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Tay Melo

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Tay Melo
Melo in March 2024
Birth nameTaynara Melo de Carvalho
Born(1995-06-09)June 9, 1995(age 29)[1]
Rio de Janeiro,Brazil
Spouse(s)
  • Jorge Conti
    ​
    ​
    (m.2017;div.2021)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m.2022)​
Children1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Tay Conti[2]
Tay Melo[2]
Taynara Conti[3]
Taynara Melo
Billed height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)[4]
Billed fromRio de Janeiro,Brazil[3]
Trained byDustin Rhodes
WWE Performance Center[5]
DebutApril 1, 2017(2017-04-01)[6]

Taynara Melo Guevara(néede Carvalhoand formerlyConti;born June 9, 1995) is a Brazilianprofessional wrestlerandjudoka.She is currently signed toAll Elite Wrestling(AEW), where she performs under thering nameTay Melo(/ˈtaɪ/) and was a member of theJericho Appreciation Society.She also appears in AEW's Mexican partner promotionLucha Libre AAA Worldwide(AAA), where she is a formerAAA World Mixed Tag Team Championwith real life husbandSammy Guevara.

Prior to joining AEW, Melo performed forWWEon theNXTbrandasTaynara Contifrom 2017 to 2020.

Early life and judo[edit]

Taynara Melo de Carvalho was born on June 9, 1995 inRio de Janeiro, Brazil.She has a brother and two sisters, one of whom is adopted. Melo grew up in Rio's notorious poverty-stricken and crime-infestedfavelas.She holds ablack beltinjudoand a blue belt inBrazilian jiu-jitsu.[5]Melo briefly went to law school in Brazil[7]and participated in trials for the Brazilian Olympic team at the2016 Summer Olympicsprior to joining WWE.[3]

Melo began her athletic career inartistic gymnasticsinCR Vasco da Gama,but soon migrated tomartial arts.She initially fought for the judo teamBrasil vale ouro( "Brazil is worth gold" ) and later joined Brazilian sports and educationNGOInstituto Reação,led by Olympic judokaFlávio Canto.Melo was a regional champion and four-time state champion. In addition, she was a four-time Brazilian runner up. She joined the Brazilian team and participated in the European circuit in Portugal and Germany.[8]

Professional wrestling career[edit]

WWE (2016–2020)[edit]

Conti at alive eventin 2020

In October 2016, Melo was announced as having signed with WWE and reported to theWWE Performance Center.[5]She made her professional wrestling debut as Taynara Conti atWrestleMania AxxessinOrlando, Floridaon April 1, 2017, competing againstSarah Bridgesin a losing effort.[9]She took part in the inauguralMae Young Classic,during which she lost toLacey Evansin the first round of the tournament.[10]

Conti appeared on television on the October 11 episode ofNXT,interfering in atriple threat matchbetweenNikki Cross,Peyton Royce,andLiv Morganon behalf ofThe Undisputed Era(Adam Cole,Bobby Fish,andKyle O'Reilly) to prevent Cross from winning the match.[11][12]This led to a match between Conti and Cross on the November 1 episode ofNXT,where Conti lost.[13]On April 8, 2018, Conti performed during the pre-show ofWrestleMania 34,competing in theWrestleMania Women's Battle Royal,becoming the first female Brazilian to compete on the evening of WrestleMania.[14]Later in the year, Conti qualified for the2018 Mae Young Classictournament after she defeatedVanessa Borne.[15]She defeated Jessie Elaban in the first round but lost toLacey Lanein the second round.[16][17]

On April 20, 2020, Conti was released from her WWE contract as a result of budget cuts due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[18]Like all other talent released, she remained under the 90-day no compete clause, which expired on July 23, 2020. Conti later revealed in an interview that she had been unhappy for months at WWE and wanted to be released, but the company initially would not grant her a release out of fear she would go toAll Elite Wrestling(AEW).[19]

All Elite Wrestling (2020–present)[edit]

