Melissa Coates (born June 18, 1969) is a professional wrestler, fitness model, and former bodybuilder formerly signed to World Wrestling Entertainment. She has also appeared in the first two seasons of the Game Show Network show Extreme Dodgeball.
Career
Bodybuilding
A former junior Canadian tennis champion, Coates first began training with weights to help with her tennis performance which subsequently led to her interest in bodybuilding. During her time as a bodybuilder, Coates was once ranked ninth in both powerlifting and bodybuilding and even made it into the Ms. Olympia top 10 on twice before retiring from both sports in 1999. Coates then began working as a model and continues to do so while not wrestling.
| Melissa Coates |
|
| Personal Info |
| Birth |
June 18, 1969 (1969-06-18) (age 39), Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
| Professional Career |
| Pro-debut |
1994 Canadian Nationals, 1994 |
| Best win |
1996 Jan Tana Classic Champion, 1994-1996 |
| Active |
1999 |
World Wrestling Entertainment and Ohio Valley Wrestling
Coates first became interested in wrestling during the Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth saga in the late 1980s. After training at both Killer Kowalski's training school and Ultimate Pro Wrestling's Ultimate University, Coates moved down to Louisville, Kentucky to begin training in Ohio Valley Wrestling. Coates then made an appearance at WWE Backlash and took part in Chris Masters' "Masterlock Challenge" segment, which offered $3000 dollars to anyone who could break Masters' Master Lock hold. Coates failed to win the Challenge, but was impressive enough to be signed to a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. She was then placed in OVW as an official trainee and became the "head of security" for Kenny Bolin's stable Bolin's Services. Soon after however, Coates left both OVW and WWE and went to work for World Xtreme Wrestling.
Return to OVW and debut in Deep South Wrestling
After having only one match in wXw, where she defeated Krissy Vaine, Coates returned to Ohio Valley Wrestling (while not under a WWE developmental contract) and she soon began facing off with several of the OVW/WWE's divas, including Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Melina Perez, and Jillian Hall before becoming the bodyguard for the latter. After training in OVW, Coates was then assigned to Deep South Wrestling and she debuted for the territory as (The) Bag Lady, a homeless woman who became the love interest and eventually the manager of The Freakin' Deacon. On February 22, 2007, the Bag Lady debuted a brand new "WWE Diva" look and then defeated Angel Williams in their subsequent match. The Bag Lady then began feuding with both Krissy Vaine and Angel Williams before leaving DSW to wrestle on the independent circuit.
Great Championship Wrestling, NWA Anarchy and the independent circuit
In her first appearances on the indy circuit after leaving DSW, Coates made her debut for Georgia's Great Championship Wrestling on May 29 and won the NWA/GCW Women's Championship from former World Championship Wrestling star Daffney Unger. Coates continued to remain champion until the title was seemingly forgotten and thus deactivated in late 2007. Coates also made several appearances for other Georgia-based wrestling promotions in both a wrestling and non-wrestling role. On July 7, she made her debut for NWA Anarchy as a heel, challenging and defeating several male wrestlers in intergender matches. At NWA Anarchy's Fright Night event, Coates teamed up with former fellow DSW wrestler Tony Santarelli to defeat Todd Sexton and referee Wes Grissom, the latter of whom Coates was feuding with. On December 15, Coates began an angle with Don Williams after Coates attacked Williams and his tag team partner Brodie Chase. All three were then entered into an Anarchy Battle Royal to determine the number one contender for the NWA Anarchy Television Championship, but both Coates and Williams were simultaneously eliminated and Williams began showing smitten affection towards her. On December 29, Williams publicly declared his affection towards Melissa, going as far as to say "I'm smitten like a kitten" before Coates struck him with a forearm smash to the jaw. However, Williams continued his tirade by saying "That's what I love the most about you. It's the foreplay." The angle between the two continued until Williams' tag team partner Brodie Chase revealed that he and Coates were together, effectively turning Chase heel. On May 31, 2008, Chase defeated Williams while Coates supported Chase at ringside.
Coates also made an appearance for Women's Extreme Wrestling's 2007 event Payback's A Bitch, where she saw action against Amber O'Neal and did a run-in during a U.S.A. vs. Canada segment in the ring as a supporter of Canada, which was done after her match with O'Neal.
Mile High Melissa
In April 2008, Melissa began a managerial role under the name Mile High Melissa, a flight attendant gimmick. However, when wrestling, she continues to use her real name. She was soon joined by "Captain" Mike Flyte and the pair became known as The Flight Crew and in July 2008, they were joined by "Captain" Jason Static. The stable primarily competes in the Northern United States and Canadian independent circuits.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
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Championships and accomplishments
- Great Championship Wrestling
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- NWA/GCW Women's Championship (1 time) (Final)1
- Voted Best Female Wrestler in Georgia (2007)
Personal life
Coates dated Gene Snitsky while she was briefly signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, but they broke up once Coates left the company.
Coates also earned her a college degree in science as a major in biology from Lakehead University in her hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Coates can bench press 250 pounds.
References
- ^ "NWA/GCW Women's Title". TitleHistories.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-02. "Melissa Coates 5/30/07 ... Defeated Daffney in a tournament final to win the vacant title."
External links
