In anticipation of their upcoming tag team match at WWE Elimination Chamber, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Hall of Famer Trish Stratus have incorporated partner yoga into their training.
The alliance between Stratton and Stratus has generated significant buzz among fans, with hopes that the duo will continue their collaboration into WrestleMania 41.
This tag match at Elimination Chamber marks a significant return for Stratus, who last competed at the Royal Rumble on February 1, where she eliminated LeRae before being ousted by Jax.
Don’t miss WWE Elimination Chamber, streaming live from Toronto’s Rogers Centre on March 1 at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT on Peacock in the United States and Netflix internationally.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus has announced that she will be present at the February 28th taping of WWE SmackDown this Friday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. Stratus shared the news via tweet.
The announcement follows her return on the February 21st episode of SmackDown, where she was confronted and attacked by Nia Jax. Stratus is set to compete at WWE Elimination Chamber, teaming up with Tiffany Stratton against Jax and Candice LeRae.
Current Lineup for WWE SmackDown (February 28, 2025):
WWE United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. LA Knight
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus was a part of the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, but the Canadian legend was left hurting in New Orleans. On the show, Tiffany Stratton defeated Candice LeRae, but was attacked by Candice and Nia Jax after the match. Though Stratus made the save, Nia and Candice were able to get the upperhand on the WWE Hall of Famer and WWE Women’s Champion. The segment ended with Jax laying out Stratton and Stratus with an Annihilator.
Tiffany Stratton VENCE a Candice LeRae con el Prettiest Moonsault tras que Nia Jax la intentase atacar en ringside, para hacerlo justo después en el ring. Un combate que ha tenido siu tiempo y en el que Tiffy tenía que ganar.
Stratus’ appearance comes ahead of her return to the ring at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025, where she will team with Stratton in tag-team action. The show will take place in Trish’s home town of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on March 1.
Stratus’ most recent match was as part of the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match which was on by Charlotte Flair, Stratton’s WrestleMania 41 opponent. Whether she competes at Elimination Chamber or not, Stratus remains one of WWE’s most iconic women, and continues to have the fans on her side.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is set to make her return to in-ring competition at the upcoming Elimination Chamber premium live event in her hometown of Toronto, Canada.
The announcement came during Friday Night SmackDown, where Stratus revealed she will team with current WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton.
The seven-time Women’s Champion, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary in professional wrestling, has been making waves since her surprise return at the 2025 Royal Rumble.
On SmackDown, Stratus came to Stratton’s aid following a chaotic championship match involving Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. Later in the evening, she officially extended an invitation to Stratton to form what Stratton is already dubbing “Tiffy and Trishy Time” and battle Jax and LaRae.
The WWE Elimination Chamber event takes place on March 1, 2025, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, marking Stratus’s first official match since her brief return in 2023.
During WWE SmackDown at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena (February 14, 2025), Trish Stratus appeared and announced her attendance at WWE Elimination Chamber in Toronto on March 1. In a segment with Wade Barrett, she discussed her Royal Rumble appearance before making the announcement.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. The event will start at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT for US viewers. This will be WWE’s first event at Rogers Centre since WrestleMania X8 in 2002.
Trish Stratus has recently been active and open to wrestling again. After her appearance at the 2025 Royal Rumble, she expressed excitement about the fan reaction and mentioned it “felt really good” to be back in the ring.
Current Match Card
Men’s Chamber Match: John Cena, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, and 2 TBD participants
Women’s Chamber Match: Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss, Bianca Belair, Bayley, and 2 TBD participants
The winners of both Chamber matches will earn world title matches at WrestleMania 41.
Trish Stratus shocked fans with her return at the 2025 Royal Rumble, entering the women’s match at No. 25 and lasting over 13 minutes before being eliminated by Nia Jax. However, her return may not be a one-time event.
According to Fightful Select, Stratus is a “constant piece of discussion” within WWE, with officials actively considering ways to involve her. The Hall of Famer has even pitched ideas for her role, a sign that she’s eager to get back in the ring and show a new generation of WWE fans what Stratisfaction is all about.
