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Former WWE Women's Champion Melina Perez has come to terms for a return to WWE according to a new report from PWInsider. With nine years passing since her last WWE match, Melina has plenty of fresh names to compete against.
Melina's first run with WWE featured many accomplishments. Melina started out in developmental with Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2004. From there, she came to the main roster on SmackDown along with Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro as MNM. After a successful run as their valet, Melina went on to singles success, becoming a two-time WWE Divas Champion as well as notching three reigns with the WWE Women's Championship.
After a run with NWA, Melina will make her return to the company in which she originally made a name for herself. In this article, we will discuss five fresh opponents for Melina in WWE.
#5 Melina vs. Zelina Vega
The current WWE Superstar who matches Melina's career trajectory has to be Zelina Vega. Zelina's run with WWE so far has been as a valet or manager. She was introduced as the manager for Andrade in WWE NXT back in 2017. The two made their move to the main roster in 2018. Since then, Zelina Vega has also managed Angel Garza and Austin Theory along the way. With Andrade's reigns as NXT Champion and United States Champion, Vega has been extremely effective in this role.
Now that it seems Zelina is moving to a full-time role in the ring with her recent challenge to Asuka, this opens the door for her to face a predecessor from the Ruthless Aggression era. Melina facing off with Zelina would be a very fun return feud for the veteran. This would be a rivalry that would be beneficial to both ladies.
Melina would help Zelina's progression with her experience. Being a veteran in the ring would help develop Zelina Vega further. The two ladies also both have good mic skills, which would make for an entertaining feud. Zelina does well as a heel and having a legend to play off would be a fun dynamic. This is a rivalry that just works and provides both ladies with a story that does not need the RAW Women's Championship.
#4 Melina vs. Asuka
Melina has feuded and faced the likes of Trish Stratus, Mickie James and Michelle McCool during her first run with WWE. However, she may have never competed against a Superstar quite like the current RAW Women's Champion Asuka. The Empress of Tomorrow is one of the toughest and most dominant WWE Superstars of all time.
Asuka has been the longest-reigning NXT Women's Champion of all time. Since her call-up to the WWE main roster, she has achieved every accomplishment available to women in the company. Asuka is a two-time RAW Women's Champion, former SmackDown Women's Champion, former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, Ms. Money In The Bank for 2020 and winner of the first Women's Royal Rumble.
Melina has faced some of the best women's wrestlers in WWE history, but she probably has never encountered a more decorated Superstar than Asuka in her entire career. This match would feature two Superstars with polarizing characters. While Asuka is intense and confident, Melina has been known for her pretentious, Hollywood persona.
This would be a battle of two colorful characters and accomplished in-ring competitors. Melina trying to capture her sixth reign as Women's Champion would be a intriguing story to enhance her return.
#3 Melina vs. Naomi
Naomi is one of the only female stars who was around back when Melina was last with the company. Although she was with WWE, Naomi never competed against the former five-time Women's Champion. She has seen a recent surge of support on social media with the #NaomiDeservesBetter trend. However, Naomi hasn't been given that one feud to propel her up the card in the women's division.
With Melina's return, Naomi would have a veteran who could be a perfect heel to point out her flaws and a Superstar for her to overcome. Melina would be able to boast about her own list of accomplishments in comparison to a woman who has been in WWE for longer than she was. Both ladies are very athletic in the ring and would give us entertaining matches as well.
Naomi has plenty of popularity with the WWE Universe, so Melina coming in and targeting her would be a great use of her ability to play an ideal antagonist. Melina has always been better in the heel role as well. Naomi would be an excellent underdog to play off Melina's abilities on the mic and as a character. The former SmackDown Women's Champion has been begging for the right female star to play her opposition, and Melina fits the bill perfectly.
#2 Melina vs. Charlotte Flair
One WWE Superstar with experience against legends of the past is 12-time Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. Flair had one of the standout matches of SummerSlam 2019 against the returning Trish Stratus in a compelling contest. With that match as a standard, an encounter with Melina would be an interesting battle.
The most decorated female star of the current era would make a formidable obstacle for the returning Melina to face as her opponent. Melina has quite the resumé from her past run. However, her list of accomplishments pales in comparison to that of Charlotte's.
Not only does she have plenty of accolades, Charlotte has been a standard-bearer for in-ring excellence over the past six years. From matches with Natalya and Bayley in NXT to classics against Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch on the main roster, the Queen has been one of the best in ring performers of this current era regardless of gender.
There are not many ladies who can give Charlotte Flair a new challenge on RAW, SmackDown or NXT. With Flair taking time off and the returning Melina, the Queen has someone fresh who has a great deal of experience and gives her an intriguing battle of personalities.
Melina is such a great talker and could match the cocky persona that Charlotte has been known for. On the mic and in the ring, this is a match that would deliver and be very interesting to watch unfold for the WWE Universe.
#1 Melina vs. Sasha Banks
One of the better options for fresh opponents for Melina has to be "The Boss" Sasha Banks. Banks is another WWE Superstar who has made a name for herself over the past six years for stellar in-ring performances. In 2020, Sasha, along with Bayley, have been one of the best performers in and out of the ring. The Golden Role Models have been the main stars on all three brands.
Now with their partnership ending, it not only sets up a headline feud between the two, but also opens the door for them to break off into their own feuds afterwards. Melina will need to have standout matches to really make this return memorable, and there are not many as good for that like Sasha Banks.
Both ladies possess a great deal of athleticism as well as a lot of similarities in personality. This feud would be one that both would benefit from. Melina would have an opponent who could play both a babyface or heel against her, while Sasha could add a huge name to the list of stars she has defeated.
Although the WWE Universe is looking forward to the forthcoming feud with her and Bayley, Sasha Banks has a perfect followup feud for her in Melina. The Boss has not had the chance to face the stars of the past other than in the Royal Rumble, so this first time ever contest would be new ground for Sasha. For Melina, this is the freshest opponent for her to encounter with her return to the WWE.
