‘Super Genie’ Melissa Coates has reportedly died aged 50, with the wrestling world in mourning.
No cause of death has been given for the former bodybuilder, wrestler and manager, who frequently accompanied Sabu to the ring later in her career and was close to the ECW legend.
On Wednesday night, a friend wrote on Facebook: ‘This may be the hardest post I have ever made… Just got word from Terry “Sabu” Brunk that Super Genie Melissa Coates has passed away this afternoon..
‘I also have spoken to her brother, JR Coates and niece, Cassi. They told me to post this sad news…
‘Sabu will not be taking calls and please respect their privacy at this time. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.’
Sabu has retweeted a post referencing Coates’ death, and the Cauliflower Alley Club – a non-profit corporation looking after former full-time wrestlers – also wrote about the sad news.
They tweeted: ‘Everyone here at the CAC is deeply saddened to hear the news that Super Genie Melissa Coates has passed away.
‘We send out our sincerest condolences to her family, friends and fans. May they find comfort in the memories left behind during this most difficult time. R.I.P. Melissa.’
Coates was trained by Killer Kowalski and appeared in OVW, while she was also on WWE TV in 2005 when she took on Chris Masters’ Masterlock challenge.
In October, a GoFundMe page was set up after she had to have her leg amputated after the ‘arteries supplying blood to her left lower leg were completely obstructed by blood clots’.
Many wrestlers and fans have paid tribute to her on social media, as WWE superstar Bayley revealed she had her first match against Coates.
She tweeted: ‘I had my very first match against Melissa Coates. There’s always a forever connection when you share the ring with someone and I’m honored to have that with her. Thank you for being so sweet, helpful and busting my brace face open. I’ll truly never forget you. (sic)’
And veteran star Lance Storm wrote: ‘Saddened to hear of Melissa Coates’ passing tonight. I didn’t know her that well, but I worked with her some during my time in OVW.
‘Coates (that’s what we called her. Never Melissa) wasn’t under WWE contract then but I trained with her a few times and she was at all the shows.