On August 4, 2020, Melo appeared on AEW as Tay Conti, participating in theAEW Women's Tag Team Cup Tournament: The Deadly Drawand teaming withAnna Jay.The team, known officially as TayJay, defeatedNyla RoseandAriane Andrewin the quarterfinals but lost toIvelisseandDiamanteduring the semi-finals.[20][21]On the August 26 episode ofDynamite,she received a contract from the stableThe Dark Orderto join them.[22]On September 9, AEW announced that Conti had signed with the company.[2]

On the January 13, 2021, episode ofDynamite,Conti competed for theNWA World Women's Championshipfor the first time, and was defeated bySerena Deeb.[23]In the following weeks, Conti earned a title match for theAEW Women's World Championship,but she was not successful in beating the champion,Hikaru Shida,on the April 21 episode ofDynamite.[24]In September, Conti and Anna Jay began a feud withPenelope FordandThe Bunnyin a series of singles and tag matches onDynamiteandRampage.On November 13, Conti fought again for the AEW Women's World Championship, this time facing defending championBritt BakeratFull Gearbut came up unsuccessful.[25]The TayJay/Bunny & Ford feud came to a head when the team of Jay and Conti defeated the team of The Bunny and Ford in astreet fighton December 31 onRampage.[26]

On March 6, 2022, atRevolution,Conti facedJade Cargillfor theAEW TBS Championshipin a losing effort.[27]After months of feuding, on May 29 atDouble or NothingConti teamed up withSammy GuevaraandFrankie Kazarianin a trios mixed tag team match facingAmerican Top Team'sEthan Page,Paige VanZantandScorpio Sky,which Conti's team lost.[28]On June 15, atRoad Rager,Conti along with Guevara, joined theJericho Appreciation Society,turning heel.[29]On August 12 onRampageQuake by the Lakeunder the new ring name Tay Melo, teamed up with Guevara defending theAAA World Mixed Tag Team ChampionshipagainstDante Martinand Skye Blue which they successfully retained.[30]

Melo and Guevara then started a feud withRuby SohoandOrtiz,trading wins during August before defeating them atAll Outdue to interference from Anna Jay.[citation needed]The feud between Melo and Soho resumed on the November 30 episode ofDynamite,leading to a match atWinter Is Comingwhere Soho defeated Melo.[citation needed]The feud continued with Melo and Jay defeating Soho andWillow Nightingaleon the December 28 episode ofDynamite;Soho and Nightingale however defeated Melo and Jay on the January 11, 2023 episode ofRampagein a street fight.[citation needed]

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (2022)[edit]

On April 30, 2022, Conti made her AAA debut teaming withSammy Guevarato defeatLos Vipers,Maravillaand Látigo, and Sexy Star II andKomanderto win theAAA World Mixed Tag Team ChampionshipatTriplemanía XXX.For most of the match,La Parka Negrawould wrestle in Guevara's place.[31]

Other media[edit]

Melo appears as a main cast member forAEW All Access.[32]

Personal life[edit]

In 2017, Melo married fellow judoka Jorge Conti. In November 2021, Melo revealed that she was no longer married, and that the couple had been separated "for a long time".[33][34][better source needed]

Melo has been in a relationship with fellow professional wrestlerSammy Guevarasince January 2022.[35]The couple got engaged in June inParis[36][37]and were wed on August 7, 2022, inOrlando.[38]In May 2023, atDouble or Nothing,Melo and Guevara revealed they are expecting their first child, and confirmed it on their social media accounts.[39][better source needed]

On November 28, 2023, Melo gave birth to a daughter.[40][41]

