Chapter 4

To see it on television was one thing. To see it live was something else entirely. The pyrotechnics, the flashing lights, the pounding music, the roar of the crowd. It was quite a spectacle, and his little sister was part of it.

She said he could either watch her match out in the audience or on the monitor in the Dudleys' dressing room. He said if he had wanted to watch it on the television he could have stayed in the hotel. Trish smiled almost bashfully and made the arrangements. Next thing he knew Giles found himself sitting behind the WWE commentary team, surrounded by fans watching Billy Gunn and Lance Storm battle it out in the ring.

Despite being smaller, Storm was a superb technical wrestler and had been in control for much of the match. Gunn flung him across the ring into the ropes and bent over to flip his opponent over his back, but Storm dropkicked him to the mat on the rebound.

Giles overheard the commentators say that Storm appeared to be setting up one of his finishing moves, a sharpshooter. As he flipped his opponent onto his stomach, he twisted the man's legs around his own applying pressure to the knees and back. From what Giles could see of Gunn's expression, it was a painful hold. Gunn submitted, and eventually Storm released him.

The referee raised Storm's arm in victory, and the combatants left the ring. Giles straightened up in his seat. Trish's match was next. He still found it hard to reconcile the image of a little girl in pigtails with strawberry jam smeared on her face with that of the beautiful WWE Ladies' champion that half the audience lusted after.

An attractive blond announcer entered the ring, and the bell rang. "Ladies and gentlemen, the following non-title contest is scheduled for one fall. Making her way to the ring being accompanied by Christopher Nowinski, Molly Holly!"

The fan reaction was somewhat negative as a brunette wearing a sleeveless white top and black pants walked down the ramp along with a tall, muscular blond man. He stayed in one corner outside the ring while the woman climbed through the ropes.

"Now making her way to the ring is the current WWE Women's champion, Trish Stratus!"

The crowd roared to its feet. Giles was amazed by the reaction. He read the signs some of the fans had raised.

"Trish Stratus Rulez!" "I Luv You Trish!" "Stratusfaction Forever!" "Puppy Power!"

Giles didn't quite understand the last poster and wasn't sure he wanted to. Instead, he turned his attention back to his sister. Beneath a black trenchcoat, she wore a glittery purple top with matching pants. The championship belt was around her waist. She waved her cowboy hat as she came down the ramp. When she entered the ring, she shrugged out of the trenchcoat, took off the belt and raised it above her head before handing it to the announcer. The bell rang, and the fight began.

It was a hard fought match with the action not necessarily confined within the ring. Every once in a while Chris would interfere and cost Trish the pin. Giles could feel the Ripper inside him starting to emerge.

Molly slammed Trish to the mat then kicked her in the side for good measure. The crowd jeered as she slowly walked to the corner to set up for a flying elbow smash. Her cockiness gave Trish enough time to recover. As Molly positioned herself on the turnbuckle, Trish sprinted toward her, grabbed the bottom ropes and did a handstand. Scissoring the brunette's head, she pulled the woman to the mat.

The crowd counted as the ref slapped the canvas then booed loudly as Chris yanked on Trish's ankle pulling her off of Molly. Giles felt a twinge of pride as his sister kicked the jerk in the face sending him crashing into the security barrier.

Molly grabbed Trish by the hair and hauled her to her feet. Unfortunately for her, Trish was still furious about Chris' interference. She punched Molly hard in the stomach causing her to double over. Trish pulled free of Molly's grasp, kicked her twice in the stomach then, looping an arm around her neck, spun and pulled Molly to the mat backwards. This time Trish hooked Molly's leg to secure the pin.

"1...2...3!" the ref counted.

Giles applauded loudly as the man raised his sister's arm in victory then gasped as Molly dropkicked Trish in the back. His concern grew as Chris entered the ring knocking the ref through the ropes. When the man trapped Trish's arms behind her back, Giles was ready to intervene himself.

Molly stalked toward the struggling blond. When she was close enough, Trish braced herself against Chris and kicked Molly in the chest with both feet. Seeing a flash of blue and blond heading toward her, she ducked down as much as she could, and Jeff Hardy clotheslined Chris to the canvas. He landed with a thud and loosened his grip allowing Trish to escape.

Molly slowly got to her feet. Jeff said something to Trish who nodded with a smile. He grabbed her wrist and swung her hard into the ropes giving her enough momentum to clothesline Molly on the rebound. The brunette flipped over the top rope and onto the floor. Jeff dropkicked Chris with the same result.

Molly and Chris ranted as they went up the ramp and watched as Jeff raised Trish's arm then pointed at the Harvard graduate. Although their match was scheduled for later that evening, Jeff was ready to start now. Chris waved him off and left with Molly.

Jeff gave Trish a quick hug and escorted her out of the ring. My sister has some very interesting friends, Giles thought.