Featured Article   Shane Helms

Hurricane, Molly show they're more than wrestlers
By Phil Speer

It’s never been a secret that both Shane Helms and Nora Greenwald are great mat technicians, but they’ve never been able to show that they can be full-fledged entertainers as well. Until now.

"The stress level of the entire country is high," said Helms, who currently portrays a superhero by the name of The Hurricane. "People are looking for something light-hearted."

"I absolutely love it," said Greenwald, who recently took on a new persona, Mighty Molly. "I like it because we’re friends (in real life), and I also like it because it’s such a fun character to play."

Playing The Hurricane and Mighty Molly isn’t the first comedic role for either one of them. But according to both of them, it’s the best.

In the old WCW regime, Helms portrayed "Sugar" Shane Helms, a member of the pseudo boy band "Three Count."

"I never really wanted to be a boy band member," Helms said, so he was uncomfortable with the character.
Later, Three Count ended, and Helms embarked on a brief but successful solo career, that culminated with a reign as WCW Cruiserweight Champion. When World Wrestling Federation Entertainment purchased WCW, Helms came over as champion. 

Then one day, a Federation official noticed and asked about the Green Lantern tattoo on his right shoulder. Helms, a lifelong comic book reader, explained the story behind it. Just a few weeks later, The Hurricane was born. It’s another comedic character, but Helms says playing a superhero hits much closer to home than portraying a member of a boy band.

"As a kid, I always wanted to be a wrestler, but I was into comics too, and every once in a while I’d put on a cape and jump around the house," he said. "I always wanted to be a wrestler or a superhero, and now I’m a superhero who wrestles."

About two months have passed since The Hurricane was born, and Helms couldn’t be happier.

"I’m surprised it came out as good as it did," he said.

Things are only going to get better, it seems, now that The Hurricane has Mighty Molly for a sidekick.

Hurricane, Molly show they're more than wrestlers By Phil Speer

"I had to show her the Hurri-life," Helms joked. "I had to take her to the Hurri-cave. And that was it. She changed."

Turning serious, Helms says of Greenwald, "She’s very physically talented. And she can do a lot more than people think."

Greenwald was Miss Madness and Mona in the old WCW regime. Always well-respected for her wrestling ability, she trained stars of the future at WCW’s Power Plant. Once she left WCW, she arrived in the Federation as Molly Holly, supposed cousin of Crash and Hardcore Holly. However, she hasn’t really had an opportunity to entertain - as opposed to just wrestle - until now.

"I like the comedy thing," Greenwald said. "I got to do a little bit of that with Crash, but now I get to do even more of it. I absolutely love coming to work and making people laugh."

Back to Featured Articles Main