She is a fan ofMMA(particularly theUFCand the MMA fightersAmanda NunesandCharles Oliveira), often comments on the events and fights of these events on her social media, in addition to having declared that she is open to a challenge of fighting MMA in the future and that she has visited a UFC Gym several times.[citation needed]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^@TayConti_ (June 9, 2020)."I'm 25... God is amazing!!!"(Tweet).RetrievedApril 2,2021– viaTwitter.
  2. ^abcSatin, Ryan(September 9, 2020)."AEW Confirms Tay Conti Is Now" All Elite "".Pro Wrestling Sheet.Archivedfrom the original on September 25, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 9,2020.
  3. ^abc"Taynara Conti".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on August 19, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 15,2017.
  4. ^"Taynara Conti".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 7,2023.
  5. ^abc"WWE Performance Center welcomes new class of recruits".WWE.October 25, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on October 26, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 15,2017.
  6. ^"Taynara Conti".Archivedfrom the original on October 15, 2007.RetrievedNovember 9,2017.
  7. ^"Tacos with Tay Conti".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 6,2022.
  8. ^"Ex-atleta da seleção brasileira troca judô pela luta-livre e vira estrela nos EUA".Rede Globo.November 9, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2020.RetrievedNovember 10,2017.
  9. ^"Atualizado (02/04): Resultados dos combates realizados na WrestleMania Axxess".Archivedfrom the original on July 31, 2017.RetrievedNovember 6,2017.
  10. ^Molina, Josh (August 31, 2017)."WWE Mae Young Classic episode four results: Kairi Sane debuts".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Archivedfrom the original on September 3, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 15,2017.
  11. ^Trionfo, Richard (October 11, 2017)."WWE NXT REPORT: GARGANO VERSUS ALMAS, THE NEXT QUALIFIER FOR THE WOMEN'S TITLE MATCH, BURCH VERSUS SULLIVAN, DREAM VERSUS RUSH, AND MORE".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on October 12, 2017.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  12. ^Trionfo, Richard (October 25, 2017)."WWE NXT REPORT: BATTLE ROYAL, IS THE VELVETEEN DREAM A NIGHTMARE FOR ALEISTER BLACK?, ALMAS VERSUS STRONG, LORCAN AND BURCH TEAM UP, AND MORE".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on October 27, 2017.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  13. ^Johnson, Mike (November 1, 2017)."WWE NXT SPOILERS FOR TONIGHT".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2020.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  14. ^Carapola, Stuart (April 8, 2018)."COMPLETE WRESTLEMANIA 34 KICKOFF SHOW COVERAGE".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on June 13, 2018.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  15. ^Trionfo, Richard (August 8, 2018)."WWE NXT REPORT: BASK IN KEITH LEE'S GLORY, A POOLSIDE SUMMIT, RICOCHET IS SENT A MESSAGE, AND MORE".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2020.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  16. ^Trionfo, Richard (September 26, 2018)."WWE MAE YOUNG CLASSIC REPORT: THE SECOND ROUND IS SET: IO SHIRAI, RACHEL EVERS, HIROYO MATSUMOTO, NICOLE MATTHEWS, AND MORE".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2020.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  17. ^Trionfo, Richard (October 2018)."WWE MAE YOUNG CLASSIC REPORT: SATOMURA VERSUS MARTINEZ, TONI STORM, AND MORE AS THE SECOND ROUND STARTS".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2020.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  18. ^Johnson, Mike (April 17, 2020)."WWE RELEASES CONTINUE (UPDATED AGAIN)".PWInsider.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 11,2020.
  19. ^""No, you're not gonna go to AEW" – Tay Conti says WWE denied her release to prevent her from joining AEW ".The SportsRush.May 23, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2021.RetrievedNovember 23,2021.
  20. ^Lambert, Jeremy (August 3, 2020)."AEW Women's Tag Team Cup Tournament: Deadly Draw Results (8/3): Veda, Shaul Guerrero, Madusa Appear".Fightful.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2021.RetrievedAugust 4,2020.
  21. ^Powell, Jason (August 17, 2020)."8/17 AEW Deadly Draw tournament results: Powell's live review of Diamante and Ivelisse vs. Tay Conti and Anna Jay, and Brandi Rhodes and Allie vs. Big Swole and Lil' Swole in semifinal tournament matches".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.Archivedfrom the original on April 10, 2021.RetrievedAugust 18,2020.