With Elimination Chamber set for March in her hometown of Toronto, Stratus is expected to play a part in the event. WWE has also released new merchandise to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her debut, adding to speculation that she will be involved in more storylines moving forward.
Trish Stratus’ First Match Since 2023
Stratus’ Royal Rumble appearance marked her first WWE match since facing Becky Lynch in a critically acclaimed steel cage match at Payback 2023. Her return adds another layer of excitement to WWE’s current landscape, as Charlotte Flair, the Royal Rumble winner, prepares to challenge for a championship at WrestleMania 41.
With Stratus celebrating a major career milestone in 2025, fans may see even more of the legendary superstar in the months ahead.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus made a high-impact return at the 2025 Royal Rumble, proving that even after 25 years, she remains a dominant force. Ahead of her comeback, Stratus trained with TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champion Jody Threat to prepare for the match.
The former WWE Women’s Champion shared a behind-the-scenes video on Twitter, showing her training with Threat at Santino Marella’s Battle Arts Academy in Mississauga. In the clip, Stratus emphasized her commitment to giving fans her absolute best.
“I’m not gonna give 60%, 100% or I’m not gonna do it. Check out @JodyThreat helping me get Rumble ready!!”
Stratus entered the Women’s Royal Rumble match at No. 25, sharing the ring with stars like Jordynne Grace and Candice LeRae. While she was eventually eliminated, her return thrilled fans who hadn’t seen her compete in months.
With Elimination Chamber 2025 set for March 1 in Toronto, speculation is growing about another appearance from Stratus. Given her deep connection to the city and her milestone WWE anniversary, a return at the event would be fitting.
Trish Stratus made her in-ring return at the 2025 Royal Rumble PLE as part of the eighth-annual Women’s Royal Rumble match. Though Stratus didn’t secure a title match at WrestleMania 41, the WWE Hall of Famer proved she can still deliver ‘Stratusfaction’ in the squared circle.
Speaking with Stratus after the match, Byron Saxton alluded to Trish’s gray and pink attire possibly being a nod to her WWE debut attire from Sunday Night Heat in 2000. The WWE Hall of Famer confirmed this to be the case and was pleased to give fans a throwback.
“Good eye! I just felt that we’re kicking off the 25th anniversary of my career which is huge for me. I’m honored to still be coming back and doing that. Dipping my toe into the current landscape, I thought it was kind of a neat way to come back to this moment and do a little callback. I like a little callback and I know you guys do to.”
It remains to be seen if fans see Trish Stratus back in the ring in the near future, though Trish teased in the interview that her days in the ring may not be over yet. Whatever the case, Stratus continues to prove herself as a legend in the ring with a fun throwback during this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match.
Trish Stratus is a WWE Hall of Famer both in title and in merit, but coulld we see Stratusfaction “stratusfy” outside of the WWE umbrella?
Stratus recently discussed the possibility of squaring of against an undeniable future Hall of Famer in AEW’s Mercedes Mone, formerly Sasha Banks in WWE. The two fighters briefly crossed back nearly six years ago at the 2018 Royal Rumble, but outside of that, they have never faced one another in singles action.
However, since then Stratus has made multiple returns in WWE, actually facing Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam 2019. She then returned to the company in 2022 for a very memorable heel run against Becky Lynch, with the program culminating in a cage match at Payback.
During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Stratus looked back on that 2022 run.
“People never thought I’d ever come back for another match… But then, you know, (Banks) left.”
Would she venture outside of the WWE to have that long desired match against Mone?
“I really am a WWE girl all the way.You never know. Who knows? There’s still so much more life to be had.”
Mone ultimately walked out on WWE in May of 2022, only to return to the ring under the NJPW banner before she got injured which shelved her for nearly a year. However, Mone did end up going to AEW where she is currently the TBS Champion.
Trish Stratus was honored to headline WWE Raw in 2004, an opportunity that the Hall of Famer had to fight for in every sense. This week marks 20 years since Stratus and Lita headlined the December 6, 2004, edition of the red brand which saw Lita capture the Women’s Title from her friend/rival.
Speaking to TV Insider, Stratus recalled only learning of the main event match when she arrived at the arena, and even then, believed it was a prank by male talent. It was only after speaking with Vince McMahon that the magnitude of their upcoming match truly sunk in.
