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Early career
Perez began her career as a model. She won a Miss California beauty contest and also modeled athletic wear for Nike.[9] She decided to become a professional wrestler after talking to Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) superstar Mike Henderson in 2000.[3][11] Perez started training at Jesse Hernandez's School of Hard Knocks in San Bernardino, California and made her professional debut in April 2002.[5][12] Many EWF officials stated that she had the most natural ability of any woman who came through their school.[13] In late 2002 Perez auditioned for World Wrestling Entertainment's reality show Tough Enough III, making it through to the final 21 before being eliminated from the competition in the final cut of the first episode.[1][13][14][15] After she was eliminated from the contest, trainer Al Snow pulled Perez aside and encouraged her to keep trying to pursue her dream as a wrestler.[16]
[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment
[edit] Ohio Valley Wrestling (2004)
Perez debuted in WWE's developmental territoryOhio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in March 2004, being placed in an angle as John Hennigan's ex-girlfriend. The storyline had Matt Cappotelli introduce her to the ring as a way to taunt Hennigan.[2] Melina, however, turned on Cappotelli and aligned herself with Hennigan, who later changed his ring name to Johnny Nitro.[2] Soon after, Melina and Nitro began teaming with Joey Matthews, later known as Joey Mercury.[2] The trio became known as MNM and on November 10, Melina managed Mercury and Nitro to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.[17] During her time in OVW, Melina, Nitro, and Steven Adkins came up with Melina's trademark split ring entrance.[18]
Melina made her first Raw appearance on November 29, 2004 when Randy Orton was the guest General Manager and hosted a diva lingerie fashion show.[19] She made another Raw appearance in December, participating in a limbo contest when Chris Jericho was General Manager for the night.[20]
[edit] MNM (2005–2006)
Main article: MNM
MNM made their debut in WWE as a villainous tag team on the April 14, 2005 edition of SmackDown!.[21] The team interrupted the first ever Carlito's Cabana interview segment, where one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, Rey Mysterio, was a guest.[21] Melina insulted Mysterio and had Mercury and Nitro attack him, leading to MNM's in-ring debut the next week on SmackDown! in a title match. The team was booked to win the match against Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, starting their first WWE Tag Team Title reign.[22][23]
Melina (center) managing MNM in 2006
While managing the Tag Team Champions, Melina's character was developed to be more egotistical as she declared herself "the most-dominant Diva in WWE".[1] She made her official WWE in-ring debut on June 30 against Michelle McCool and had her first pay-per-view match—a Bra and Panties match—at The Great American Bash against Torrie Wilson, winning both matches.[24][25] Also at The Great American Bash, MNM dropped their championship to the Legion of Doom, prompting a new storyline where Melina hired Jillian Hall, a "fixer", to assist them.[25][26] MNM regained the title on October 28 in a Fatal Four-Way tag team match.[27] On the Eddie Guerrero Tribute Show Melina won an interpromotional Divas battle royal by eliminating Women's ChampionTrish Stratus.[28] The next week, MNM kayfabe kidnapped Stratus and Melina challenged her to a match for the Women's Championship.[29] The two fought at Survivor Series, with Melina losing to Stratus after interference from Mickie James.[30]
During this time, MNM was booked to defend their title against Rey Mysterio and the World Heavyweight ChampionBatista. Melina was placed in an angle with her trying to make Batista call off the match by visiting him in his locker room and attempting to seduce him. The storyline had the two engage in sexual acts, after which he simply thanked her for the "warm-up" before leaving to take part in the match, where he and Mysterio defeated MNM for the title.[31] The storyline played over to the next episode of SmackDown! when, before MNM evoked their rematch clause, Melina held a press conference in the ring where she claimed that Batista had sexually harassed her. During the tag team match, Mark Henry aided MNM in winning back the WWE Tag Team Championship.[32] The angle with Henry continued into the next year. On the first SmackDown! of 2006, Melina announced that Henry was her personal protection against Batista. He accompanied her and aided the other members of MNM in matches against Batista and Mysterio.[33]
At Judgment Day on May 21, 2006, MNM were booked to lose their Tag Team Championship to Paul London and Brian Kendrick.[34] After the match, Melina and Nitro, as part of the storyline, attacked Mercury, blaming him for the loss.[34] Later that night, Melina lost a singles match against Jillian Hall and after slapping General ManagerTheodore Long in anger, she and Nitro were kayfabe fired from the SmackDown! brand.[35] Off-screen, Nitro and Mercury did not get along, and WWE management decided to split the tag team and send Nitro and Melina to the Raw brand.[36] Melina and Nitro made their way to Raw on May 29, with Nitro losing to WWE ChampionJohn Cena.[37][38] The following week, Melina faked a sprained ankle, allowing Nitro to roll-upCharlie Haas for his first Raw victory.[39] Melina continued to manage Nitro during his successful hunt for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, while being involved in another storyline with Trish Stratus.[40][41] The angle turned into a tag team feud when Carlito joined forces with Stratus to take on Melina and Nitro.[42] At Saturday Night's Main Event on July 15, Melina and Nitro lost to Carlito and Stratus in a mixed tag team match.[43]
