Stratusfaction guaranteed: Trish Stratus is one of WWE’s greatest women’s wrestlers
Trish Stratus debuted 20 years ago this month. The WWE Hall of Famer is one of the most beloved Superstars ever.
On Mar. 19, 2000, Trish Stratus arrived on Sunday Night Heat wearing a pink cowboy hat and black duster. She came down the ramp to watch Test and Gangrel. Test went on to win his match and sized up Stratus as he made his way up the ramp. She also distracted Joey Abs and cost him a match against Prince Albert. Stratus went on the manage the team of T & A.
Early in her career, Stratus was sexualized and the focus wasn’t on her skill. She was infamously in a storyline affair with Vince McMahon. This “affair” led to a feud with Stephanie McMahon where Stratus got slop dumped over her, told she was a “toy” and forced to strip down to her bra and panties in the ring where she was ordered to bark like a dog. It was dehumanizing and nothing that would fly today.
In due time, things would change for Stratus and she’d become a force to be reckoned with in women’s wrestling. She had feuds with Jazz and Victoria, but her most memorable were with Mickie James and Lita. Stratus was frequently paired as the on-screen love interest of wrestlers like Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho and Carlito. She was also the object of James’ obsession.
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In 2001, Stratus won her first title at Survivor Series. She went on to be a seven-time women’s champion. Stratus also held the Hardcore Championship. Other accolades include four-time Pro Wrestling Illustrated Woman of the Year and Woman of the Decade (2000-2009).
In 2003, she was named Diva of the Decade. She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame with the 2013 class. She is the youngest person to be inducted into the HOF. Another fun fact: Stratus has appeared in more WWE video games than any other woman with a total of 26 appearances.
Stratus’s most memorable match was when she faced her longtime rival, Lita for the Women’s Championship. These two always brought out the best in each other, none more so than this match on Monday Night RAW from December 2004. Lita won the title from Stratus. This match is regarded as one of the best women’s matches ever as well as Stratus’s best match ever.
It seems like she still has something left in the tank as she recently teased a match with “The Legit Boss” Sasha Banks.
Banks, Bayley and Alexa Bliss have all stated that that want matches against Stratus. It would be fun to see her face all three of these women, especially after she was retired by Charlotte Flair.
Outside of wrestling, Stratus appeared on multiple magazine covers, acted in a couple of movies and hosted a travel show. In 2008, she opened her own yoga studio, Stratusphere. It is the largest eco-friendly yoga studio in Canada.
Stratus will always be remembered for being one of the top women during the Attitude Era. Her on-screen character is memorable and evolved so much through the years. Her wrestling ability grew as well to make her one of the top female wrestlers of her time.
Next. Trish Stratus vs. Sasha Banks needs to happen at WrestleMania. dark
Trish Stratus is still fondly looked upon by fans and current wrestlers alike. When Stratus debuted, no one knew that she would go on to have such a prolific career and inspire many of today’s current female wrestlers. Fans could always count on 100 percent Stratusfaction.