Tay Melo Bio
Taynara Melo Guevara is a Brazilian professional wrestler and former judoka born on June 9, 1995, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She performs under the ring name Tay Melo and is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling, where she forms the tag team TayJay with Anna Jay. Prior to her wrestling career, Melo was an accomplished judo practitioner who held a black belt in judo and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Melo began her professional wrestling journey in 2017 with WWE’s NXT brand under the name Taynara Conti. She made her debut at WrestleMania Axxess in April 2017 and became the first female Brazilian to compete on the evening of WrestleMania at WrestleMania 34. After being released from WWE in 2020, she joined All Elite Wrestling and has since become one of the prominent women’s wrestlers on the roster.
Early Life and Background
Taynara Melo de Carvalho was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, growing up in the city’s favelas. She has one brother and two sisters, one of whom was adopted into the family. Her athletic journey began with artistic gymnastics at CR Vasco da Gama before transitioning to martial arts, where she found her true calling.
Melo trained in judo with the Brasil Vale Ouro team and later joined Instituto Reação, a Brazilian sports and education NGO led by Olympic judoka Flávio Canto. Her dedication to judo earned her regional championship titles and four state championships. She also achieved four-time Brazilian runner-up status and competed on the European circuit in Portugal and Germany as part of the Brazilian national team.
Before pursuing wrestling, Melo briefly attended law school in Brazil and participated in trials for the Brazilian Olympic team ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Her martial arts background, particularly her judo black belt and Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt, provided a solid foundation for her transition into professional wrestling.
Path to Professional Wrestling
In October 2016, Melo signed with WWE and reported to the WWE Performance Center to begin her professional wrestling training. Her judo background gave her a unique advantage in learning wrestling techniques and grappling skills. She made her in-ring debut in April 2017 at WrestleMania Axxess in Orlando, Florida.
Melo’s first television appearance on NXT came in October 2017, where she interfered in a triple threat match on behalf of The Undisputed Era. This storyline led to her first televised match against Nikki Cross. Her athletic background helped her quickly adapt to the wrestling style, and she participated in the Mae Young Classic tournament in both 2017 and 2018.
Melo became the first female Brazilian wrestler to compete on WrestleMania’s main show during the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34 in April 2018. This milestone marked a significant achievement in her early wrestling career. After her WWE release in April 2020 due to pandemic-related budget cuts, she quickly found opportunity in All Elite Wrestling later that year.
Tay Melo Career
Early Career (2017-2020)
Melo’s professional wrestling career began in WWE’s developmental system NXT, where she wrestled as Taynara Conti. She debuted at WrestleMania Axxess in April 2017, facing Sarah Bridges in her first match. Throughout her NXT tenure, she appeared on television and participated in the Mae Young Classic tournaments in 2017 and 2018.
During her time in WWE, Melo qualified for the 2018 Mae Young Classic after defeating Vanessa Borne. She won her first-round match against Jessie Elaban before falling to Lacey Lane in the second round. Her most notable achievement during this period was competing in the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34. She was released from WWE in April 2020 as part of company-wide budget cuts related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
All Elite Wrestling Breakthrough (2020-2023)
Melo joined All Elite Wrestling in August 2020, initially appearing as Tay Conti in the AEW Women’s Tag Team Cup Tournament. She partnered with Anna Jay to form the team TayJay, reaching the tournament semi-finals. Her strong performances earned her a full contract with AEW in September 2020. Throughout 2021, she challenged for the NWA World Women’s Championship and the AEW Women’s World Championship against champions Serena Deeb and Hikaru Shida.
In 2022, Melo’s career reached new heights as she transitioned into a heel persona alongside Sammy Guevara. She challenged Jade Cargill for the AEW TBS Championship at Revolution in March 2022. Melo and Guevara joined the Jericho Appreciation Society in June 2022, aligning with Chris Jericho’s faction. She adopted the ring name Tay Melo around this time and helped establish herself as a key player in AEW’s women’s division.
