Fan Zone | Encounters | Michael Summers | July 13, 07
BAW Championship Wrestling
Washington, OR

Many people have different ideas about Friday the 13th. Some are totally freaked about it because of the "superstitions" that are attached to it. Others connect it to the horror movie series of the same name and that ax murderer Jason Voorhies. But Friday, July 13, 2007, will be a day that will be marked as the best one EVER for me! It was the night I finally got to meet my favorite wrestler of all time and the world's biggest sweetheart Nora Greenwald, better known to wrestling fans as Molly Holly! I am still getting goose bumps just thinking back to that awesome night! I almost start to cry sometimes.

The trek went from my current home in Durham, California, to my parents' house in Weed, California (don't even THINK about it) last Wednesday. From there I stopped in Medford, Oregon, then headed for my mom's cousin Pam and her husband Gary's place in Canby on Thursday. Then came Friday night at the National Guard Armory building near McMinnville. The night I waited for for the longest time, BAW Championship Wrestling's Friday the 13th: Anything Can Happen. That night lived up to its name... in more ways than one.

Some former WWE and WCW stars were in attendance including the promotion's champion D'Lo Brown, The Godfather, Billy Kidman and Rosey (Super Hero In Training). And even "Big Ugly" J.D. Bishop was in the house (met him in Oroville). When I arrived, the promoter asked if I was "dying to meet Molly Holly". Well, "dying" was a little strong, but I said "yeah". Then he said that he would take me backstage to meet her and chat for one minute and then he would escort me out. Well, that didn't happen. After I was introduced to about 65-70 people in attendance (which totally shocked me) and after four matches, intermission came. Rosey and The Outlaw came out to sign autographs.

Then, out came Nora at the other side of the building with Kidman to follow. I then proceeded to go to where she was signing autographs for kids and adults alike. I took a couple of pictures and asked young wrestling talent "The Player" J.T. Evans (whom I also met for the first time) to take a couple of more snapshots for me. After the line dwindled down, I approached her. When I first saw her, my first thought was: "My gosh, she's so tiny!" (She stands 5'4", one inch shorter than my mom.)

Many thoughts ran through my mind like: "What do I say to her?", "How will she react?", "Will she even recognize me?", etc. I can pretty much tell you that I had more fireworks in my stomach than Mt. Shasta had on the 4th of July. I thought I was going to faint.

Then I walked up to her and said, "Hi, Nora!"

She then looked up and the look on her face was priceless. She recognized me right away and shouted, "Omigosh! It's so nice to finally get to meet you!" and she proceeded to give me the world's biggest hug!

That was something that ran through my mind for weeks and it happened just like I imagined! Wow! Usually, it's the fans that get extremely excited to meet their favorite stars. But to tell you the truth, I think she was more excited to finally meet me than I was to finally meet her. That is a moment that will never EVER forget!

I got to show off a few DVD's to her and got to chat for a couple of minutes with very patient autograph seekers waiting, especially the kids. I showed her her Shootin' The Crap DVD, the Before They Were WWE Superstars Vol. 1 disc which featured her in it and a DVD of the 2002 King Of The Ring, the night she won the WWE Women's Title for the very first time. She asked, "Is this the one where I won the title?"

I said, "Yep!" She then turned the disc around to see who she beat and said, "Oh, Trish!" She signed it for me.

Intermission was over and she headed back to the backstage area. It thought the night was over, but it was only the beginning.

She made her way to the ring to referee an intergender match between Kassy Summers (no relation) and former WCW standout Kaz Hayashi. Anyway, Nora did a great job refereeing, even though she counted the pin for Kaz. Then afterwards, he struck Kassy with a forearm shot to the head. Nora then proceeded to low-blow Kaz and both ladies threw him out of the ring. It was so hilarious. I thought at that point that this awesome night was over. Again, was I wrong!

During the second to last match I was watching, I saw Nora come back out and she approached me. Surprised, I said, "Oh, hi!" She told me that she had to leave early, but didn't want to leave without chatting with me. I can't remember the whole conversation, but I do remember some details.

She asked how far it took me to get from where I live to McMinnville. I told her it was 8 1/2 hours. She couldn't believe that someone that committed would travel a long distance driving my dad's truck (especially through several construction zones up Interstate 5, a couple of traffic jams and spending $150 for gas alone) just to meet her. She might have thought to herself, "That's loyalty!"