  22. ^Powell, Jason (August 27, 2020)."8/27 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of FTR vs. Best Friends vs. The Young Bucks vs. Dustin Rhodes and QT Marshall in a gauntlet match for a shot at the AEW Tag Titles, Jon Moxley vs. MJF contract signing for the AEW Championship match at All Out, Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara in a tables match".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 9,2020.
  23. ^"AEW Dynamite Results for January 13, 2021".All Elite Wrestling.January 14, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on February 6, 2021.RetrievedApril 2,2021.
  24. ^Powell, Jason (April 21, 2021)."4/21 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Darby Allin vs. Jungle Boy for the TNT Championship, Hikaru Shida vs. Tay Conti for the AEW Women's Championship, Christian Cage vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks vs. Hangman Page, Trent vs. Penta El Zero Miedo, Billy Gunn vs. QT Marshall".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.Archivedfrom the original on April 27, 2021.RetrievedApril 22,2021.
  25. ^"AEW Full Gear 2021 Results".All Elite Wrestling.November 14, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on November 15, 2021.RetrievedNovember 15,2021.
  26. ^"AEW Rampage New Year's Smash Results for December 31, 2021".All Elite Wrestling.January 1, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 2,2022.
  27. ^"AEW Revolution 2022 Results".All Elite Wrestling.March 7, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on March 7, 2022.RetrievedMarch 7,2022.
  28. ^"AEW Double or Nothing 2022 Results".allelitewrestling.May 30, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on May 30, 2022.RetrievedMay 30,2022.
  29. ^"AEW Dynamite: Road Rager Results for June 15, 2022".allelitewrestling.June 15, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 19, 2022.RetrievedJune 16,2022.
  30. ^"AEW Rampage: Quake By The Lake Results for August 12, 2022".All Elite Wrestling.August 13, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on August 13, 2022.RetrievedAugust 13,2022.
  31. ^abKnipper, Justin (April 30, 2022)."AAA Triplemania XXX Monterrey live results: Vikingo & Fenix vs. Young Bucks Saturday's PPV will also feature Sammy Guevara, Andrade and Deonna Purrazzo".Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online.Archivedfrom the original on May 1, 2022.RetrievedMay 1,2022.
  32. ^Chase, Stephanie (March 4, 2023)."AEW shares first trailer for unscripted series All Access".Digital Spy.Archivedfrom the original on April 11, 2023.RetrievedApril 11,2023.
  33. ^"AEW Star Tay Conti Reveals Separation from Husband".Wrestling News Source.November 23, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on January 8, 2022.RetrievedDecember 3,2021.
  34. ^"AEW Star Reveals Separation From Husband".Wrestling Inc.November 23, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on January 9, 2022.RetrievedJune 10,2022.
  35. ^Beltrán, William (January 1, 2022)."Tay Conti y Sammy Guevara son novios".Súper Luchas(in Spanish).Archivedfrom the original on January 1, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 1,2022.
  36. ^"AEW's Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti Get Engaged".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2022.RetrievedJune 10,2022.
  37. ^Chiari, Mike."AEW Stars Sammy Guevara, Tay Conti Get Engaged to Be Married at Eiffel Tower in Paris".Bleacher Report.Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2022.RetrievedJune 10,2022.
  38. ^"Tay Conti And Sammy Guevara Get Married".fightful.com.August 8, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2022.RetrievedAugust 9,2022.
  39. ^"Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo Expecting Their First Child".Wrestling Inc.com. May 29, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on May 29, 2023.RetrievedMay 29,2023.
  40. ^"Photo: AEW Stars Sammy Guevara And Tay Melo Welcome First Child".Wrestling Inc.com. November 29, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on November 29, 2023.RetrievedNovember 29,2023.
  41. ^Dasappan, Jayakrishna (December 26, 2023)."Tay Melo Says Wrestling Changed Her Life Following Her Mom's Reaction to Disney World".Wrestlezone.RetrievedJanuary 26,2024.
  42. ^Guzzo, Gisberto (March 23, 2022)."Complete List Of 2022 AEW Award Winners".Fightful.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2022.RetrievedMay 6,2022.
  43. ^@Inside_TheRopes (January 22, 2022)."The winner of the Inside The Ropes Magazine 2021 Most Improved Award is...TAY CONTI (@TayConti_ / @AEW)See the…"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  44. ^"Pro Wrestling Illustrated Women's 150 2021 List in Full".Wrestling Travel.October 28, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2022.RetrievedMay 6,2022.
  45. ^Meltzer, Dave(February 18, 2022)."February 21, 2022 Observer Newsletter: 2021 Awards issue, Cody and Brandi Rhodes leave AEW".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 18,2022.

External links[edit]

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