“We knew it was a big opportunity, but at the time, we didn’t realize how big of an opportunity it was. Let alone the impact that night would have.”
20 years later, the match is still considered one of the best women’s matches in WWE TV history and came at a time when women were firmly behind the men. Just two years earlier, Stratus had faced Victoria in a hardcore match, one where many backstage didn’t want the pair to come close to delivering on the stipulation.
“We were thinking about doing a chair shot. ‘Women can not do that’… Only in the wrestling world where I have to fight to be whacked in the back with a steel chair.”
Stratus’ matches with Lita and Victoria would be a taste of things to come, as women’s wrestling in WWE has made huge steps over the past decade. While having two women headline Raw was a historic showcase in 2004, the concept is commonplace in today’s programming.
“It’s wild to me now that the main event is whoever deserves it. This isn’t just the women’s main event. It’s just two characters on the show.”
In a matter of days, WWE will take its next step in gender equality with the crowning of the first Women’s U.S. Champion at Saturday Night’s Main Event. WWE has also started a tournament on Raw to crown the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
“I think it’s amazing. This is exactly what we wanted back in the day. We wanted the same opportunities and exposure as the men. This is a big step.”
Stratus last competed for WWE at Payback 2023 against Becky Lynch in a steel cage, another concept practically off-limits for women during Stratus’ full-time career. With opportunities growing in WWE that Stratus wished existed decades ago, fans can’t count out some Stratusfaction being served again, possibly with gold on the line.
Other Highlights
Stratus discussed a variety of topics in her interview, including:
Appearing on MADtv was a “dream” for Stratus, who preferred the show growing up to Saturday Night Live.
Stratus is interested in appearing on Dancing With The Stars. The show has already featured Chris Jericho, Nikki Garcia, and The Miz.
She “imagines at some point” that fans will see her in the ring again, especially with next year being the 25th anniversary of her WWE debut.
On the December 6, 2004, edition of WWE Raw, Trish Stratus and Lita competed for the Women’s Championship in a match unlike any women’s match before then. Not only did the pair headline the show, a fact many men on the roster took issue with, but the two women were given ample time to show off their skills in the ring.
The match, which saw Lita win the gold, came at a time when women’s wrestling in WWE was nowhere close to being treated as seriously as its male counterpart. Nevertheless, the match is regarded as one of WWE’s best women’s matches and secured the #55 spot on WWE’s Top 100 Moments In Raw History DVD. In hindsight, it should have been ranked a lot higher than that.
This December will mark 20 years since the iconic match, a fact not lost on Trish Stratus or Lita. Appearing together at Comic Con Northern Ireland over the weekend, Stratus teased something big to mark the anniversary.
“We are definitely coming up on the 20th anniversary of a certain match. Can anyone remember what it is? It’s our main event match, and it’s still talked about to this day.
So, we want to do something special and really reflect on its importance and how it helped us get to where we are today. That’s our goal—we’re masterminding something right now. Look for something special from Team Bestie to celebrate this very momentous occasion.”
Trish Stratus and Lita made history by headlining WWE Raw in December 2004 (Photo: WWE)
Paving the Road
Nearly two decades ago, the idea of women headlining WWE events was unimaginable. However, trailblazers like Trish Stratus and Lita shattered this glass ceiling and paved the way for future generations of female wrestlers:
October 2016: Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks made history as the first women’s match to headline a WWE pay-per-view, and it took place inside Hell in a Cell of all places.
October 2018: The all-women’s pay-per-view, Evolution, closed with Ronda Rousey defending the Raw Women’s Championship against Nikki Bella.
April 2019: Less than a later, history was made once again at WrestleMania 35 when Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch headlined the event in a triple threat match, with Lynch closing the show raising both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on whatever Trish Stratus and Lita have cooking for the 20th Anniversary of their iconic WWE Raw main event.
For more on Trish Stratus and Lita’s iconic WWE Raw main event from December 2004, check out this video of them rewatching it together 15 years later:
WWE Hall of Famer Lita believes women’s wrestling has progressed enough where we can retire gender-specific championships and have titles which represent everyone.
