MNM

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=MNM
type=S


caption=
members=Joey Mercury
Johnny Nitro
Melina
names=MNM
former_members=Mark Henry Mick Foley Jillian Hall
heights=Mercury:
height|ft=5|in=10
Nitro:cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/superstars/johnnynitro/bio/|title=TV Shows > ECW > Superstars > Johnny Nitro > Bio|accessdate=2007-06-24|publisher=WWE]
height|ft=6|in=1
Melina:
height|ft=5|in=4
weights=convert|555|lb|kg|abbr=on (Mercury, Nitro and Melina)
billed=Los Angeles, California
debut=2004
disbanded= March 26, 2007
promotions=OVW
WWE|

MNM (Mercury, Nitro, & Melina ) was a professional wrestling stable in World Wrestling Entertainment that consisted of Joey Mercury (previously Joey Matthews), Johnny Nitro, and manager/valet Melina Perez.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/329952|title=Inside WWE > Title History > WWE Tag Team > MNM - April 21, 2005 - July 25, 2005|accessdate=2007-07-02|publisher=WWE] Though they broke up and reunited on one occasion, while together Mercury and Nitro were three time WWE Tag Team Championscite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/sd/wwe-sd-t.html|title=WWE (Smackdown) Tag Team Title|accessdate=2007-07-02|publisher=Wrestling-Titles] and Melina was a one time WWE Women's Champion.cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/wwf-wm.html|title=WWF Women's World Title|accessdate=2007-07-02|publisher=Wrestling-Titles] They have, at certain points been joined by other members, Mark Henry, Mick Foley and Jillian Hall, however Nitro, Mercury and Melina remained the only constant members.

Their gimmick was that of a trio of Hollywood celebrities, complete with a red carpet ring entrance, that had them accompanied by "paparazzi".cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/melina/bio/|title=Superstars > Raw > Melina > Bio|accessdate=2007-07-02|publisher=WWE] Their group name was derived from the first letter of Mercury and Nitro's last names, along with the first letter of Melina's first.

History

Ohio Valley Wrestling

MNM was first put together in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) "farm territory" Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Melina Perez, Johnny Nitro's actual girlfriend, was introduced into the company as his ex-girlfriend, now siding with Matt Cappotelli with whom Nitro was engaged in a feud. Almost immediately, however, Perez turned on Cappotelli and re-sided with Nitro. Together they introduced Joey Matthews to become MNM. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/melina-perez.html |title=Melina Perez profile |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] While in OVW, Nitro and Matthews won the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship once, holding it for over two months.cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ky/ovw/ovw-t.html |title=OVW Southern Tag Team Title |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Wrestling-Titles]

mackDown!

All three members of MNM were called up to the main SmackDown! roster on April 14, 2005, with Matthews undergoing a name change to Joey Mercury.cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/mnm.html |title=MNM profile |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] They made their debut during the first "Carlito's Cabana" interview segment "crashing" an interview between Carlito and WWE Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio, attacking him to begin a feud with him and his partner, Eddie Guerrero over the Tag Team title. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050414.html |title=SmackDown! results - April 14, 2004 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Two weeks later, in their debut match on the SmackDown! brand, they won the title from Mysterio and Guerrero after Guerrero walked out in the middle of the match. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050428.html |title=SmackDown! results - April 28, 2004 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] While Nitro and Mercury held the championship Melina got involved with Heidenreich, publicly mocking him [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050616.html |title=SmackDown! results - June 16, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] and being the impetus for an attack on him by Nitro and Mercury.cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050714.html |title=SmackDown! results - July 14, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] During the attack he was saved by a returning Road Warrior Animal, and together they challenged Mercury and Nitro at the Great American Bash, defeating them for the title. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 118 | language = English]

The loss of the Tag Team Championship was seen as "bad publicity" by Melina so she introduced Jillian Hall, a (kayfabe) spin doctor to repair their image. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050728.html |title=SmackDown! results - July 28, 2004 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Hall worked as something of a fourth member of MNM in addition to a "PR agent". In addition to her (kayfabe) getting them a cover article in "SmackDown! Magazine" she helped Melina in her running feud with Torrie Wilson [cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/741/741342p1.html |title=SmackDown Countdown 2006: Jillian Hall |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=IGN |quote=Using her PR magic, Jillian secured the cover of SmackDown Magazine for the duo as well as "fixing" a problem Melina had with Torrie Wilson, aiding Melina in defeating the Diva on SmackDown. |last=Dunham |first=Jeremy ] and managed Nitro and Mercury against Booker T and Sharmell Sullivan. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050804.html |title=SmackDown! results - August 4, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050811.html |title=SmackDown! results - August 11, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050818.html |title=SmackDown! results - August 18, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] In September, Hall left the group to join JBL, who'd just lost a match to the much smaller Rey Mysterio. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050916.html |title=SmackDown! results - September 16, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling]

