Coupling: we take a look at wrestling's 10 greatest romantic twosomes

Wrestling Digest, Dec, 2003 by Kevin Eck

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING is described as a soap opera for men. And in wrestling, as in any soap opera, couples play an important role in the story lines. True love, jealousy, and infidelity have all been used as plot devices to set up confrontations in the ring.

In addition to couples creating compelling scenarios, being paired with an attractive woman often can help a male wrestler get over with the fans. Or, in the case of Billy and Chuck, putting two male wrestlers in a relationship can be a temporary career boost.

A number of wrestling couples also happened to be together in real life and often times their personal lives mirrored their wrestling story lines. In some instances, fact was even juicer than fiction.

Here's a look at the top 10 couples in wrestling history:

1. RANDY SAVAGE & ELIZABETH

Savage had all the necessary tools to be a superstar when he entered WWE in 1984--he had a good look, he could work, he could talk, and he was charismatic. But what really shot him to the top was the decision to make the lovely Elizabeth his manager in 1985.

Elizabeth, a.k.a. the late Liz Hulette, Savage's real-life wife at the time (but not acknowledged as such in story lines), was the first female manager in WWE history. Elegant, petite, and somewhat mysterious, Elizabeth's presence at Savage's side made the "Macho Man" stand out in a company loaded with talented wrestlers.

The couple made for an interesting dichotomy, as people hated him but loved her. Savage drew the fans'ire by verbally abusing Elizabeth, who, despite Savage's abhorrent behavior, remained loyal.

Savage later turned babyface after saving Elizabeth, who perfectly played the damsel in distress, from an attack by the Hart Foundation and the Honky Tonk Man. That led to Savage and Hulk Hogan forming the Megapowers. Hogan's interference helped Savage defeat Ted DiBiase, "the Million Dollar Man," in the finals of the WWE world title tournament at WrestleMania IV.

For one year, Savage and Elizabeth were on top of the wrestling world. Then, in one of WWE's most memorable story lines, an insanely jealous Savage accused Hogan of "lusting after Elizabeth." An enraged Savage turned on Hogan and shoved Elizabeth to the ground in an era when such violence toward women in wrestling was considered shocking. Eventually, Savage and Elizabeth reconciled and were "married" at SummerSlam in 1991. Seven months later at WrestleMauia VIII, Savage regained the WWE title by defeating Ric Flair, who had lied about having an affair with Elizabeth.

In 1992, Savage and Hulette divorced, and she left the business. Elizabeth resurfaced in WCW in 1996 and resumed an on-air partnership with Savage. This time, she turned on him and sided with Flair before later going back to Savage again. By that point the story lines had been played out, and she went on to become the valet and real-life girlfriend of Lex Luger. Elizabeth died of an apparent drug overdose at Luger's home this past spring.

2. TRIPLE H & STEPANIE MCMAHON

The McMahon-Helmsley era was a glorious one indeed. The couple's reign in WWE, which spanned the latter part of 1999 through 2000, was the main story line during a time when WWE was at its peak both creatively and popularity-wise.

It all began with the engagement of Stephanie, a sweet, wholesome, young girl in love, and Test. But before the nuptials could take place, Triple H, the smartass leader of D-Generarion X, kidnapped Stephanie, sedated her, and whisked her off to a drive-through chapel in Las Vegas, where he and an unconscious Stephanie were pronounced man and wife.

When she came to, Stephanie was mortified at having married Triple H. This led to a match between Triple H and WWE chairman Vince McMahon, who was defending his daughter's honor. Stephanie, however, doublecrossed her father--she said the whole Vegas kidnapping was an elaborate ruse--and her interference helped Triple H gain the victory.

Overnight, Stephanie morphed into an overbearing, spoiled, screechy-voiced villainess with a penchant for wearing outfits that would embarrass a streetwalker. After a disgusted Vince McMahon took some time off, the powerhungry couple had all the stroke in WWE and made decisions that stacked the deck against the federation's babyfaces.

Along the way, Triple H won the WWE world title several times, and Stephanie somehow managed to capture the women's title. A love triangle between Stephanie, Triple H, and Kurt Angle made for great television and a hot feud. Coincidentally, a real-life love triangle played out behind the scenes and in the tabloids as Triple H began an affair with Stephanie while he was still dating Chyna.

The Triple H-Stephanie on-air union ended when he left her at the altar as they were to renew their vows after he found out Stephanie had fled about being pregnant. While they're no longer together on camera, Triple H and Stephanie are still an item off screen--some would say life has imitated art judging by the power the couple yields backstage--and they were married for real in October.