On the July 9, 2007 edition of Raw, Beth Phoenix returned to WWE as a heel and replaced Melina (who claimed to be injured) as Jillian Hall's tag team partner against Women's Champion Candice Michelle and Mickie James. After the pair lost to Candice and James, they attacked their opponents in the ring. Melina would be defeated by Candice in a title rematch at The Great American Bash, but Phoenix would become #1 Contender by winning a battle royal at SummerSlam, and eventually went on to defeat Candice to win her first Women's Championship at No Mercy. Melina and Phoenix continued teaming together; doing so at Survivor Series in a 10-Diva tag team match which they lost when Melina was pinned by James. The alliance continued in early 2008 when Phoenix shared Melina's disdain for Playboy, whic