Walking the Walk
February 2005
By: Andre L. Smith
MASON CITY — She walks to the wrestling ring dressed in a modest tank top and sport pants, remarkably different than many of her peers who are much more scantily clad.
In the ring, she scowls at the fans who boo her loudly and cheats whenever she gets the chance.
Meet Nora Greenwald outside the arena and you’ll still find a modestly dressed 27-year-old, but with a different attitude.
Greenwald, better known as World Wrestling Entertainment diva Molly Holly, sheds the image of the typical WWE diva and chooses to keep it clean because of her faith.
“One thing I’ve learned throughout my Christian walk is to do whatever I do for the Lord,” said Greenwald, a Minnesota native who became a Christian at age 14. “Whatever I do, I want my love for the Lord to shine through.”
Greenwald came to Mason City on Wednesday to share her love for God with teenagers at Youth for Christ. She also spoke with kids at Francis Lauer Youth Services about attaining their goals.
Greenwald’s former youth minister, Mike Prestby, is a skills development specialist with Francis Lauer and thought he might be able to convince her to make an appearance.
“She told me when she was about 16 that she could see herself being a professional wrestler in 10 years,” he said. “It’s been interesting to watch her. She doesn’t dress really skimpy like a lot of the other women wrestlers.
“I could tell by watching her that she was still living it out and holding true to her faith.”
Greenwald admits that she prefers playing a good guy on “RAW,” the WWE’s live Monday night television show on Spike. The former WWE women’s champion has played the good role as Mighty Molly, a super hero companion of The Hurricane, and her current heel role.
Greenwald, a longtime gymnast, said she seeks to impress the fans with her athleticism and effort instead of her looks.
“When I started wrestling, I knew God had blessed me with athletic ability and a comfort level on stage,” said Greenwald, who sometimes writes I Timothy 4:12 when she signs autographs. “Even when I started in the minor leagues, I wanted kids to admire me not only for my in-ring ability but for my love for Christ.”
However, women showing skin is a big part of the WWE’s appeal. There have been times when fans expected Greenwald to be dressed in a bra and panties or a teddy. Instead, she drew boos from the crowd by using the catch phrase, “I am pure and wholesome.”
According to reports on wrestling news Web sites, Greenwald recently turned down a photo shoot for Playboy.
“It’s unfortunate that a character who is modest would be considered prudish or undesirable,” she said, “when I think in real life that a person who has self-respect would be more desirable.”
Greenwald said she will continue to do her best in any role the WWE gives her while doing the same outside the ring in her Christian walk.
“I try to play the bad guy the best I can,” she said. “Then, I hope that when I meet fans after the show, the fans will appreciate that I’m just a performer and know that I’m not really like the character I play.”
Getting to know Molly Holly
HEIGHT: 5 feet, 4 inches.
FROM: Linwood Township, Minn.
HER START: After working the independent circuit in the late 90s, she was hired by the former WCW as a ring valet for “Macho Man” Randy Savage. She began her WWE career in 2000.
RING NAMES: While she currently goes by Molly Holly, she has also gone by Mighty Molly and Miss Madness.
TITLES HELD: WWE Women’s Championship and Hardcore Championship.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Winning the women’s title … having her head shaved during Wrestlemania XX after losing a match to then WWE Women’s Champion, Victoria at Madison Square Garden. Said Greenwald: “It was just great to be a part of history.”
INTERESTING FACTS: Greenwald worked as a Subway sandwich artist and a magazine salesperson prior to becoming a full-time professional wrestler … after training at an independent school in Tampa, Fla., she was invited to train with Dean Malenko in 1997 … Greenwald appeared on Fear Factor during which she had to drink a pig brain-based shake with added cod liver oil, fish sauce and bile. She didn’t get the drink down but her charity, Prison Fellowship Ministries, received $10,000 on her behalf, courtesy of Fear Factor.