Melina began her WWE career as the manager of MNM, the tag team of Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury. She was in an open relationship with both men and was portrayed as embodying the more scandalous side of Hollywood. She made defeated Michelle McCool in her in ring debut and Torrie Wilson in a Bra and Panties match at the 2005 Great American Bash pay-per-view. Melina got an opportunity for the Women’s Championship against Trish Stratus at the Survivor Series but lost due to interference from Stratus’ number one fan, Mickie James. When MNM were forced to defend their tag team championships against Batista and Rey Mysterio, Melina attempted to persuade the challengers to call off their match. She had sex with Batista in the locker room only for him to turn around and thank her for the “warm up” before going on to take the tag team titles from MNM anyway. After a loss to Paul London and Brian Kendrick, Melina and Johnny Nitro turned on Joey Mercury, blaming him for the loss.
Melina struck up a real life friendship with Mick Foley, which Foley began playing up in his promos during his feud with Ric Flair. During an I Quit match at SummerSlam, Flair threatened to hit Melina with a barbed wire baseball bat and Foley forfeited in order to save her. Foley was then forced to get on his knees and literally kissing his boss’ butt in order to save Melina’s job. As soon as he did it Melina punched him in the groin. Foley proposed the storyline as a way to get Melina over with the fans and it worked, as she soon became involved in feuds for the Women’s Championship with Mickie James, Ashley Massaro and Candice Michelle. Along with ally Beth Phoenix she defeated Ashley Massaro and Maria Kanellis in front of 74,635 at the Citrus Bowl for Wrestlemania XXIV. The power went out in the building during the match and Melina continued most of it in the dark. Melina later turned face after being jumped and severely beaten by Beth Phoenix. The two later feuded for the Women’s Championship.
Performer Melina Nava Perez, born March 9, 1979, is of Mexican heritage and fluent in both Spanish and English. She began her career as a Miss California pageant winner and a Nike shoe model. But she had always been a passionate wrestling fan and after training at the School of Hard Knocks in San Bernadino, California, she wrestled in independent promotions across California under various stage names, including Melanie Little Deer. She auditioned for Tough Enough III but despite failing to make the final cast she was encouraged by trainer Al Snow to pursue her dream. While on the set of Tough Enough III she became romantically involved with the eventual winner, John Hennigan. When Hennigan was called up to Ohio Valley Wrestling he took her with him as his manager and they continued on the WWE together. She was later briefly involved with Dave Bautista but now considers herself single.