[WWE Women's Championship|Women's Champion]] [[Trish Stratus]]. This match lead to an interpromotional feud with ''SmackDown!'s'' Melina getting a shot at the Women's Championship at ''[[Survivor Series (2005)|Survivor Series 2005]]'', a match that was proclaimed the "The Divas Match of the Year" by the ''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]''. Melina's first WWE Women's Title match ended in her first singles WWE loss because of a timely interference by [[Mickie James]].
During this time, MNM was set to defend their Tag Titles at ''[[WWE Armageddon#2005|Armageddon 2005]]'' in a match against [[The Mexicools]], but before the event, they first had to defend their titles against Rey Mysterio and the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Dave Bautista|Batista]]. In an attempt to get Batista to call off the match, Melina visited Batista in his locker room and seductively suggested that it would be "worth his while" to skip the match and allow MNM time to prepare for their match at ''Armageddon''. Batista, who seemed very receptive to the idea, allowed Melina to ([[kayfabe]]) engage in sexual acts. He then simply thanked Melina for the "warmup" before leaving to take part in the match, where he and Mysterio won the tag titles.
On the last ''SmackDown!'' of 2005, MNM envoked their rematch clause for a match against Batista and Rey Mysterio. However, before the match took place, Melina, accompanied by a lawyer, held a [[press conference]] in the ring where she claimed that Batista had [[Sexual harassment|sexually harassed]] her. 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 accompanied Melina and aided the other members of MNM in matches against Batista and Mysterio. MNM and Henry also feuded with [[Kurt Angle]] and were soon joined by [[Shawn Daivari|Daivari]], to whom Melina later gave Henry's contract.
On the [[April 28]], 2006 edition of ''SmackDown!'', Melina began a feud with [[Jillian Hall]] after getting into a catfight backstage. This led to a match between the two at ''[[WWE Judgment Day#2006|Judgment Day 2006]]''. At ''Judgment Day'' MNM lost their WWE Tag Team Championships to [[Paul London and Brian Kendrick]] and the trio imploded, with Melina and Nitro attacking Mercury, blaming him for the loss. Later that night, Melina lost her match with Hall and after slapping [[List of authority figures in professional wrestling|General Manager]] [[Theodore Long]] in anger, she and Johnny Nitro were [[kayfabe#"You're fired!" and "I quit!"|fired]] from ''SmackDown!''.
====RAW====
Melina and [[John Hennigan|Johnny Nitro]] made their way to the ''[[WWE Raw|RAW]]'' [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]] from there, together on [[May 29]], [[2006]], with a Nitro loss to WWE Champion [[John Cena]]. The following week, Melina faked a sprained ankle, allowing Nitro to roll up [[Charlie Haas]] for his first ''RAW'' win.
Melina continued to manage Nitro during his successful hunt for the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]], while rekindling her feud with [[Trish Stratus]]. The feud turned into a Tag Team feud when [[Carly Colón|Carlito]] joined forces with Trish to take on Melina and Nitro. Their feud continued to ''[[WWE Saturday Night's Main Event|Saturday Night's Main Event]]'', where Nitro and Melina lost to Carlito and Trish in a mixed tag team match.
With her arrival on ''RAW'', came Mick Foley making mentions of her in [[Promo (professional wrestling)|promos]] (playing on the ([[legit (professional wrestling)|real]]) friendship they'd forged and he'd talked about in his WWE.com columns) and they soon formed an on-screen friendship. At ''[[SummerSlam (2006)|Summerslam]]'', Melina caused Foley to lose an [["I Quit" match]] when Flair was going to hit Melina with a barbed wired bat and Foley "quit" to prevent Flair's striking her. On the [[August 21]], [[2006]] edition of ''RAW'', her career was ([[kayfabe]]) endangered when Foley was offered the chance to either join [[Vince McMahon]]'s '[[Vince McMahon#The Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club|Kiss My Ass club]]" or have Melina fired. After begging Foley not to go through with it, Foley "joined the club" to save Melina's job, only to have her suddenly turn on him, delivering a low blow and, "firing" him at the behest of McMahon.
Melina then became involved in the developing [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] between [[Jeff Hardy]] and Johnny Nitro over Nitro's Intercontinental title (which would eventually involve Jeff's brother [[Matt Hardy|Matt]] and reforming MNM with Joey Mercury.). At the same time she entered a tournament to crown a new [[WWE Women's Championship|Women's Champion]], defeating [[Torrie Wilson]] in the opening round in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Lumberjack match|lumberjill match]] on the [[October 9]], [[2006]] edition of ''RAW'' before losing to [[Mickie James]] in the semi-finals two weeks later.
In early 2007, Melina would begin a small feud with [[Maria Kanellis|Maria]]. Melina would also form an alliance with [[Lisa Marie Varon|Victoria]], defeating the team of [[Mickie James]] and Maria in their first match as a tag team when she hit Maria with a new finisher known as '''''Extreme Makeover'''''.
On the [[January 26]] episode of ''SmackDown!'', Melina wrestled in her first ''SmackDown!'' match since May 2006, which resulted in a win for MNM over London, Kendrick and Ashley in a mixed tag team match.
Following the [[Royal Rumble (2007)|Royal Rumble]], Melina would become the #1 contender for the [[WWE Women's Championship]], as well as introducing her [[Professional wrestling holds#Muta lock|KyraPractor]] finisher to WWE fans, under the new name '''''California Dream'''''. On [[February 5]], Melina lost a Women's Championship match against Women's Champion [[Mickie James]]. The following week on ''RAW'', Melina pinned the Women's Champion in a mixed tag team match and then challenged James for the title for the next week on ''RAW''. In a back and forth battle, Melina eventually pinned Mickie James to capture her first WWE Women's Championship. In continuation of their feud, Melina won the first ever Women's [[Professional wrestling match types#Falls Count Anywhere match|Falls Count Anywhere Match]] in WWE history, by pinning James after a blocked hurricanrana to retain her WWE Women's Championship.
