Tay Melo Explained

Tay Melo
Birth Name:Taynara Melo de Carvalho
Birth Date:June 9, 1995[1]
Birth Place:Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Children:1
Names:Tay Conti
Tay Melo
Taynara Conti
Taynara Melo
Height:5 ft 5 in[2]
Billed:Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Trainer:Dustin Rhodes
WWE Performance Center
Debut:[3]

Taynara Melo Guevara (née de Carvalho and formerly Conti; born June 9, 1995) is a Brazilian professional wrestler and judoka. She is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where she performs under the ring name Tay Melo and was a member of the Jericho Appreciation Society. She also appears in AEW's Mexican partner promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where she is a former AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion with real life husband Sammy Guevara.

Prior to joining AEW, Melo performed for WWE on the NXT brand as Taynara Conti from 2017 to 2020.

Early life and judo

Taynara Melo de Carvalho was born on June 9, 1995 in Rio 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-infested favelas. She holds a black belt in judo and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[4] Melo briefly went to law school in Brazil[5] and participated in trials for the Brazilian Olympic team at the 2016 Summer Olympics prior to joining WWE.[6]

Melo began her athletic career in artistic gymnastics in CR Vasco da Gama, but soon migrated to martial arts. She initially fought for the judo team Brasil vale ouro ("Brazil is worth gold") and later joined Brazilian sports and education NGO Instituto Reação, led by Olympic judoka Flávio 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.[7]

Professional wrestling career

WWE (2016–2020)

In October 2016, Melo was announced as having signed with WWE and reported to the WWE Performance Center. She made her professional wrestling debut as Taynara Conti at WrestleMania Axxess in Orlando, Florida on April 1, 2017, competing against Sarah Bridges in a losing effort.[8] She took part in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, during which she lost to Lacey Evans in the first round of the tournament.[9]

Conti appeared on television on the October 11 episode of NXT, interfering in a triple threat match between Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, and Liv Morgan on behalf of The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly) to prevent Cross from winning the match.[10] [11] This led to a match between Conti and Cross on the November 1 episode of NXT, where Conti lost.[12] On April 8, 2018, Conti performed during the pre-show of WrestleMania 34, competing in the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal, becoming the first female Brazilian to compete on the evening of WrestleMania.[13] Later in the year, Conti qualified for the 2018 Mae Young Classic tournament after she defeated Vanessa Borne.[14] She defeated Jessie Elaban in the first round but lost to Lacey Lane in the second round.[15] [16]

On April 20, 2020, Conti was released from her WWE contract as a result of budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] 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 to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[18]

All Elite Wrestling (2020–present)

On August 4, 2020, Melo appeared on AEW as Tay Conti, participating in the AEW Women's Tag Team Cup Tournament: The Deadly Draw and teaming with Anna Jay. The team, known officially as TayJay, defeated Nyla Rose and Ariane Andrew in the quarterfinals but lost to Ivelisse and Diamante during the semi-finals.[19] [20] On the August 26 episode of Dynamite, she received a contract from the stable The Dark Order to join them.[21] On September 9, AEW announced that Conti had signed with the company.[22]

On the January 13, 2021, episode of Dynamite, Conti competed for the NWA World Women's Championship for the first time, and was defeated by Serena Deeb.[23] In the following weeks, Conti earned a title match for the AEW Women's World Championship, but she was not successful in beating the champion, Hikaru Shida, on the April 21 episode of Dynamite.[24] In September, Conti and Anna Jay began a feud with Penelope Ford and The Bunny in a series of singles and tag matches on Dynamite and Rampage. On November 13, Conti fought again for the AEW Women's World Championship, this time facing defending champion Britt Baker at Full Gear but 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 a street fight on December 31 on Rampage.[26]

On March 6, 2022, at Revolution, Conti faced Jade Cargill for the AEW TBS Championship in a losing effort.[27] After months of feuding, on May 29 at Double or Nothing Conti teamed up with Sammy Guevara and Frankie Kazarian in a trios mixed tag team match facing American Top Team's Ethan Page, Paige VanZant and Scorpio Sky, which Conti's team lost.[28] On June 15, at Road Rager, Conti along with Guevara, joined the Jericho Appreciation Society, turning heel.[29] On August 12 on Rampage Quake by the Lake under the new ring name Tay Melo, teamed up with Guevara defending the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship against Dante Martin and Skye Blue which they successfully retained.[30]

Melo and Guevara then started a feud with Ruby Soho and Ortiz, trading wins during August before defeating them at All Out due to interference from Anna Jay. The feud between Melo and Soho resumed on the November 30 episode of Dynamite, leading to a match at Winter Is Coming where Soho defeated Melo. The feud continued with Melo and Jay defeating Soho and Willow Nightingale on the December 28 episode of Dynamite; Soho and Nightingale however defeated Melo and Jay on the January 11, 2023 episode of Rampage in a street fight.

