A Look Back: Melina's 1st Women's Championship

Hard to believe it was 15 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. Monday, February 19, 2007: the very evening that Melina Perez reached the top of the women's division and won WWE's Women's Championship for the very first time. It was a long time coming, and the road to that title was a very interesting and entertaining one

The Beginning: It was on April 14, 2005 that Melina made her official main roster debut; doing so on that night's SmackDown during the Carlito's Cabana segment. I'll never forget that, because prior to this, Melina had made a few appearances on Raw in 2004, and while she was shown to be quite reserved and quiet on Raw, her official debut saw her display a brash and villainous character that I still love to this very day! Melina acted as the evil centerpiece to the team known as MNM, which also consisted of Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro, and it was within weeks that they became WWE Tag Team Champions, defeating Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio to capture the titles.

An Ambitious Villainess: Melina's persona in her early years saw her repeatedly boast that she was the most dominant Diva in WWE, and she resorted to various sinister lengths to prove it. Despite being on SmackDown, Melina set her sights on becoming Women's Champion while also shining as a manager, and her quest actually began on November 14, 2005. That night's Raw was a special and emotional edition: it was a tribute to Eddie Guerrero, who passed away a day prior, and one of the matches shown was a women's battle royal that included the entire division. It came down to Melina and Trish Stratus, the latter being the reigning Women's Champion, and it would end with Melina eliminating Trish and winning the battle royal.

I will never forget Melina's celebration; she did the belt signal many times! SmackDown didn't have the Women's Championship, it was exclusive to Raw, but that did not deter the megalomaniacal Melina, as the following week saw Trish actually abducted by Nitro and Mercury--under Melina's orders. Melina made her intentions very clear: she wanted the Women's Championship, and made the challenge to Trish at Survivor Series. Though Melina ended up being unsuccessful, the fact that she was in the picture in less than a year (along with the fact that she was on the blue brand) was a sign that good things were coming Melina's way.

Off to Raw: MNM held the WWE Tag Team Championship three times in barely over a year, but the 2006 Judgment Day event would see MNM split up, with Melina and Nitro being moved to Raw in May of 2006. Even though I would witness Melina manage Nitro to two reigns as Intercontinental Champion, I only had one thought in mind in regards to Melina being on Raw: "Now Melina can become Women's Champion." The opportunity was there for Melina, and regarding this diehard fan, I wanted to see it for myself. I remember fearing that I wouldn't during that summer; I was in the East Coast visiting family and I was in an apartment with no cable, meaning that I couldn't watch Raw. However, when I finally got to watch Raw on a Monday in September, I saw that Lita was champion, so I still had my chance.

Reaching the Top: When 2007 began, so did Melina's big elevation. I remember Melina being aligned with Victoria during the latter's attempt to dethrone Mickie James as Women's Champion, but after Victoria came up short, Melina rose to the occasion. February 5, 2007 saw Melina challenge Mickie for the title on Raw, but she was defeated. However, after pinning Mickie in a tag team bout on the following week, Melina received another chance at the title on February 19, 2007. Their rematch was very stellar, which is no surprise--Melina and Mickie are living legends. I remember watching and thinking, "Tonight's the night," and it was--Melina delivered, got the three count, and became Women's Champion for the first time.

I was so, so happy that evening; it's a miracle I wasn't crying. Seeing my all-time favorite capture the title for the first time is a moment I will never forget; February 19, 2007 is a date that remains very special to me as a women's wrestling fan.

WrestleMania 23: Melina's 1st title run would see her in a very interesting feud with Ashley Massaro, which centered on Ashley's Playboy cover that year. I remember this so well; it was basically Melina playing a more exaggerated version of her real-life desire to not pose for Playboy, with her villainous character being enraged over Ashley taking her spotlight. It would include Melina targeting past Playboy covergirls Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle on the road to her title defense against Ashley at WrestleMania. WrestleMania. Melina was going to be at WrestleMania as Women's Champion. You can imagine my elation over that moment.

WrestleMania 23 took place on April 1, 2007 in Detroit, and among many epic matches (including John Cena and Shawn Michaels' clash) was the Women's Championship bout between Melina and Ashley--a shining moment for both women. It was also a Lumberjill Match, with the rest of WWE's women's division surrounding the ring, and to no surprise, every single woman showed out, including the main two involved. Melina, in her first PPV title defense, successfully retained, and she celebrated her victory with the heel Lumberjills. The bout marked the last time that the WWE Women's Championship was featured at WrestleMania until 2016.

Aftermath: Melina's first run as Women's Champion actually ended at a European house show; she lost the title to Mickie James in a Triple Threat Match that included Victoria, but after demanding a rematch, Melina regained the title that same evening. Melina's second run as Women's Champion would see her feud with Candice Michelle, who would dethrone Melina at Vengeance: Night of Champions. Melina would capture the Women's Championship one more time at the 2009 Royal Rumble event, and she would later add two reigns as WWE Divas Champion in 2009 and 2010, making her a five-time champion overall.

As I said before. I remember Melina's first title win like it was yesterday, and I still remember how elated and happy I was when she captured the title. Melina remains my all-time favorite; I shed tears of joy when she returned in this year's Rumble, and I read she wants a match with Sasha Banks! Here's hoping we get that!

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