By Seth Mates
December 14, 1999
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Stephanie Martin was supposed to be on her honeymoon right now, soaking in the tropical rays with her newlywed husband, Andrew. We were all going to take part in the biggest wedding since Chuck and Di, with the beautiful young Stephanie and noble young Andrew walking off into the sunset.
Instead, we get spiked drinks, seedy Vegas chapels and a disturbing image of the husband throwing the brother-in-law 10 feet off a stage. Then at Armageddon we get the husband nailing the father-in-law with a sledgehammer, as Stephanie Helmsley watches on with a devious smile which has been passed from one generation of McMahons to the next.
Stephanie has been in the driver's seat since Day 1, and she knew it. The woman isn't supposed to be in the position of power, which made it easier for her to fool all these unsuspecting men -- her father Vince, her brother Shane and her fiance Test.
In a poignant and well-thought-out speech Monday on RAW, Stephanie explained her actions. She took us back to April, when her own father allowed her to be an innocent victim in his agenda to screw Stone Cold Steve Austin. One can only imagine how many times she has envisioned this kind of back-stabbing revenge since then.
I can think of at least two occasions, both of which occurred back on June 7.
Before we discuss the events of June 7, allow me to take you back to April 25 and 26. The 25th is the day of the Backlash Pay-Per-View, when Stephanie had her limo hijacked by the Undertaker. The following evening on RAW, the Phenom dressed Stephanie in a black gown for an unholy wedding. The Rattlesnake freed Stephanie before any damage could be done, much to the relief of her father.
Of course as we all know, Stephanie's abduction was all a part of the "Greater Power" plot, Mr. McMahon's largest and most elaborate scheme to screw Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Which brings us to June 7, the day that Vince and Shane revealed to the world that Vince was indeed the Greater Power, also in the process admitting that it was the McMahon men who were behind Stephanie's abduction. Having learned the Greater Power's identity a week before, Stone Cold went to Stephanie and Linda McMahon to inform them that it was Vince. So the seeds for revenge were set into place.
Mere moments after Vince unmasked to the world, Stephanie and Linda appeared on the stage and revealed their revenge to the world -- the naming of Stone Cold Steve Austin as the new CEO of the World Wrestling Federation!
Stephanie's second attempt at revenge came later that night when Test called her down to the ring and asked her out. As Vince and Shane looked on from their dressing room, Stephanie smiled from ear to ear and responded with a resounding, "I'd love to!"
Motivated by the same revenge that is the foundation of her marriage to Triple H, Stephanie had stuck it to her father and brother professionally and personally.
One interesting question someone asked me is why she was so willing to screw over Test. Here's my theory. Although Stephanie probably had a good time with Test, I think she probably liked it better that Vince and Shane were so much against it. Remember the "Love Her or Leave Her Match" at SummerSlam? She was probably in heaven.
When the marriage proposal was handed down, she needed to think about it. I would guess that, as anyone would do, she talked the matter over with her father and brother. And being that they were probably against it, she naturally said yes.
Then came Test's kiss of doom.
On an episode of SmackDown!, Shane said the magic words to the Posse: "Our war with Test is over." For the love of his sister, Shane had looked past his own biases so that she could be happy. Unfortunately for Test, that's exactly what Stephanie didn't want. As much fun as Test was, he was no longer the forbidden fruit.
What happened next with Stephanie and Triple H is as much a mystery to you as it is to me. I would guess that her amnesia had something to do with it, but that's purely speculation. Whatever it was, it has worked. After eight long months of frustration, Stephanie has finally gotten her revenge against the person who hurt her most -- her father, Vince McMahon.
Many adjectives have been used to describe Stephanie's actions: Dastardly. Devilish. Unimaginable. Unthinkable. But put yourself in her shoes for a second. Allow yourself to experience what she has experienced.
Would you have done any different?