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What's the story?
Former WWE Diva Melina is among the names being advertised for the Raw Reunion episode of Monday Night Raw on July 22.
In case you didn't know…
Melina established herself as one of the most decorated female champions in WWE during her seven-year association with the company between 2004 and 2011, winning the Women’s Championship three times and the Divas Championship on two occasions.
WWE has added a lot more focus on its women’s division since the Divas Revolution/Women’s Evolution began in 2015, while legendary female talents from the past have made returns, including Lita, Trish Stratus, Michelle McCool and Beth Phoenix.
However, despite still being an active in-ring competitor on the independent circuit, Melina was not invited to participate in the Women’s Royal Rumble or the Evolution Battle Royal in 2018 – something she commented on in a lengthy Facebook post following the all-women’s Evolution event.
"Two huge historical moments in women’s wrestling have passed, it seems the WWE may not feel my role in wrestling was worth including me in any of these moments and although that stings a bit, it’s ok."
The heart of the matter
In the latest Raw Reunion advertisement on WWE’s YouTube channel, Melina’s name appeared alongside legends including Ric Flair, Booker T, Diesel and D-Von Dudley.
The five-time champion, who has not featured on WWE programming in eight years, wrote on Twitter that the reunion episode is “the perfect time to come back home”.
Alundra Blayze, Kelly Kelly and Lilian Garcia are among the other former female talents who WWE has announced for the show, while Candice Michelle replied to fans on Instagram saying that she will also make an appearance.
What's next?
WWE’s last major Monday night reunion, Raw 25, featured a segment where former female Superstars and Divas stood along the entrance ramp and waved to the crowd.
Following criticism of the segment, including from some of the women involved, it will be interesting to see if Melina & Co. play a bigger role at Raw Reunion.
