The wrestling world erupted when Tay Melo stormed back into AEW after a two-year hiatus, making her dramatic return during tonight’s Fyter Fest special episode of Collision. The Brazilian powerhouse answered the call when her longtime partner Anna Jay found herself overwhelmed by a vicious two-on-one assault.
A Triumphant Comeback After Personal Milestone
Melo’s absence from AEW programming stretches back to January 11, 2023, when she last stepped through the ropes on AEW Rampage. That night saw her team with Anna Jay in a losing effort against the duo of Willow Nightingale and Ruby Soho. What fans didn’t know at the time was that this match would mark the beginning of a transformative chapter in Tay’s life.
Shortly following that Rampage appearance, Melo and her husband Sammy Guevara shared life-changing news with the wrestling community. The couple announced they were expecting their first child together, explaining Tay’s sudden departure from active competition. Their daughter Luna arrived in November 2023, giving the former TayJay member a new priority outside the squared circle.
Testing the Waters in Japan
Wrestling fans got their first glimpse of Melo’s return to action earlier this year, though it wasn’t in an AEW ring. The Brazilian wrestler made her comeback at STARDOM’s New Year Dream event on January 3, partnering with Mina Shirakawa in a tag team encounter against the formidable combination of Athena and Thekla.
This STARDOM appearance served as the perfect tune-up for what would become her highly anticipated AEW homecoming. The match allowed Melo to shake off any ring rust while testing her conditioning after nearly two years away from regular competition.
Perfect Timing for a Rescue Mission
Melo’s return couldn’t have been more perfectly timed from a storytelling perspective. Anna Jay has been embroiled in escalating tensions with Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne, suffering a defeat alongside Harley Cameron on last week’s Dynamite episode. The numbers game has been working against Jay, making her former TayJay partner’s return all the more impactful.
When Ford and Bayne launched their post-match assault on Jay during Fyter Fest, it appeared the outnumbered wrestler was in serious trouble. That’s when Melo’s music hit, sending shockwaves through the arena and presumably giving Ford and Bayne second thoughts about continuing their attack.
What This Means for AEW’s Women’s Division
Tay Melo’s return injects fresh energy into AEW’s women’s division at a crucial time. Her reunion with Anna Jay immediately reestablishes one of the company’s most popular tag teams, while also providing a natural storyline continuation that fans can easily follow. The TayJay partnership was gaining serious momentum before Melo’s departure, and their chemistry remains one of the division’s strongest assets.
The timing also suggests AEW has been strategically planning this return, waiting for the right moment to maximize impact. With Fyter Fest providing a special event atmosphere, Melo’s comeback generated the kind of buzz that regular weekly programming might not have achieved.
Now that Tay Melo has officially returned to AEW television, the question becomes whether she’s back for good or just making select appearances. Will we see the full reformation of TayJay, and how will this partnership shake up the women’s tag team landscape moving forward?