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (2022)

On April 30, 2022, Conti made her AAA debut teaming with Sammy Guevara to defeat Los Vipers, Maravilla and Látigo, and Sexy Star II and Komander to win the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship at Triplemanía XXX. For most of the match, La Parka Negra would wrestle in Guevara's place.

Other media

Melo appears as a main cast member for AEW All Access.[31]

Personal life

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".[32] [33]

Melo had been in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Sammy Guevara since January 2022.[34] The couple got engaged in June in Paris[35] [36] and were wed on August 7, 2022, in Orlando.[37] In May 2023, at Double or Nothing, Melo and Guevara revealed they are expecting their first child, and confirmed it on their social media accounts.[38]

On November 28, 2023, Melo gave birth to a daughter.[39] [40]

She is a fan of MMA (particularly the UFC and the MMA fighters Amanda Nunes and Charles 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.

Championships and accomplishments

Notes and References

  1. TayConti_. 1270207098450849792. I’m 25... God is amazing!!!. June 9, 2020. April 2, 2021.
  2. Web site: Taynara Conti. WWE. January 7, 2023. October 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191704/https://www.wwe.com/superstars/taynara-conti. live.
  3. Web site: Taynara Conti. November 9, 2017. October 15, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071015075111/https://www.cagematch.net//?id=2&nr=18241&name=Taynara+Conti. live.
  4. Web site: WWE Performance Center welcomes new class of recruits. October 25, 2016. September 15, 2017. WWE. October 26, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161026162722/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/wwe-performance-center-welcomes-new-class-recruits-october-2016. live.
  5. Web site: Tacos with Tay Conti. YouTube. January 6, 2022. January 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106235455/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxdF3MFeNQw&t=557s. live.
  6. Web site: Taynara Conti. September 15, 2017. WWE. August 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170819122927/http://www.wwe.com/section/mae-young-classic-competitors/article/taynara-conti. live.
  7. Web site: Ex-atleta da seleção brasileira troca judô pela luta-livre e vira estrela nos EUA. November 9, 2017. November 10, 2017. Rede Globo. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609201744/https://globoesporte.globo.com/judo/noticia/ex-atleta-da-selecao-brasileira-troca-judo-pela-luta-livre-e-vira-estrela-nos-eua.ghtml. live.
  8. Web site: Atualizado (02/04): Resultados dos combates realizados na WrestleMania Axxess. November 6, 2017. July 31, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170731080854/http://www.universowrestling.com.br/2017/04/atualizado-0204-resultados-dos-combates.html. live.
  9. Web site: WWE Mae Young Classic episode four results: Kairi Sane debuts. Molina. Josh. August 31, 2017. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. September 15, 2017. September 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170903032502/http://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-results/wwe-mae-young-classic-episode-four-results-kairi-sane-debuts-242036. live.
  10. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: GARGANO VERSUS ALMAS, THE NEXT QUALIFIER FOR THE WOMEN'S TITLE MATCH, BURCH VERSUS SULLIVAN, DREAM VERSUS RUSH, AND MORE. Trionfo. Richard. October 11, 2017. PWInsider. June 20, 2019. October 12, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012100349/https://www.pwinsider.com/article/112855/wwe-nxt-report-gargano-versus-almas-the-next-qualifier-for-the-womens-title-match-burch-versus-sullivan-dream-versus-rush-and-more.html?p=1. live.
  11. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: BATTLE ROYAL, IS THE VELVETEEN DREAM A NIGHTMARE FOR ALEISTER BLACK?, ALMAS VERSUS STRONG, LORCAN AND BURCH TEAM UP, AND MORE. Trionfo. Richard. October 25, 2017. PWInsider. June 20, 2019. October 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027125626/https://www.pwinsider.com/article/113151/wwe-nxt-report-battle-royal-is-the-velveteen-dream-a-nightmare-for-aleister-black-almas-versus-strong-lorcan-and-burch-team-up-and-more.html?p=1. live.
  12. Web site: WWE NXT SPOILERS FOR TONIGHT. Johnson. Mike. November 1, 2017. PWInsider. June 20, 2019. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609203300/https://pwinsider.com/article/113276/wwe-nxt-spoilers-for-tonight.html?p=1. live.
  13. Web site: COMPLETE WRESTLEMANIA 34 KICKOFF SHOW COVERAGE. Carapola. Stuart. April 8, 2018. PWInsider. June 20, 2019. June 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180613235215/https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=116716&p=2. live.
  14. Web site: WWE NXT REPORT: BASK IN KEITH LEE'S GLORY, A POOLSIDE SUMMIT, RICOCHET IS SENT A MESSAGE, AND MORE. Trionfo. Richard. August 8, 2018. PWInsider. June 20, 2019. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609203138/https://pwinsider.com/article/119478/conti-versus-borne-ongoing-wwe-nxt-report.html?p=1. live.
