[Magnificent Ladies Wrestling] Melanie Cruise

Big, beautiful and battle-ready badass

Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 165 pounds
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Melanie Cruise is matter-of-fact about the way she pursues her wrestling career, summing up her philosophy in just a few words: "I do what I have to do to win."

The unfortunate array of women who have battled the tall, powerful amazon in the ring can attest to the honesty of that statement. The marks and bruises on their bodies after a match are testimony to the brute force Cruise brings to every bout. But it's not simply her strength. Cruise also is a highly trained technical wrestler who has trained for years with the POWW (Purely Obsessed Wrestling World) Entertainment, where she is the reigning women's champion. She was trained by Ruff Crossing, Jimmy Blaze and Scott Spade.

"I have always loved wrestling, since I was a little girl," Cruise explains. "I loved the idea of getting into the ring and proving myself against the best. It was POWW Entertainment that opened the door for me and showed me everything I need to know about the art of wrestling."

Opponents may wish POWW had never opened that door.

Cruise uses her strength, her cunning and her knowledge of intricate, punishing holds to great advantage. She is a classic "power wrestler," who can utilize varieties of slams and suplexes to drain the fight from her foes, but her height and strength allow her to brawl when necessary.

"I've never been afraid to mix it up," she brags. "There aren't many women who can go toe-to-toe with me in a brawl. If they're foolish enough to try, I'm perfectly happy to knock them into the next county."

Cruise made her debut in a mixed tag-team match in 2007. She wrestles often in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest. She also has worked in the all-woman SHIMMER promotion as both a singles wrestler and in tag matches alongside well-known pros including Wesna Busic and Annie Social.

Cruise is considered a serious threat to win any belt in any promotion where she wrestles including the Magnificent Ladies Wrestling.

Credit: Jeff Borden

Melanie Cruise

Classic Matches