Melo also competed in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide through AEW’s partnership, winning the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship with Sammy Guevara at Triplemanía XXX in April 2022. The couple defended the title successfully, including a victory at Rampage Quake by the Lake in August 2022. Melo engaged in feuds with Ruby Soho throughout late 2022 and early 2023, trading victories in high-profile matches on AEW programming.
AEW Return Era (2025-Present)
After taking maternity leave in January 2023, Melo made her in-ring return in January 2025 at World Wonder Ring Stardom’s New Year Dream event in Japan. She teamed with Mina Shirakawa but fell to Athena and Thekla. This return to action helped prepare her for her comeback to AEW television later that year.
Melo returned to AEW on June 4, 2025, at Fyter Fest, saving Anna Jay from an attack by Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. This moment marked her return to face status and the reunion of the TayJay tag team. The following week at Summer Blockbuster, TayJay defeated Bayne and Ford in a tag team match. Melo continued her momentum by competing in the women’s Casino Gauntlet match at All In in July 2025.
Style and Strengths
Melo’s judo background heavily influences her wrestling style, incorporating throws, takedowns, and submission techniques. Her martial arts training provides her with exceptional grappling skills and mat awareness. She often utilizes judo-inspired maneuvers and Brazilian jiu-jitsu submissions in her matches. Melo’s athleticism and agility allow her to execute high-flying moves while maintaining strong technical wrestling fundamentals.
Notable Events and Milestones
Melo became the first female Brazilian wrestler to compete on the main WrestleMania show at WrestleMania 34 in 2018. She won the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship with Sammy Guevara at Triplemanía XXX in 2022. Her 22-month hiatus for maternity and subsequent return to wrestling in 2025 marked significant personal and professional milestones. The reunion of TayJay in 2025 represented another important chapter in her career.
Tay Melo Career Wins
Tay Melo has achieved championship success in major wrestling promotions. Her most significant title victory came in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, where she won the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship. She has also secured victories in high-profile matches across AEW programming.
AAA Highlights
Melo won the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship on April 30, 2022, at Triplemanía XXX. She teamed with Sammy Guevara to defeat Los Vipers, Maravilla and Látigo, and Sexy Star II and Komander in a multi-tag team match. The championship reign elevated her profile internationally. She successfully defended the title with Guevara on AEW programming, including a victory at Rampage Quake by the Lake in August 2022.
Other Wins & Performances
In WWE’s NXT, Melo qualified for the 2018 Mae Young Classic tournament by defeating Vanessa Borne. She also won her first-round match against Jessie Elaban. In AEW, Melo and Anna Jay scored victories in the AEW Women’s Tag Team Cup Tournament, reaching the semi-finals. She defeated The Bunny and Penelope Ford in a street fight on Rampage in December 2021. Following her 2025 return, Melo and Anna Jay defeated Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford at Summer Blockbuster.
Tay Melo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Melo was born to a family in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has one brother and two sisters, with one sister being adopted. Her family supported her athletic pursuits from a young age, including her judo training. Details about her parents are not publicly documented.
Personal Life
Melo married fellow judoka Jorge Conti in 2017. The couple later separated, and their divorce was confirmed in November 2021. She began a relationship with professional wrestler Sammy Guevara in January 2022. The couple became engaged in June 2022 in Paris and married on August 7, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. They announced they were expecting their first child in May 2023. Melo gave birth to their daughter, Luna Guevara, on November 28, 2023.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Melo’s return to professional wrestling following a 22-month maternity hiatus. She made her comeback at World Wonder Ring Stardom’s New Year Dream event in January 2025, gaining valuable ring time ahead of her AEW return. Her return to AEW television at Fyter Fest in June 2025 signaled the next chapter of her career.
Melo reunited with Anna Jay to reform the TayJay tag team immediately upon her AEW return. The duo scored a victory at Summer Blockbuster in June 2025, defeating Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. Melo continued to build momentum by participating in the women’s Casino Gauntlet match at All In in July 2025. Her return storyline focused on re-establishing herself in the women’s division while supporting her tag team partnership with Jay. The combination of her martial arts background and renewed focus positions her for continued success in AEW’s women’s division.
