Melina in action in WWE | Image Credits : WWE website
Melina revealed that no one congratulated her when she appeared backstage at the gorilla position after she won her first WWE Women's Championship by defeating Mickie James on an episode of Raw in February 2007.
It is common practice in WWE for male and female talent to cheer and congratulate the new champion after a victory. However, this was not the case for Melina.
Melina grew up as a shy person and remained introverted throughout her adult life, including her time in WWE.
Appearing as a guest on the Wrestling With Heart Podcast, Melina was asked how others responded after she won her first WWE Women's Championship. Melina responded:
I'm trying to put it in words where I'm not going to sugarcoat it, but I understand why we all did what we did in the times that we did it. I know why people weren't as sweet and kind (to me). I get that I wasn't very social. So, I understand why people treated me the way I did, because I didn't welcome people in.
It was difficult because I didn't understand it. I came from a family where it was okay for me to be shy and quiet. But, people included me knowing that I was the way I was. So, I came from a loving family and loving friends and moved to an environment that really just twisted everything around.
I understand it because wrestlers are very outspoken and are very charismatic. You have to be a character in the ring to play to thousands and thousands of people in the stands. But, I was an oddity.
Like, how can you be introverted and do this field? It didn't occur to me then. I just knew that I loved it. And I didn't realize that I was this odd person and was very contradicting because that's what I was.
Melina in action in WWE in 2009 | Image Credits : IMAGO / WENN
Despite being the odd one out in the WWE locker room, Melina felt winning her first title was a beautiful moment in her career. However, she also felt it was too early to win the WWE Women's Championship.
After all, she had started training for professional wrestling in 2001 and had made her WWE main roster debut only two years prior. Melina revealed:
When it came to winning the title, (the feeling) was so beautiful. But at the same time, I knew I wasn't ready because in my heart, I felt like, "No, I'm not ready. I'm green." And they said, "No, you can do this. You are ready.
And I get why they thought what they did. But my brain at the time thought, I wanted to be like Lita and Trish. I wanted to know everything and be the veteran that I should be to represent that title. But I didn't understand how wrestling worked at that time. So I got the title.
Lisa Marie Varon (formerly known as Victoria) was the only one who acknowledged her championship triumph when she came back to the gorilla position.
From what I saw everybody always goes to the gorilla and cheers for everybody whenever they got the title. Everybody comes and shows up and applauds the new champions.
I didn't get that. Maybe they don't do that now but back then, I saw it happen to everybody before me. So, when there was nobody in the back, it made me realize this is going to be my life of being alone.
And then Lisa (Marie Varon) came in. She was the only one that that came in and I think she felt bad for me. I already felt like a weirdo growing up and now I knew that I am still a weirdo.
Although Melina might not have felt properly acknowledged after winning her first WWE Women's Championship, she was a trailblazer in her own way.
The Red Carpet Diva would go on to become a five-time Women's Champion during her seven-year stint with the company. The 46-year-old is still active in the ring, making sporadic appearances on the independent circuit.
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