Here we have yet another example of SmackDown attempting to engage with very serious themes in a heavy-handed and offensive manner. This storyline is less well-remembered than the outrage over "Piggy James", perhaps because it was rightfully axed after only a few weeks due to a Batista injury. It's scary to imagine the depths this angle could have plumbed given time - we'd probably be looking back on it as one of the worst storylines of all time. Luckily we only saw the beginning of the arc, and that was offensive enough. Probably inspired by Melina's real-life affair with Batista at the expense of boyfriend Johnny Nitro, the angle called for Melina to seduce the Animal backstage - thereby distracting him from a tag team title match against MNM. It would prove to be an unsuccessful scheme, as Batista was later shown leaving the locker room and thanking her for the "warm-up" before handily beating Mercury and Nitro alongside Rey Mysterio. The next week, Melina held a press conference in the middle of the ring claiming to have been sexually harrassed by Batista, the clear implication being that she was lying for sympathy and that the babyface Batista had been given complete consent. The Animal's injury is probably looked back on as something of a blessing in disguise by the WWE, as they could have ended up in incredibly deep water had the storyline been given a chance to continue further.
