Melissa Coates — Biography
Born on June 18, 1971, Melissa Coates, who passed away on June 23, 2021, was a multifaceted Canadian talent. Her career spanned professional wrestling, fitness modeling, acting, and bodybuilding. Many remember her for her appearances on the Game Show Network's Extreme Dodgeball, particularly during its initial two seasons.
Coates' athletic aspirations began with tennis, inspired by Martina Navratilova. To prepare for the sport, she started weightlifting at age 15, the same year she entered her first tennis tournament in 1984, reaching the finals. The following year, she claimed the Mid-Canada Junior Girls Championship. However, her focus soon shifted to bodybuilding. By the early 1990s, she entered her first bodybuilding competition, winning the lightweight division at the Windsor Physique Contest.
Seeking broader opportunities, Coates relocated to Los Angeles, supporting herself by working at gyms and bars. Achieving professional status in 1995, she went on to win the Jan Tana Classic in 1996. She took a break from bodybuilding in 1999 to pursue modeling and simultaneously competed in the first two seasons of Extreme Dodgeball. Her team, the Barbell Mafia, made the playoffs in the first season but not the second.
Coates honed her wrestling skills at Killer Kowalski's training school and Ultimate Pro Wrestling's Ultimate University before moving to Louisville, Kentucky, to train at World Wrestling Entertainment's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). She made a brief appearance at WWE's Backlash, participating in Chris Masters' "Masterlock Challenge" segment, where she was unsuccessful in breaking the hold. Subsequently, as an official trainee at OVW, she became the "head of security" for Kenny Bolin's stable, "Bolin's Services."
Coates eventually departed from OVW and WWE, moving on to World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW). There, she defeated Krissy Vaine and competed in the Elite 8 tournament, also engaging in a cage match against Mercedes Martinez. She later returned to OVW, without a WWE developmental contract, and began wrestling against several OVW Divas, including Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Melina Perez, and Jillian Hall, eventually becoming Hall's bodyguard. Alongside Hall, she also served as a valet for the Toland Brothers.
Her journey continued at Deep South Wrestling (DSW), where she debuted as "The Bag Lady," a homeless character who became the love interest and manager of The Freakin' Deacon. In February 2007, The Bag Lady adopted a new "Diva" persona and defeated Angel Williams. After feuding with Williams and Krissy Vaine, Coates left DSW for the independent circuit.
Coates made her debut for Georgia's Great Championship Wrestling on May 29, capturing
Coates' athletic aspirations began with tennis, inspired by Martina Navratilova. To prepare for the sport, she started weightlifting at age 15, the same year she entered her first tennis tournament in 1984, reaching the finals. The following year, she claimed the Mid-Canada Junior Girls Championship. However, her focus soon shifted to bodybuilding. By the early 1990s, she entered her first bodybuilding competition, winning the lightweight division at the Windsor Physique Contest.
Seeking broader opportunities, Coates relocated to Los Angeles, supporting herself by working at gyms and bars. Achieving professional status in 1995, she went on to win the Jan Tana Classic in 1996. She took a break from bodybuilding in 1999 to pursue modeling and simultaneously competed in the first two seasons of Extreme Dodgeball. Her team, the Barbell Mafia, made the playoffs in the first season but not the second.
Coates honed her wrestling skills at Killer Kowalski's training school and Ultimate Pro Wrestling's Ultimate University before moving to Louisville, Kentucky, to train at World Wrestling Entertainment's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). She made a brief appearance at WWE's Backlash, participating in Chris Masters' "Masterlock Challenge" segment, where she was unsuccessful in breaking the hold. Subsequently, as an official trainee at OVW, she became the "head of security" for Kenny Bolin's stable, "Bolin's Services."
Coates eventually departed from OVW and WWE, moving on to World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW). There, she defeated Krissy Vaine and competed in the Elite 8 tournament, also engaging in a cage match against Mercedes Martinez. She later returned to OVW, without a WWE developmental contract, and began wrestling against several OVW Divas, including Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Melina Perez, and Jillian Hall, eventually becoming Hall's bodyguard. Alongside Hall, she also served as a valet for the Toland Brothers.
Her journey continued at Deep South Wrestling (DSW), where she debuted as "The Bag Lady," a homeless character who became the love interest and manager of The Freakin' Deacon. In February 2007, The Bag Lady adopted a new "Diva" persona and defeated Angel Williams. After feuding with Williams and Krissy Vaine, Coates left DSW for the independent circuit.
Coates made her debut for Georgia's Great Championship Wrestling on May 29, capturing