The Attitude Era star was joined by fellow women’s wrestling legend Trish Stratus for a panel at the Northern Ireland Comic-Con by Monopoly Events.
During the session, the duo was asked what changes they would make to the women’s division if they were booking it. Trish Stratus mentioned how the quality of wrestling among female competitors has improved significantly in the last few years but she explained that it has come at the cost of character work:
“I think I would like to have a little bit more focus on characters, right? I feel like, for sure, now there’s way more opportunities for women. Obviously, we see them main eventing all the time, and we see them in high-profile matches. But I think what we had back in the day was a lot more character stuff.
You got to know these characters, and the fans could really resonate with the character a little bit more. Now they’re just kind of having these great matches, but there’s no backstory as much as there was back in the day. So, I think character development would be one thing I’d like to focus on.”
Lita Wants To See More Intergender Interactions
Lita then chimed in talking about how women are getting more representation on shows now. The thing she would change, however, is increase the interaction between male and female competitors. The former champion even suggested the idea of gender-neutral titles to achieve this:
“What I would love to see is more interplay between the genders and have those lines be blurred further, where titles don’t have to be men’s or women’s titles, just titles, and whoever manages to get somebody’s shoulders down for three seconds is the champion, or whoever taps somebody out is the champion for that night.”
WWE has played with the idea of intergender wrestling on occasion but never fully committed to it. Chyna winning the Intercontinental Championship was the biggest example of it. She defended the championship against many male competitors during her run. The title went back to being exclusive to the men’s division afterward.
In more recent years we have seen Beth Pheonix wrestling Santino Marella and the brief interaction between Dean Ambrose and Nia Jax before the former left the company.
The storyline between Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley is the closest we have come to seeing intergender wrestling matches under Triple H. It’s possible that this story may lead to a revision of the past somewhere down the line.
Trish Stratus is one of the most iconic wrestlers in the history of the industry and many current superstars consider her their idol. The wrestling veteran, however, didn’t realize the impact she had on the business until she got the call for a Hall of Fame induction.
The wrestling legend spoke to Sports Illustrated ahead of the premiere of the A&E Biography: WWE Legends episode focused on her career.
Trish’s original run with WWE lasted only 6 years from 2000 to 2006. The female star left the company after that to look after her mother, without realizing the effect she would have on generations to come.
Speaking about her 2013 Hall of Fame induction, Trish Stratus revealed that it was the first time she realized what she had done:
“I went to work and did my best, getting the call for the Hall of Fame, that hit me. I didn’t realize what I was creating retrospectively. That was a reminder that we did make a difference and that people were impacted by that.
Trish Stratus Was Overwhelmed Realizing Her Impact
Trish Stratus returned to the ring at the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018. The young stars she got to meet during the time made her fully realized her influence on the business:
“During the first women’s Royal Rumble, I kept hearing different women saying that I influenced them to get in the business. That was incredibly impactful. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how we influenced the business.”
The former Women’s Champion has wrestled a number of matches since her 2018 return. Her latest outing came at the 2023 Payback event where Trish and Becky Lynch wrestled in a highly praised cage match.
It doesn’t appear that we’ve seen the last of the wrestling veteran either. WWE has teased tensions between her and Tiffany Stratton. Stratus has also maintained that she has unfinished business with Zoey Stark after the young star turned on her during her Payback appearance.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus has addressed the challenge issued by Ms. Money In The Bank 2024 Tiffany Stratton.
During the Money in the Bank PLE, Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus had a backstage encounter. The young star wasn’t respectful towards the veteran. Later on during the post-show media scrum, Tiffany Stratton was asked about a potential match against Trish Stratus. The rising superstar stated that she was ready to face the veteran.
While speaking on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez, Trish Stratus was asked about a possible bout against Tiffany Stratton. Stratus said that her return checked a few boxes and it was dependent on some factors. She said:
“Hey listen, I told you I checked some boxes when it’s time for a comeback. It’s not about nothing; it’s about something, right? It’s about a few things. Will the fans be interested? Is this a challenge for me as a performer? Going back as a heel was a challenge for me and something different for the fans.”