On October 28, Mercury and Nitro were placed into a Fatal Fourway tag team match against the Mexicools (Super Crazy and Psicosis); William Regal & Paul Birchall; and the WWE Tag Team Champions L.O.D. 2005 (Heidenreich and Road Warrior Animal) and after The Dicks (Chad and James) interfered were able to hit Heidenreich with the Snapshot and win the title for a second time. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051028.html |title=SmackDown! results - October 28, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] This time they only held the belt for two months, losing them to a teaming of Batista and Rey Mysterio on December 16.cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051216.html |title=SmackDown! results - December 16, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Before the match where they lost the championship Melina attempted to convince Batista to cancel it by bribing him with sex, only to have him thank her for "the warm up". Two weeks later Mark Henry was added to the group as Melina's bodyguard, after she claimed she felt she had been sexually harassed and promptly helped MNM win the title back.cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051230.html |title=SmackDown! results - December 30, 2005 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Henry was only with the group a short time before his contract was (kayfabe) sold to Daivari. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2006 | work = Arena Reports | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2006 | month= May | | page = 132 | language = English] [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 118 | language = English]

Throughout April 2006 MNM found themselves in a losing streak against the team of Paul London and Brian Kendrick. In non-title tag team matches, singles matches, and even a six man tag match London and Kendrick seemed to always have Mercury and Nitro's number. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060407.html |title=SmackDown! results - April 7, 2006 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060421.html |title=SmackDown! results - April 21, 2006 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060428.html |title=SmackDown! results - April 28, 2006 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] At May's Judgment Day MNM were defeated by London and Kendrick again, but this time in a title match.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/2006/matches/23848442/results/|title=London & Kendrick are golden; MNM are broken|date=May 21, 2006|author=Ed Williams III|accessdate=2008-01-05|publisher=WWE] After the Melina and Nitro turned on Mercury, assaulting him and breaking up MNM. Later in the same night Melina lost to former associate Jillian Hall in a match with a controversial ending, prompting her to complain to SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long -- and eventually slap him -- which got both her and Nitro (kayfabe) fired from the brand, sending them to Raw. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 121 | language = English] In actuality Mercury was about to begin serving a suspension for violating the WWE Wellness program.

Reunion

After a brief stint back in OVW, Joey Mercury returned to WWE, reuniting MNM, in late November 2006 to answer an open challenge put out by The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) for the December to Dismember pay-per-view. [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061127.html |title=RAW results - November 27, 2006 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Back together they finally defeated London and Kendrick on an episode of "SmackDown!", [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/061201.html |title=SmackDown! results - December 1, 2006 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] but lost to the Hardys at December to Dismember. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 122 | language = English] MNM and the Hardys met again at Armageddon as part of a Fatal Four Way Ladder match, which also included the teams of Dave Taylor & William Regal and Paul London and Brian Kendrick. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 122 | language = English] During the match, which saw London and Kendrick retain, Mercury was (legitimately) injured when he was stuck in the face with a ladder, necessitating a trip to the emergency room where his broken nose received 15 stitches. [cite news |title=Update on Joey Mercury |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/exclusives/38575801 |publisher=WWE.com |date=2006-12-18 |accessdate=2007-07-02 ] The facial injury was worked into the angle, and when Mercury returned (wearing a protective covering on his face) the rivalry between the teams intensified with MNM actively seeking to injure one or both of the Hardys, even going so far as to attack and Snapshot Matt on exposed concrete after a match. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2007 | work = Arena Reports | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | month= May | page = 130 | language = English]

On March 26 2007, WWE.com announced the release of Joey Mercury, ending MNM as a tag team. [cite news |title=Joey Mercury released |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/joeyreleased |publisher=WWE |date=2007-03-26 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070515102132/http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/joeyreleased |archivedate=2007-05-15] [cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/03/26/3843758.html|title=Mercury released by WWE|accessdate=2008-03-01|last=Waldman|first=Jon|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling] Melina and Nitro's association began to fizzle out when Melina become the WWE Women's Champion and began garnering attention as a singles performer. For a short time Nitro took up with Kenny Dykstra as a partner, [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070521.html |title=RAW results - May 21, 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070528.html |title=RAW results - May 28, 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] until the Supplemental Draft placed Nitro on the ECW brand, Dykstra on SmackDown!, and Melina remained on RAW. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/supplementaldraft07 |title=2007 Supplemental Draft results |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=WWE.com]

In wrestling

*Finishing and siganture tag team maneuvers
**Nitro and Mercury
***"Snapshot" (Flapjack DDT)
***Mercury holds an opponent in place and Nitro performs a step-up enzuigiri
***Double baseball slide
***Simultaneous leg drops to the throat and leg
**Mercury's finishing and signature moves
***Hangman's neckbreaker
**Nitro's finishing and signature moves
***Standing shooting star press
***Superkick
**Melina's signature and finishing moves
***Charging 180° spinning facebuster

*Ring entrance
**After their entrance music (appropriately called "Paparazzi") starts playing, members of the "paparazzi" come out, placing a red carpet for MNM to walk on. As they walk, the paparazzi takes photos of them in exaggerated Hollywood movie premier fashion.
**The male members of MNM usually wore fur coats to the ring. As they take them off, Melina suggestively rubs their abs while removing the title belts from their pants, where they hang in an exaggerated phallic fashion.
**Melina has a signature entrance which involves her doing a split on the ring apron—from the floor—then bending forward and crawling under the bottom rope.

Championships and accomplishments

*Ohio Valley Wrestling:*OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*Tag Team of the Year (2005) [cite web |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwittoty.htm|title=Tag Team of the Year|accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]

*World Wrestling Entertainment :*WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times) – Nitro:*WWE Tag Team Championship (3 times):*WWE Women's Championship (2 times) – Melina

References