Perez began her career as a model. She won a Miss California beauty contest and also modeled athletic wear for Nike.[9] She decided to become a professional wrestler after talking to Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) superstar Mike Henderson in 2000.[3][11] Perez started training at Jesse Hernandez's School of Hard Knocks in San Bernardino, California and made her professional debut in April 2002.[5][12] Many EWF officials stated that she had the most natural ability of any woman who came through their school.[13] In late 2002 Perez auditioned for World Wrestling Entertainment's reality show Tough Enough III, making it through to the final 21 before being eliminated from the competition in the final cut of the first episode.[1][13][14][15] After she was eliminated from the contest, trainer Al Snow pulled Perez aside and encouraged her to keep trying to pursue her dream as a wrestler.[16]
[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment
[edit] Ohio Valley Wrestling (2004)
Perez debuted in WWE's developmental territoryOhio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in March 2004, being placed in an angle as John Hennigan's ex-girlfriend. The storyline had Matt Cappotelli introduce her to the ring as a way to taunt Hennigan.[2] Melina, however, turned on Cappotelli and aligned herself with Hennigan, who later changed his ring name to Johnny Nitro.[2] Soon after, Melina and Nitro began teaming with Joey Matthews, later known as Joey Mercury.[2] The trio became known as MNM and on November 10, Melina managed Mercury and Nitro to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.[17] During her time in OVW, Melina, Nitro, and Steven Adkins came up with Melina's trademark split ring entrance.[18]
Melina made her first Raw appearance on November 29, 2004 when Randy Orton was the guest General Manager and hosted a diva lingerie fashion show.[19] She made another Raw appearance in December, participating in a limbo contest when Chris Jericho was General Manager for the night.[20]
[edit] MNM (2005–2006)
Main article: MNM
MNM made their debut in WWE as a villainous tag team on the April 14, 2005 edition of SmackDown!.[21] The team interrupted the first ever Carlito's Cabana interview segment, where one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, Rey Mysterio, was a guest.[21] Melina insulted Mysterio and had Mercury and Nitro attack him, leading to MNM's in-ring debut the next week on SmackDown! in a title match. The team was booked to win the match against Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, starting their first WWE Tag Team Title reign.[22][23]
Melina (center) managing MNM in 2006
While managing the Tag Team Champions, Melina's character was developed to be more egotistical as she declared herself "the most-dominant Diva in WWE".[1] She made her official WWE in-ring debut on June 30 against Michelle McCool and had her first pay-per-view match—a Bra and Panties match—at The Great American Bash against Torrie Wilson, winning both matches.[24][25] Also at The Great American Bash, MNM dropped their championship to the Legion of Doom, prompting a new storyline where Melina hired Jillian Hall, a "fixer", to assist them.[25][26] MNM regained the title on October 28 in a Fatal Four-Way tag team match.[27] On the Eddie Guerrero Tribute Show Melina won an interpromotional Divas battle royal by eliminating Women's ChampionTrish Stratus.[28] The next week, MNM kayfabe kidnapped Stratus and Melina challenged her to a match for the Women's Championship.[29] The two fought at Survivor Series, with Melina losing to Stratus after interference from Mickie James.[30]
During this time, MNM was booked to defend their title against Rey Mysterio and the World Heavyweight ChampionBatista. Melina was placed in an angle with her trying to make Batista call off the match by visiting him in his locker room and attempting to seduce him. The storyline had the two engage in sexual acts, after which he simply thanked her for the "warm-up" before leaving to take part in the match, where he and Mysterio defeated MNM for the title.[31] The storyline played over to the next episode of SmackDown! when, before MNM evoked their rematch clause, Melina held a press conference in the ring where she claimed that Batista had sexually harassed her. During the tag team match, Mark Henry aided MNM in winning back the WWE Tag Team Championship.[32] The angle with Henry continued into the next year. On the first SmackDown! of 2006, Melina announced that Henry was her personal protection against Batista. He accompanied her and aided the other members of MNM in matches against Batista and Mysterio.[33]
At Judgment Day on May 21, 2006, MNM were booked to lose their Tag Team Championship to Paul London and Brian Kendrick.[34] After the match, Melina and Nitro, as part of the storyline, attacked Mercury, blaming him for the loss.[34] Later that night, Melina lost a singles match against Jillian Hall and after slapping General ManagerTheodore Long in anger, she and Nitro were kayfabe fired from the SmackDown! brand.[35] Off-screen, Nitro and Mercury did not get along, and WWE management decided to split the tag team and send Nitro and Melina to the Raw brand.[36] Melina and Nitro made their way to Raw on May 29, with Nitro losing to WWE ChampionJohn Cena.[37][38] The following week, Melina faked a sprained ankle, allowing Nitro to roll-upCharlie Haas for his first Raw victory.[39] Melina continued to manage Nitro during his successful hunt for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, while being involved in another storyline with Trish Stratus.[40][41] The angle turned into a tag team feud when Carlito joined forces with Stratus to take on Melina and Nitro.[42] At Saturday Night's Main Event on July 15, Melina and Nitro lost to Carlito and Stratus in a mixed tag team match.[43]