She highlighted how working with Zoey Stark influenced a different generation. The 7-time Women’s Champion didn’t rule out a possible return and added that if Tiffany Stratton keeps running her mouth then she might come back to put her in place. Stratus stated:
“Working with Zoe checked the box of influencing a different generation or impacting someone else along the way. So, yeah, as I’m saying these out loud, it’s checking those boxes. There are a few boxes being checked, you know? And again, like I said, if I can go back, 100%, I will and I’ll consider it. But I don’t know; if she [Tiffany Stratton] keeps running her mouth, maybe you’ve got to put some people in their place. What can I say?”
Stratton has been one of the fastest-rising wrestlers in the company. She had a successful run in NXT, where she became the NXT Women’s Champion. The youngster was then called up to the main roster and she has been making waves on SmackDown.
Facing Trish Stratus would certainly elevate Tiffany Stratton’s career. However, the WWE legend hasn’t stepped foot inside the ring in a while. Trish Stratus, who recently hosted WWE Money In The Bank PLE, last competed in September. She faced Becky Lynch in a Steel Cage match in a losing effort.
Trish Stratus is one of the most iconic professional wrestlers in the history of the business and people remember many moments from her career to this day. Though it’s surprising to know that her full-time run in wrestling lasted only 6 years and Stratus had chosen to retire from active competition when she was only 30.
The WWE Hall of Famer recently had an interview with Inside The Ropes. She talked about things such as her storyline with Vince McMahon, her rivalry with Lita, and more.
On the topic of her decision to leave WWE in 2006, the former Women’s Champion was asked if she was satisfied with her decision at the time. Trish explained that she got a lot of time to think about it before making the call:
“Yeah, at the time I was definitely very confident in my decision. I felt very fulfilled in my career at that point, and had a good look at it. It wasn’t like I was yanked out of it, and was like, ‘Oh, I wait. I didn’t have that moment,’
I had the chance, luckily, to decide, ‘Am I going to sign or not sign?’ Listen, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and that was one of the deciding factors that I was like, the universe is telling me it’s time to go.”
I Was Ready To Move On: Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus explained that she was already contemplating the idea of retirement and her mom’s illness made the decision clearer. The former champion also mentioned how she had worked with all the top women in the roster so she didn’t leave with the idea of any unfinished business:
“I mean, I was already playing with the idea of like re-signing or not, but my mom getting cancer, knowing that if I was on the road in that schedule, I could not be with her for her treatment and that journey. And for me, yeah, I looked at the roster, looked at the women we have that can work.
I’ve worked luckily, been blessed to have worked these great storylines and long storylines and really juicy storylines with Jazz and Victoria and Molly. Have these things that people remember to this day. This rivalry that people remember. So I was like, ‘I feel good.’ Like, I feel like I’m good. I was 30 years old, and I was ready. I was ready to move on.”
The wrestling veteran had the final match of her original WWE run at the 2006 Unforgiven PPV in September. She defeated Lita in the PPV held in her hometown of Toronto to win her record seventh women’s title and retired as a champion.
Trish Stratus has continued her association with WWE and continued making sporadic appearances. She most recently hosted the Money In The Bank PPV where the company teased a match between her and Tiffany Stratton.
Tiffany Stratton is ready to get in the ring with the GOAT Trish Stratus.
The Money In The Bank 2024 came live from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. Hometown star Trish Stratus was announced to host the show. She made multiple appearances during the event. This included one where she introduced John Cena before he made a big career announcement.
A more exciting appearance for the fans of the wrestling legend came later in the show. Stratus was being interviewed backstage but was interrupted by Tiffany Stratton.
The young star asked ‘Trishy’ why she wasn’t talking about her and Trish Stratus in turn told the 2024 Women’s Money In The Bank winner to not get ahead of herself.
Tiffany Stratton Is Ready For The GOAT
In the post-show press conference, Tiffany Stratton was asked about potentially facing Stratus in a match. The 25-year-old claimed that she is ready to get in the ring with her idol:
“Listen, those are two different generations. Trish, Trishy, Trishy Time, she is one of my idols in professional wrestling, and I am ready to get in the ring with the GOAT,”
These developments suggest that WWE is at least planning a future confrontation between the two female stars. It won’t be a surprise if they end up sharing the ring at the upcoming SummerSlam PPV from Cleveland, Ohio on August 4.