In March of 2007, Melina would show a bitter jealousy towards ''SmackDown!'' Diva [[Ashley Massaro|Ashley]], due to her burst of popularity and attention towards her appearance in [[Playboy]]. She also feuded with former Playboy cover girls [[Torrie Wilson]] and [[Candice Michelle]] during this time. On an episode of ''SmackDown'', the rivalry was taken to the next level when a catfight broke out between the feisty Divas on the inaugural edition of ''Miz TV''. At ''[[WrestleMania 23]]'', Melina pinned Ashley in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Lumberjack match|LumberJill Match]] to retain her title in under 4 minutes.
==In wrestling==
[[Image:MelinaVSMaria 0001.jpg|thumb|Melina|275px|right|Melina applying her ''[[Professional wrestling holds#Muta lock|California Dream]]'' submission on [[Maria Kanellis|Maria]] during an episode of [[WWE Raw|RAW]]. {{replacethisimage}}]]
*'''Finishing moves'''
**'''''California Dream / KyraPractor''''' ([[Professional wrestling holds#Muta lock|Muta lock]])<ref name="internetconfessions2"/>
**'''''Extreme Makeover''''' ([[Facebuster|Spinning springboard turnbuckle facebuster]])
**'''[[Facebuster|Charging spinning kneel-out facebuster]]'''
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frog splash|'''Frog splash''']] - [[Independent circuit]]
*'''Signature moves'''
**''Divastator'' ([[Kick]]ing combination)
**''Kyranium Buster'' ([[Professional wrestling aerial attacks#Flying neckbreaker|Flying neckbreaker]])
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Reverse Indian deathlock|Hair-pull curb stomp]]
**[[Professional wrestling attacks#Crossfaces|Back mounted crossfaces]]
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Bite of the Dragon|Bite of the Dragon]]
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Camel clutch|Camel clutch]]
**[[Professional wrestling attacks#Double axe handle|Flying double axe handle]]
**[[Backbreaker#Pendulum backbreaker|Pendulum backbreaker submission]]
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Bow and arrow hold|Modified bow and arrow submission]]
**[[Pinfall (professional wrestling)#Victory roll|Standing victory roll into a pin to a kneeling opponent]]
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Surfboard|Surfboard submission]]
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Neck scissors|Twisting neck scissors]]
*'''Wrestlers Managed'''
**[[Mark Henry]]
**[[Joey Matthews|Joey Mercury]]
**[[Mick Foley]]
**'''[[John Hennigan|Johnny Nitro]]'''
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]'''
**[[WWE Women's Championship]] ([[List of WWE Women's Champions|1 time]], current)
==Personal life==
*She has one sibling, a brother named PJ.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
*She is currently dating [[John Hennigan|Johnny Nitro]].<ref name="misscalifornia">{{cite web| url = http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/05/29/1062165.html | title = Melina wants to do it all | accessdate = January 1 | accessyear = 2007 | author = Zerr, Scott | date = 2005-05-29
| publisher = SLAM! Sports }}</ref>
*Perez speaks four languages including [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]].{{fact|date=March 2007}}
*She is a graduate of Hesperia High School in [[Hesperia, California]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
==Trivia==
{{toomuchtrivia}}
*Melina was featured in the WWE's World Greatest Managers DVD.
*Melina is the last person to be frogsplashed by [[Eddie Guerrero]].
*Many EWF officials stated that Melina had the most natural ability of any woman who came through their school.<ref>[http://www.socaluncensored.com/article347.html SoCal Uncensored article on Melina signing with WWE]</ref>
*Melina has had her teeth knocked out by female wrestlers, and dislocated her kneecap.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/melina/internetconfessions/022307 | title = Internet Confessions of a True Diva, No. 2 | author = Melina Perez | accessmonthday = March 31 | accessyear = 2007 | date = February 24, 2007}}</ref>
*Had her first ever pro-wrestling match versus now ECW Vixen [[Shelly Martinez|Ariel]].
Melina Is An ugly Whore.
==References==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>
==External links==
*[http://www.wweuserena.comcl/superstars/raw/melina/ WWEUniversity of La ProfileSerena]
*[http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/85488.html/ weather forecast]
*[http://www.visit-chile.org/norte/h21.phtml Chilean tourist site for La Serena]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perez, Melina}}
*[http://www.intimahinatravel.cl travel agency]
{{coor title dm|29|54|S|71|15|W|region:CL_type:city}}
[[Category:1979Cities birthsin Chile]]
[[Category:AmericanCommunes modelsof Chile]]
[[Category:AmericanCapitals professionalof wrestlersChilean regions]]
[[Category:FemaleSettlements professionalestablished wrestlersin 1544]]
[[Category:LivingCities peopleand towns in Coquimbo Region]]
[[Category:People from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets]]
[[de:MelinaLa PerezSerena]]
[[fres:MélinaLa PerezSerena (Chile)]]
[[itfr:MelinaLa PerezSerena]]
[[it:La Serena]]
[[nl:La Serena]]
[[no:La Serena]]
[[pl:La Serena]]
[[pt:La Serena]]
[[sl:La Serena]]
[[fi:La Serena]]
[[sv:La Serena]]
| 