  15. Web site: WWE MAE YOUNG CLASSIC REPORT: THE SECOND ROUND IS SET: IO SHIRAI, RACHEL EVERS, HIROYO MATSUMOTO, NICOLE MATTHEWS, AND MORE. Trionfo. Richard. September 26, 2018. PWInsider. June 20, 2019. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609204151/https://www.pwinsider.com/article/120555/wwe-mae-young-classic-report-the-second-round-is-set-io-shirai-rachel-evers-hiroyo-matsumoto-nicole-matthews-and-more.html?p=1. live.
  16. Web site: WWE MAE YOUNG CLASSIC REPORT: SATOMURA VERSUS MARTINEZ, TONI STORM, AND MORE AS THE SECOND ROUND STARTS. Trionfo. Richard. October 2018. PWInsider. June 20, 2019. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609203217/https://pwinsider.com/article/120706/wwe-mae-young-classic-report-satomura-versus-martinez-toni-storm-and-more-as-the-second-round-starts.html?p=1. live.
  17. Web site: Johnson. Mike. WWE RELEASES CONTINUE (UPDATED AGAIN). PWInsider. April 17, 2020. September 11, 2020. April 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200425191218/https://www.pwinsider.com/article/135691/wwe-releases-continue-updated.html?p=1. live.
  18. Web site: "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. November 23, 2021. December 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211220140818/https://www.thesportsrush.com/aew-news-no-youre-not-gonna-go-to-aew-tay-conti-says-wwe-denied-her-release-to-prevent-her-from-joining-aew/. live.
  19. Web site: AEW Women's Tag Team Cup Tournament: Deadly Draw Results (8/3): Veda, Shaul Guerrero, Madusa Appear. Fightful. Jeremy. Lambert. August 3, 2020. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125015949/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/results/watch-aew-women-s-tag-team-cup-tournament-deadly-draw-night-1-quarter-finals-8320. January 25, 2021. live.
  20. Web site: Powell. Jason. 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. August 17, 2020. August 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210410005519/https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/08/17/8-17-aew-deadly-draw-tournament-results-powells-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-tourname/. April 10, 2021. live.
  21. Web site: Powell. Jason. 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. August 27, 2020. September 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418224359/https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/08/27/8-27-aew-dynamite-results-powells-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/. April 18, 2021. live.
  22. Web site: Satin. Ryan. Ryan Satin. AEW Confirms Tay Conti Is Now "All Elite". Pro Wrestling Sheet. September 9, 2020. September 9, 2020. September 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200925131106/https://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/tay-conti-signs-aew-all-elite/. live.
  23. Web site: AEW Dynamite Results for January 13, 2021. . All Elite Wrestling. January 14, 2021. April 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210206191548/https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-results-for-january-13-2021. February 6, 2021. live.
  24. Web site: 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. Powell. Jason. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. April 21, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210427214645/https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/04/21/4-21-aew-dynamite-results-powells-live-review-of-darby-allin-vs-jungle-boy-for-the-tnt-championship-hikaru-shida-vs-tay-conti-for-the-aew-womens-championship-christian-cage-vs-powerhouse-hob/. April 27, 2021. live.
  25. Web site: AEW Full Gear 2021 Results. . All Elite Wrestling. November 14, 2021. November 15, 2021. November 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211115223602/https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-full-gear-2021-results. live.
  26. Web site: AEW Rampage New Year's Smash Results for December 31, 2021. . All Elite Wrestling. January 1, 2022. January 2, 2022. January 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102164603/https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-rampage-new-year-s-smash-results-for-december-31-2021. live.
  27. Web site: AEW Revolution 2022 Results. . All Elite Wrestling. March 7, 2022. March 7, 2022. March 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220307173950/https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-revolution-2022-results. live.
  28. Web site: AEW Double or Nothing 2022 Results. allelitewrestling. May 30, 2022. May 30, 2022. May 30, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220530142100/https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-double-or-nothing-2022-results. live.
  29. News: AEW Dynamite: Road Rager Results for June 15, 2022. allelitewrestling. June 15, 2022. June 16, 2022. June 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619052739/https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-road-rager-results-for-june-15-2022. live.