She then asked if I had anything else for her to sign and I said told her that my friend and former WWE ring announcer Michael Porter wanted an autograph and told me not to forget. She signed a photo from back when she was Miss Madness 1999 (aka Mona) posing with Macho Man Randy Savage, Sid Vicious, Madusa Miceli, and Gorgeous George (Stephanie Bellars). Showing her tremendous respect, I didn't want to push any issue or bombard her in any way.

Then I gave her a card I got for her from the Evangel Christian Bookstore at the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford the previous day. I told her I was just browsing and saw this card and that she would love it. She asked if she could read now or later and I said "Now is just fine." So she opened and it was a Joyce Meyer-themed friendship card (Nora's a huge fan of Joyce's). She read a personal message I wrote for her that ended with F4E (Friends For Eternity). She said, "Aw, that's so sweet!" (You'll have to ask her what it said.)

She then signed my shoot DVD putting on it "To my friend Michael, Nora". Then signed "Molly" on the disc. We had a nice conversation, but then she had to go. It was sad because I wished we had even more time to chat. We hugged again and she then said something like, "I don't know if we'll ever see each other again."

I told her I'd keep in touch and she walked away. I haven't been the same since. That pretty much sums it up. Next to accepting Jesus Christ into my life, meeting Nora was the greatest moment I have ever experienced. She truly is the sweetest, kindest and cutest person I have ever met in my life.

If you would've told me 20 years ago that I would meet and become friends with a former WWE superstar, let alone a former WWE Women's Champion, I would've told you that you've lost your mind. Yes, meeting and interviewing Tatanka back in 1999 in Tulelake was a huge thrill. But nothing will ever beat getting a chance to meet "Molly Holly" Nora Greenwald for the very first time... and becoming one of her many friends.

Fans and friends like Megan Neal, Dani Ray and Scott Anderson always told me how sweet and kind Nora was when they met her. Friends and colleagues such as Victoria, Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, Dave Finlay, Kurt Angle, Gregory Helms, Shelton Benjamin, Lilian Garcia, Chavo Guerrero and even the late Eddie Guerrero would probably tell you what a joy it was to work with such a classy young lady.

Ever since she first emailed me back on August 3, 2005, and I launched the Greenwald's Garage website in her honor on February 1, 2006, Nora has always been so kind to help out with photos and information and has been so enthusiastic. I have always respected her athleticism, her beauty and a positive attitude. But what I most love about her is how strong a Christian woman she is.

To summarize my thoughts about the luckiest... no, the greatest night of my life is going to be very difficult, but I'm going to try my best. It is so hard to believe that someone who I watched on Monday Night RAW for six years, who won the WWE Women's Title twice (the third youngest to do so), the Hardcore Title (the youngest ever) and who even had her head shaved at WrestleMania 20 at New York's Madison Square Garden would have become more popular today than she was when was in the big time with both WCW and the WWE.

But it's even harder to imagine that I would meet this very same woman in a small town near Portland on Friday the 13th! I have never meet someone like Nora. I think Nora Greenwald is THE most beautiful, kindest, classiest, sweetest and nicest person in the entire universe whose heart is bigger than she is. I know it's starting to sound cliche, but Nora is sooooooooooo nice and is a total honest-to-God sweetheart! This experience truly was... and is a blessing from God!

Many people will tell me, "Man, you are so lucky to meet someone like Molly Holly!"

I'd just tell them, "Yeah, I guess so. I am just so blessed to have a friend like Nora Greenwald."

Nora, I hope you don't mind if I share this publicly with everyone because it comes from the heart. I want to thank you for being who you truly are... a real honest, down-to-earth person! Don't ever change for anybody! Thank you for being one of the most entertaining wrestling stars in the world. Thank you for all that you have done for professional wrestling and emphasizing wrestling. Thank you for showing class, character and dignity even when the chips are down. Thank you for being an inspiration to millions all over the world. Thank you for being a true champion. But most of all, thank you for being my friend! I truly believe we will meet again someday.

God bless you, Nora!

F4E (Friends For Eternity)

• PHOTOS •

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