Steel Magnolia
October 2001
By: Mike Fazioli
Molly Holly Is Every Bit as Sweet as She Looks and Acts, but Cross Her at Your Own Peril
When you think of the prototypical nice, sweet, girl-next-door that you would love to take home to meet the parents, Molly Holly immediately jumps to mind. Molly managed to overcome the warped holly genes that make her cousins Hardcore and Crash such insane and violent competitors, and emerge as a pleasant, polite young woman — but one who can still handle herself in the ring and is a perennial contender for the WWF Women’s Championship.
In many ways, Molly is a throwback to a gentler time. From her touching, old-fashioned romance with Spike, the scrappy runt of the Dudley litter, to her “gee-whiz” attitude, Molly has been a breath of fresh air in the often violent and verbally abusive world of the World Wrestling Federation. After all, when was the last time you heard a grown woman tell her boyfriend that she “really, really likes” him?
Molly recently took the time to sit down with World Wrestling Federation Magazine to share her thoughts on Spike, on the men who tormented their relationship, and on herself. As you can tell, there is definitely a steely interior beneath the smiles and polite words.
World Wrestling Federation Magazine: You came to the World Wrestling Federation in search of in-ring glory and to become a contender for the Women’s Championship. Did you ever imagine that you would also find love here?
Molly Holly: No. Love was probably the furthest thing from my mind when I came in. But when I found it, it was wonderful.
WWF: How hard is it to try and maintain a meaningful relationship in the WWF — when cameras follow your every move, you can’t get a moment’s privacy, and you and your boyfriend are always at risk of being blasted through tables?
Molly: It is definitely a challenge. But the trials that we went through just seemed to make our love stronger.
WWF: How did Spike win your affection? What was it about him that attracted you?
Molly: He wasn’t at all into the Superstar image. He was just a regular guy with a love for wrestling and a love for me. He’s very nice and smart. Spike has a lot of wonderful qualities.
WWF: How did it feel to watch Spike rise to your defense against men like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle and Spike’s own brothers Bubba Ray and D-Von? What was it like to know that your man would fight against long odds for you?
Molly: It absolutely meant the world to me. It was something I never expected, but it was very flattering. It was scary, too, but I knew that Spike is a tough guy who can handle whatever situation comes up, no matter who it is against.
WWF: Do you think your romance with Spike could be looked on as an inspirational story for short, average-looking men the world over? I mean, you’re a beautiful woman and… Well, no one is going to mistake Spike for Tom Cruise.
Molly: Sure, I think Spike can definitely be a role model. Hey, I think Spike is very handsome! In my eyes, Spike is the handsomest man in the whole world! He’s definitely not average-looking. There’s more to someone than just an image, you know. It’s what they have in their heart.
WWF: Couldn’t you at least have bought the guy a comb or a mirror?
Molly: I don’t get what you mean. What’s wrong with his hair? Spike looks just fine to me. I wouldn’t change a thing about how he looks.
WWF: Was it embarrassing when you would go out for a romantic dinner and the waiter would bring out a booster seat or phone book for Spike to sit on?
Molly: That’s no way to talk about Spike! He’s taller than me, you know. You shouldn’t make fun of him like that. Like I said, I wouldn’t change a thing about spike. I don’t like you picking on him like that!
WWF: In the back of your mind, were you worried that it was too good to be true? After all, Spike is a Dudley, and you’re a Holly. Genetics are tough to overcome.
Molly: Genetics weren’t hard to overcome, but our families were! They wouldn’t leave us alone and just let us be. Spike is nothing like his brothers Bubba Ray and D-Von, and I’m nothing like my cousins Hardcore and Crash. But, they wouldn’t let us be.
WWF: Was this relationship worth the physical harm you endured? Was being spike’s girlfriend worth going through a table and being stunned for?
Molly: I want to say yes, but as much as I love spike, I don’t know if anything is worth being hurt like that. The Stunner that Stone Cold Steve Austin gave me was so incredibly painful. And I could have been permanently maimed when Bubba Ray drove me through that table. I was coming to work every day with a knot in my stomach, wondering if I was going to get injured.
WWF: What was it like growing up as the little cousin of Hardcore and Crash? Did they pick on your potential boyfriends even then?
Molly: Oh, definitely. They were always on my case, no matter what the situation was. Whether it was in school, sports, my relationships, whatever, they were always watching over me because they care about me. But they were also getting in their fair share of name-calling and making fun of me. I guess that was their entertainment.
WWF: Your cousins are insane, violent people. How did you turn out so differently?
Molly: I guess part of it has to do with the face that I’m a girl. Don’t get me wrong, I love competition and I know there are times I definitely want to stand up for myself. I know there are times for battles and times to fight for what you believe in, but I can see that not everything has to be resolved by fighting. I don’t think my cousins have found that out yet; they fight all the time for any reason!
WWF: Who were your sports-entertainment influences while you were growing up?
Molly: Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat was definitely a favorite of mine. I also liked Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. Those guys were my favorites when I was a kid.
WWF: Who would you say is your toughest competition in the women’s division?
Molly: Golly, that’s a really good question. They’re all fantastic athletes and great competitors. I would have to say it’s a tossup between Jacqueline and Ivory. They’re absolutely amazing.
WWF: You are a former gymnast. What were your best events?
Molly: My two best events were the floor exercise and the vault. I did the uneven bars and the beam, but they weren’t my best.
WWF: What’s harder, falling off the uneven bars or being blasted through a table by Bubba Ray Dudley?
Molly: Nothing compares to being put through a table by Bubba Ray Dudley! That is without a doubt the worst fall anyone could ever take. I never want that to happen again!
WWF: What’s the worst pickup line you’ve ever heard?
Molly: Oh, I don’t hear too many of those. I don’t go out a lot or go to places where I’d hear pickup lines. I try to stay away from places like that. I did hear this one once: ‘Are your legs tired? Because you’ve been running through my mind all day.’ That was pretty awful!
WWF: How do you balance being an attractive woman and also being a tough and dangerous competitor in the ring? Is it harder to be sweet or tough?
Molly: I’m just out there being myself. I don’t have to think about that. But when it’s time to be tough, the adrenalin kicks in and you don’t necessarily think about how you’re acting. You just do it.