  30. Web site: . August 13, 2022. AEW Rampage: Quake By The Lake Results for August 12, 2022. August 13, 2022. All Elite Wrestling. August 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220813173058/https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-rampage-quake-by-the-lake-results-for-august-12-2022. live.
  31. Web site: AEW shares first trailer for unscripted series All Access. Chase. Stephanie. March 4, 2023. Digital Spy. April 11, 2023. April 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230411202019/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a43187793/aew-all-access-trailer-premiere-date/. live.
  32. Web site: AEW Star Tay Conti Reveals Separation from Husband. Wrestling News Source. November 23, 2021. December 3, 2021. January 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108014337/https://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/news/72297/AEW-Star-Tay-Conti-Reveals-Separation-From-Husband/. live.
  33. Web site: AEW Star Reveals Separation From Husband. June 10, 2022. Wrestling Inc.. November 23, 2021. January 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220109221948/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/11/tay-conti-reveals-separation-from-husband/. live.
  34. Web site: Tay Conti y Sammy Guevara son novios. Beltrán. William. Súper Luchas. ES. January 1, 2022. January 1, 2022. January 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220101213732/https://superluchas.com/tay-conti-y-sammy-guevara-son-novios/. live.
  35. Web site: AEW's Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti Get Engaged. June 10, 2022. WWE. June 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220610133612/https://comicbook.com/wwe/news/aew-sammy-guevara-tay-conti-get-engaged/. live.
  36. Web site: Chiari. Mike. AEW Stars Sammy Guevara, Tay Conti Get Engaged to Be Married at Eiffel Tower in Paris. June 10, 2022. Bleacher Report. June 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220610133613/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10037606-aew-stars-sammy-guevara-tay-conti-get-engaged-to-be-married-at-eiffel-tower-in-paris. live.
  37. Web site: Tay Conti And Sammy Guevara Get Married. August 8, 2022. August 9, 2022. fightful.com. August 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220808145301/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tay-conti-and-sammy-guevara-get-married. live.
  38. Web site: Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo Expecting Their First Child. Wrestling Inc.com. EN. May 29, 2023. May 29, 2023. May 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230529052008/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1298994/sammy-guevara-tay-melo-expecting-their-first-child/. live.
  39. Web site: Photo: AEW Stars Sammy Guevara And Tay Melo Welcome First Child. Wrestling Inc.com. EN. November 29, 2023. November 29, 2023. November 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231129211944/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1458473/photo-aew-stars-sammy-guevara-tay-melo-welcome-first-child/. live.
  40. Web site: Dasappan . Jayakrishna . 2023-12-26 . Tay Melo Says Wrestling Changed Her Life Following Her Mom’s Reaction to Disney World . 2024-01-26 . Wrestlezone . en-US.
  41. Web site: Complete List Of 2022 AEW Award Winners. Guzzo. Gisberto. March 23, 2022. Fightful. May 6, 2022. April 30, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430091829/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/complete-list-2022-aew-award-winners. live.
  42. 1484933886459236354. Inside_TheRopes. The winner of the Inside The Ropes Magazine 2021 Most Improved Award is...TAY CONTI (@TayConti_ / @AEW)See the…. January 22, 2022.
  43. Web site: AAA Triplemania XXX Monterrey live results: Vikingo & Fenix vs. Young Bucks Saturday's PPV will also feature Sammy Guevara, Andrade and Deonna Purrazzo.. Justin. Knipper. Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. April 30, 2022. May 1, 2022. May 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220501010508/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/aaa-triplemania-xxx-monterrey-live-results-vikingo-fenix-vs-young-bucks. live.
  44. Web site: Pro Wrestling Illustrated Women's 150 2021 List in Full. October 28, 2021. Wrestling Travel. May 6, 2022. May 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220508232041/https://wrestlingtravel.com/pro-wrestling-illustrated-womens-150-2021-list-in-full/. live.
  45. Web site: February 21, 2022 Observer Newsletter: 2021 Awards issue, Cody and Brandi Rhodes leave AEW. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave. Meltzer. Dave Meltzer. February 18, 2022. February 18, 2022. subscription. February 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220218103639/https://www.f4wonline.com/newsletters/wrestling-observer-newsletter/february-21-observer-newsletter-2021-awards-issue-cod-and-brandi-rhodes-leave-aew. live.