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United States Shelly Martinez transitioned from successful professional wrestling to acting and modeling, showcasing diverse talents across entertainment industries.
Shelly Martinez worked with WWE on its ECW brand under the ring name Ariel, adopting a tarot reader gimmick and managing Kevin Thorn. She also spent time in their developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). She was released in mid-2007.
After leaving WWE, Martinez joined TNA, known as Salinas, where she was a valet for The Latin American Xchange (LAX), managing Homicide and Hernandez. She participated in various matches and storylines before leaving TNA in September 2008.
As Desire, Shelly Martinez won the EWF Tag Team Championship with Threat in July 2002, holding the title for 28 days.
Shelly Martinez competed on the independent circuit in Southern California under the ring name Desire for various promotions, including Revolution Pro Wrestling, in her early career.
Shelly Martinez wrestled as Desire and Halloween Barbie in Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where she was involved in a storyline as the sister of Kyra (Melina Perez).
Shelly Martinez had a run in Women's Extreme Wrestling, where she portrayed the storyline cousin of Mercedes Martinez.
After leaving TNA, Martinez wrestled under her real name for the Perros del Mal promotion in Mexico.
Beginning in 2010, Martinez appeared for Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, defeating Lucky O'Shea in her debut match and later having a storyline as Ricky Mandel's girlfriend.
Martinez and J. T. Dunn participated in the 2014 WSU Queen and King of the Ring tournament, losing to Candice LeRae and Joey Ryan.
Martinez was a contestant on the reality television show 'The Search for the Next Elvira', which debuted on Fox Reality Channel on October 13, 2007.
Martinez appeared in the beginning of the Mötley Crüe music video for 'Saints of Los Angeles'.
Martinez, Raven, and Cheerleader Melissa filmed the music video for the Smashing Pumpkins' song 'Owata' in May 2011.
As of late 2011, Martinez was the official Hollywood event correspondent and hostess for the horror news website MoreHorror.com.
Shelly Leonor Martinez, born on February 9, 1980, in Chino, California, began her career in December 2000 as a professional wrestler. Initially working on the independent circuit in Southern California under the ring name Desire, she competed for promotions such as Revolution Pro Wrestling, Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW), and the Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF). A notable early achievement was securing the EWF Tag Team Championship with Threat on July 19, 2002, holding the title for 28 days. Her dedication to the sport led her to model and act to further her wrestling career, training at the School of Hard Knocks, WPW Lucha Libre, Ultimate Pro Wrestling, and the Inoki Dojo.
In April 2005, Martinez signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), joining Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) as “Shelly.” She later moved to the ECW brand in mid-2006, adopting the ring name Ariel and a tarot reader gimmick, notable for managing Kevin Thorn. During her time in WWE, she participated in significant storylines, including forming “The New Breed” stable in 2007. Following her release from WWE in May 2007, she joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) later that year, where she was known as Salinas and managed The Latin American Xchange (LAX) from 2007 to 2008. Her tenure in TNA included competing in the Knockout Gauntlet Battle Royal for the first TNA Knockout Champion and intergender tag team matches. She left TNA in September 2008 to pursue an Italian thriller movie project.
After departing TNA, Martinez continued to appear on the independent circuit in promotions like Perros del Mal in Mexico and Championship Wrestling From Hollywood. She also expanded her presence in other media, appearing in films such as “Dead Things,” “Porn Shoot Massacre,” and reality television, including “The Search for the Next Elvira” and “Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too.” Martinez also posed for pin-up films and nude photoshoots. She officially retired from professional wrestling in May 2017.
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