11 Things You Didn't Know About Rosa Mendes
A Hall of Fame career has come to an end.
Nothing lasts forever in professional wrestling, and this week longtime WWE superstar Rosa Mendes announced her official retirement.
Mendes, real name Milena Roucka, was a WWE employee for over a decade after being signed to a developmental contract following the 2006 Diva Search. Her career wasn't exactly known for the high points it produced in the ring, but a decade of service can't be sniffed at.
Rosa had been a non-factor on WWE TV for over a year, briefly performing as a correspondent on SmackDown before departing on maternity leave ahead of giving birth to her son in February 2016. Her last televised match was an extremely long time ago. Rosa came up short in a number one contender's Battle Royal on RAW won by Paige in April 2015.
Little is known about what Rosa will do next, but the time to look back on her storied professional wrestling career would be now.
11. She Wasn't The Only 2006 Diva Search Loser To Get Hired
WWE has a tendency to pay more attention to individuals that fail to win their contract-based reality competitions. The Miz, John Morrison and Ryback were three of the most successful individuals to come through Tough Enough - yet none of the three actually won the competition.
Rosa took part in the 2006 Diva Search, a competition won by future WWE Divas Champion Layla. Rosa was signed despite finishing in fourth place as WWE looked to fill up its female developmental roster. Plenty of other big names were signed from this same competition, including Maryse, Brooke Adams and the Garcia Twins, who the world now knows better as the Bella Twins.
Rosa was signed practically immediately after the competition and headed to developmental to learn how to wrestle. Over a decade later, she still hadn't quite grasped it all.