You can check out the full Money In The Bank post-show below:
WWE Money In The Bank is upon us. In addition to an action-packed card, it was revealed that WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus will be the special host for the event. This has made fans wonder if there may be more at play when she appears tonight.
One of the featured Money In The Bank matches will have Zoey Starks, Chelsea Green, Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, Lyra Valkyria, and Iyo Sky competing for the briefcase. After the reveal that Stratus will host the event, fans believe she could get involved in the matchup.
Before her hiatus, Starks attacked the WWE Hall of Famer after Stratus lost to Becky Lynch in a Steel Cage match at Payback on September 2, 2023. It’s worth noting that the former WWE Women’s Champion slapped her former protégé first, which led to Starks landing her Z-360 move on Stratus. Since then, Starks has succeeded without the Canadian superstar’s leadership and will attempt to become the new Women’s Money In The Bank winner. However, fans believe that Stratus hasn’t forgotten and may interfere to ensure Starks doesn’t win.
The chatter from fans on social media seems to have reached Starks, as she sends a reminder to Stratus ahead of the upcoming premium live event. The former WWE NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion shared a gif of her landing her Z-360 on the Canadian superstar on X.
Starks made a disparaging remark about Canada on X yesterday to feed into her ‘Heel’ character. It’s possible that the WWE superstar could find herself in a position to win the Women’s Money In The Bank match, leading to Stratus getting her revenge. The WWE Hall of Famer has been open to a return to the ring, and it would make sense for her to go after her former protégé.
For now, fans must watch tonight’s PLE to see if Starks post towards Stratus and Canada will backfire on her.
WWE fans are in for a healthy dose of Stratusfaction this weekend. Trish Stratus will serve as the official host for Saturday’s WWE Money in the Bank premium live event.
She announced the news on her official website and released the following teaser video of her arriving at the Scotiabank Arena:
Wrestling fans who are on hand for Money in the Bank can meet Trish before the show as part of a ‘hospitality meet & greet’ package available from OnLocation.
“She’s Back! More than 17,000 fans are expected. Limited tickets are still available. Order today to get a double dose of Stratusfaction with a hospitality meet & greet before the show.
Trish last captivated the WWE Universe nearly a year ago with an unforgettable Steel Cage Match against Becky Lynch, a bout that many consider a Match of the Year candidate. What will the WWE Hall of Famer have to say? Tune in Saturday at 8pm ET, streaming live on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.”
Visit our WWE Money in the Bank section for information about this weekend’s event, including the full match card, how to watch and more.
Taking to Twitter, Stratus reflected on her time at WrestleMania and called Bayley’s victory a highlight of the night for her. Trish added that no one deserved the spot or the adulation of the crowd more than the Role Model and was pleased that Bayley and IYO SKY “crushed it” on WWE’s grandest stage.
What a night!! What a weekend!! It was wild to see Lincoln Financial Field absolutely lose their mind at the end of the show. Even wilder to think that was a typical Monday night back in my day! Awesome stuff!
Stratus and Bayley were on opposite ends of a six-woman tag-team match at WrestleMania 39. The match saw Stratus team with then-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Lita & Becky Lynch to defeat Bayley, SKY, and Dakota Kai.
This isn’t the first time that the new WWE Women’s Champion has earned props from Status, a seven-time Women’s Champion in her own right. During a 2023 interview with SHAK Wrestling, Stratus put Bayley on her Mt. Rushmore of women’s wrestling, alongside herself, Lita, and All Elite Wrestling’s Mercedes Mone
In the build to the WrestleMania 39 match, Bayley shared her appreciation for Stratus and Lita coming back after having legendary careers on an episode of the Masked Man Show.
“They came back and they agreed to face us, which I think is a huge compliment and just something that we shouldn’t take for granted.”
There is no one Rhea Ripley hasn’t impressed with her performance in recent times. WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus believes that the Judgement Day star is complete different level.
