Nora Kristina Benshoof, born on September 7, 1977, in Forest Lake, Minnesota, is a retired American professional wrestler best known by her ring name Molly Holly.
She carved out a niche as a versatile performer who blended athleticism, technical skill, and compelling character work in the male-dominated world of professional wrestling.
Trained by the legendary Dean Malenko, often called the “Man of 1,000 Holds,” Greenwald entered the industry in 1997 on the independent circuit under the name Starla Saxton, honing her craft before gaining national exposure in major promotions.
Her journey took her from valeting for icons like Randy Savage to becoming a multi-time champion in WWE, where she was celebrated for her in-ring prowess and ability to elevate women’s wrestling during an era when it was often undervalued.
Today, she remains involved with WWE as a backstage producer, contributing to the creative process behind the scenes, and has made occasional in-ring returns for special events.
Siblings
Molly has two siblings, namely Luke Greenwald and Chancey Greenwald.
However, compared to their famous sister, nothing is known about the two including their personal lives or career pursuits.
Career
Holly’s professional wrestling odyssey began in earnest in 1999 when she signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), debuting as Miss Madness, a valet for Randy “Macho Man” Savage, before transitioning to the in-ring competitor Mona, where she showcased her technical skills against opponents like Madusa and Little Jeanne.
Her WCW tenure, though brief, included trainer duties and consistent television matches, but it ended with her release in 2000 amid the company’s turmoil.
That same year, at the recommendation of Dean Malenko, she joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE), starting in developmental territory Memphis Championship Wrestling as Lady Ophelia, managing William Regal and wrestling dark matches against talents like The Kat and Victoria.
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Her main roster breakthrough came on November 6, 2000, as Molly Holly, aligning with the Holly Cousins and immediately diving into feuds that mixed comedy, hardcore brawling, and women’s division spotlight—most notably clashing with Trish Stratus in intergender tags at events like Survivor Series.
By 2002, after a whimsical stint as Mighty Molly, the caped sidekick to The Hurricane (Gregory Helms) that included a chaotic 24-hour Hardcore Championship win at WrestleMania X8, she reinvented herself as a serious heel, chopping her blonde locks for a brunette, no-nonsense look.
This phase peaked with title pursuits against Stratus, Lita, and Gail Kim, solidifying her as a workhorse who defended the women’s division’s legitimacy.
Her career waned in 2004 amid creative frustrations over the shift toward beauty pageants like the Diva Search, culminating in sporadic losses and her full-time exit in April 2005.
Post-retirement, she embraced philanthropy, founding the Little Heart Project for pediatric care, but returned sporadically for WWE—competing in the first Women’s Royal Rumble in 2018 (eliminating Sarah Logan), the 2018 Evolution battle royal, and subsequent Rumbles in 2020 and 2022—while serving as a producer to mentor the next generation.
Accolades
Holly’s first gold came unexpectedly as Mighty Molly at WrestleMania X8 in 2002, capturing the WWF Hardcore Championship in the infamous “24/7” scramble by clocking The Hurricane with a frying pan, only to lose it minutes later to Christian.
She then ascended to the pinnacle of the women’s division, winning the WWE Women’s Championship twice: first by dethroning Trish Stratus at King of the Ring on June 23, 2002, in a match fueled by months of antagonism, holding the belt for 109 days before dropping it back to Stratus at Unforgiven; and second, reclaiming it from Victoria on May 4, 2004, in an intense bad blood bout, reigning for 93 days until Victoria ended it in the infamous Hair vs. Title stipulation at WrestleMania XX, where Molly’s head was shaved in a humiliating yet career-defining moment that drew massive audience sympathy.
Beyond titles, her contributions were honored with induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2021, where she was celebrated alongside peers like JBL and The Godfather for elevating the women’s roster through athletic feuds and memorable angles.
Additional nods include nominations for secondary halls like the Southern Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001, and her enduring impact is evident in video games like the WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW series, where she voiced her character, ensuring her legacy resonates with new fans.
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