Revealed: Why Melina Turned Down A WWE Return In 2020

For most wrestlers, once leaving WWE the door never truly closes, and a return can always be on the cards. But not everyone chooses to come back.

One name who was offered another run in the company but refused was former Women’s Champion Melina, who explained why she said no to WWE in 2020 during an appearance on the Wrestling Shoots Interviews podcast:

"Really, I was [interested], but this is another thing where I keep thinking were they just dangling a carrot in front of me? In all honestly, that was the time to dangle a carrot in front of me because my father just died, and the last thing he said — you know when the last time I saw him was, if, you know, if I had a chance to go back… so for him, hell yeah. I'd go because I wanted to fulfil his vision of what he saw for me. But then at the same time it's kind of like, well, you know, when they took that carrot back, I thought... like I remember how I felt when I was there last time. I don't think I could go through this again,” said Melina.

Melina has been back in a WWE ring since, having appeared in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble. The Scream Queen’s last WWE match as a full-time rostered talent came in 2011.

H/T: Wrestling Inc.