The Canadian Star was speaking on Brioux TV and she made note that the current WWE Women’s World Champion stands out. It’s not just because she holds the gold.
“Right now, I’m really loving Rhea Ripley. She’s in a whole other league. She brings so much and people love to hate her. When you’re a bad guy, but the crowd is loving you so much that they want to cheer you, that’s a special thing that you have that je ne sais quoi.”
Rhea Ripley
Rhea did really earn her way to the top of the card as she started off down in NXT, becoming the champion there before moving up to the main roster.
Ripley and Charlotte Flair stole the show at WrestleMania 39 where she first captured the World Championship and has been on an unstoppable run ever since.
The Mami has always had the qualities of a star, but she has really picked up momentum since becoming a member of The Judgment Day, and developing a leadership-type role.
During the interview Stratus claimed that she took notice of Ripley early on, and recounted a story of meeting Rhea in her hometown of Toronto.
“She was waiting….there are times in wrestling where you think it’s not going to hit. She tried other characters, she did things where it would be time where the storyline wasn’t going or there was no storyline at all.
I remember they were here for a live event in Toronto and they had nothing for her. She was like, ‘I don’t know what they’re going to do with me.’ Now she’s one of the longest reigning champions. I really enjoy watching her. She’s been great.”
Stratus made a massive heel turn in 2023 when she backstabbed Becky Lynch. Their feud culminated into a steel cage match at Payback with The Man picking up a huge victory over the wrestling legend. Now Becky will play the role of the veteran when she faces Ripley at WrestleMania 40.
Credit to Brioux TV and h/t to Fightful for the transcription
Trish Stratus & Lita, affectionately known as ‘Team Bestie’ have their eyes on the WWE Women’s Tag Titles and breaking the ‘curse’ that often befalls champions.
The pair of WWE Hall of Famers were at Monopoly Events’ ‘For the Love of Wrestling’ convention that took place this month. During a Q&A with the fans in Manchester, England, the pair were asked about winning the tag titles, which Lita was all for.
“People like to talk about this imaginary curse of the [women’s] tag titles, but I think that if Trish and I were tag champs, that somehow the curse would magically disappear.”
Stratus was similarly enthusiastic at the notion of challenging for the titles, warning the Kabuki Warriors “You’re not ready for Team Bestie.”
The Curse of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
While Lita described the ‘curse’ as imaginary, it’s hard to ignore the setbacks that various champions have faced. The titles were stripped from Sasha Banks & Naomi after they walked out of WWE in May 2022. The titles would be left vacant for months before being won by Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez. That pair would lose the titles mere weeks later.
In May 2023, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were stripped of the titles when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury. Less than two months later, Sonya Deville would suffer an ACL tear as champion which has kept WWE’s first openly lesbian Superstar out ever since.
Another Injury
This curse has shown no sign of slowing down, as we’ve learned in recent days. Four-time and current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka is dealing with an injury and was recently pulled from live events. It’s unclear how extensive the injury is, but with WrestleMania 40 growing closer, this could not come at a worse time for the Empress of Tomorrow.
The upcoming Canadian Screen Awards will have a pro-wrestling flair thanks to the nominations of Trish Stratus and VICE series Dark Side of the Ring.
The 12th Canadian Screen Awards will take place from May 26 to May 31, from the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto. The ceremony will be hosted by Canadian comedian, actor, and screenwriter Mae Martin.
Trish Stratus Nominated
The seven-time WWE Women’s Champion is nominated for the award of Best Host or Presenter, Factual or Reality/Competition for her role as part of Canada’s Got Talent. The full nominees list is as follows:
Gerry Dee, Family Feud Canada
Lindsay Ell, Howie Mandel, Lilly Singh, Trish Stratus and Kardinal Offishall, Canada’s Got Talent
Jonny Harris, Still Standing
Brooke Lynn Hytes, Traci Melchor and Brad Goreski, Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World
Alan Shane Lewis and Ann Pornel, The Great Canadian Baking Show
Dark Side of the Ring Nominated
Dark Side of the Ring is up for several awards, including for ‘Factual Series.’ The episode that focused on the life and legacy of Abdullah the Butcher is up for the ‘Visual Research’ award. In the world of editing, the show is up for the award of ‘Editing in a Factual Program or Series’ as well as ‘Editing in a Documentary Program or Series.’
