LadySports ::: POWER, BEAUTY AND GRACE

By Shiai Mata

Melissa Coates, with her flowing blond mane and golden skin to match, could be the very epitome of the California Beauty... if, by one's definition of beauty, that woman also bench presses 250 pounds and deadlifts an incredible 650 pounds!

Melissa did indeed call Los Angeles home for a number of years, but she actually hails from a place called Thunder Bay at the head of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada, and she currently calls the state of Georgia home. That's because she's at present working for Deep South Wrestling, a developmental territory for the WWE.

At 5'5" and 142 pounds, Coates is not the largest woman in the sport, but she is by far one of the most powerful. Years of competitive bodybuilding and fitness competitions have sculpted for her a body that gives her the strength to be literally devastating in the ring.

Not surprisingly, that body and the power it commands led her to pro wrestling. But not right away. "I wrestled on and off for a few years," she says. "But I really started getting down to business in July of 2003 at Ohio Valley Wrestling." And just how did she first get interested in wrestling? "Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Loved the triangle story back in the late 1980s."

It should surprise no one that training is of paramount importance to Melissa, and she's deadly serious about it. "Right now I train on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the ring, and I also cut promos on camera on Wednesdays. Thursdays are show days, and Friday is for tape review and training. I keep pretty busy there. It is most important to have good stamina and wind for wrestling, so you don't get blown up. This sort of conditioning you can only develop by being in the ring."

And her training shows in the ring, as the blond has ably demonstrated that she doesn't simply rely on raw power in her matches, but has learned to channel her strength into a variety of moves. "I do a lot of different things, but enjoy the Surfboard, the Pendulum, and the Lotus for holds. I like to do a 'sit out' punch. I am probably best known for the Torture Rack finisher I used to do, called the 'CoatesRack', though of late I now do the X-Factor Facebuster. I‘m always looking to do new things and new moves." She's also a bit of a showwoman in the ring, ready to remind the fans (as if they needed reminding) that she's also a gorgeous woman. "I would say I do 'sexy' pins and am known a bit for that. I have a good sense of humor when I wrestle as well. I like to be entertaining and also entertain myself!"

Forging a career in pro wrestling can be difficult, and a lot of aspirants don't make it. Luckily for Melissa, she is a woman who thrives on adversity and turns challenges into triumphs, a talent she honed early in her bodybuilding career. "In professional bodybuilding, I placed 9th at my first Olympia, and in my pro debut, I won the whole darn show! My mother told me 'Strength through adversity'. and that's my motto."

Following her championship fitness career (she's currently not competing), she really knuckled down with her wrestling career. In addition to high profile indy stints with Deep South and Ohio Valley, she's wrestled for other promotions in the South, the Midwest, the Northeast, and on the West Coast... including a memorable match against Macaela (Jillian Hall) Mercedes for the PGWA! The high point thus far was doing the 'Masterlock Challenge' for the WWE's "Backlash" pay-per-view in 2005.

But sometimes all of the success in the world doesn't erase the regrets one might have. In Melissa's case, there's one regret in particular she carries: "I have a few, but there's no need to think about the past. Still, I regret that my mother is no longer alive. She would hate that I am wrestling, but she was also like that about professional bodybuilding. She eventually accepted it and supported it, and I miss her encouragement."

One thing she doesn't regret is the physical cost of being a wrestler, although luckily in her case, that's been limited to a broken nose, a busted open eye, and the usual bumps and bruises. Such ailments are part of the sport. She accepts that, in part because she knows the role she plays, being so high-profile a figure as she is. "I am doing something I love to do. I love the challenge, love to stay in shape and be athletic, love to be creative and dramatic, and I love to entertain people, meet people, and travel. I find the whole experience of both entertaining people and being physical at the same time very emotionally fulfilling. But I know I have to be a strong representative of the sport and encourage other women... and men... to follow their dreams, be strong, be honest, believe in themselves and never give up."

In spite of the physique and the somewhat intimidating persona in the ring, Melissa is quite a different woman away from the squared circle. "I am a very easy going person, I don't judge others, I just like to get along and have a good time and just love life. I have a good sense of humor, and I like that in others. I don't like dishonest or selfish people, or people who don't have any ethics or dignity." As for what would make her happiest in life, it isn't a shiny title belt or trophy: "I'd be happiest just to have special people in my life... to be loved and to love."

And as far as the most important tools she brings to her work, one might be surprised to learn that she doesn't list the incredible power of her muscles as the most important. Indeed, it's a different kind of power she's proudest of. "I work very hard, and don't give up easily. My strength is my ability to rebound after unfortunate circumstances."

And that ability to rebound against adversity has earned her a legion of fans. "My fans are all different ages... men, women and children. I love to be friendly and I especially love kids. The fans seem to respect the hard work I have put into my body, and it is nice to be appreciated for hard work, not just looks."

And she's always looking to add more fans to her long list of admirers! "Please support women's wrestling! And feel free to contact me... I love to hear from the fans, and I answer all of my e-mails personally! You'll find me at MelissaCoates@yahoo.com."

melissacoates.com