Dark Side of the Ring is also in the category of ‘Photography in a Documentary Program or Factual Series.’ For directing, the show has been nominated for the ‘Documentary or Factual Series’ award.
Trish Stratus’ WWE Hall of Famer status won’t keep her out of the ring. She has returned on a couple of occasions, with her latest run being a lengthy one, where she participated in many firsts for her career, including getting drafted to the RAW brand. Although she is out of action, there is always the possibility that she may return.
With Sting retiring at AEW Revolution, the pro wrestling world is seeing some huge names hang up their boots for the last time. It appears that Trish Stratus may have eyes on another retirement of her own.
Trish Stratus May Return
Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus’ feud dominated WWE television for several months, culminating in a steel cage match at WWE Payback. That marked Stratus’ final bout with the company for now, as the match ended with Zoey Stark turning on her mentor Trish as well.
Trish Stratus, expressing her openness to another comeback, shared her thoughts on the idea of a potential last match during an interview with Gorilla Position. While contemplating various scenarios for her next wrestling match, she reflected on the possibility of staging it in her hometown of Toronto, particularly with Money in the Bank scheduled for the city in 2024.
“Would I welcome another match in Toronto? Absolutely. For like, perhaps the final one? Yeah. We had a retirement match. Is this the post-retirement, retirement match? Maybe, in Toronto.”
The 15th edition of the Money in the Bank event is scheduled for Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Trish Stratus on her Possible WWE Return
Stratus weighed different options, considering her unfinished storyline with Zoey Stark and envisioning a matchup with WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley due to their contrasting sizes.
“It’s another thing to put on — I don’t know. Maybe. Do I have an unfinished story with Zoey (Stark)? I sure do. So there’s a lot of things. There’s a lot of talent that I look at too that I’m like, I would love to get in the ring with, let’s say, Rhea Ripley for example.”
Stratus, who known for her petite stature, highlighted her willingness to embrace her size difference in the ring, particularly referencing Ripley’s match with Raquel Rodriguez as an example.
“So people, when they meet me, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so small.’ This is part of my thing, right? I’m just little Trish Stratus but you know, when we saw that match with Raquel (Rodriguez), that’s what I love. I love playing up to that, right?”
Exclusive Insight On Trish Stratus’ WWE Return
WWE’s road to WrestleMania can always bring back a legend like Trish Stratus. That being said, there isn’t anything concrete that would suggest that her return is going to happen at this time.
I asked around about Trish Stratus’ possible WWE return, and I was told that she is always trying to pitch things for herself to do around WrestleMania. We will have to see when WWE uses her next, but her story is likely far from closed at this point. They might just have something for her to do at Money in the Bank in Toronto, which would be a very fitting end to her career.
Regarding a thought of Trish Stratus wrestling again for WWE, I asked around and was told that, “Trish always pitches ideas during Mania season.”
Trish Stratus is a wrestling icon for many reasons. People still remember moments from her original run in WWE back in the early 2000s.
It’s only a testament to her greatness that she was able to make a comeback almost two decades later for another run last year and give fans some more memories to cherish.
This included matches such as her cage match with Becky Lynch at Payback 2023 which according to the former champion herself, might be her greatest match ever.
The WWE Hall of Famer recently had an interview with The Gorilla Position podcast. Among other things, Stratus talked about her most recent run with WWE, and revealed that the cage match is the favourite of her career:
“It’s funny because I was just at a signing this weekend and I [always] get asked what’s your favourite match. I’ve had so many matches that are special for so many reasons that I kind of go into a little blurb about it. But now I’m just like ‘Cage match,’ Like hands down my favourite and for so many reasons.
‘Generational Face Off’: Trish Stratus
Explaining the reason behind this statement, Trish Stratus mentioned how female performers were not afforded such opportunities during her original run with the company. For her, to be able to pull off the match with Lynch was really special:
“Just what it represented. The fact that I could go back this many years later and not only hang with the current crop that sort of thing. But it was more about doing something that I was not able to do. The opportunity was not there for us females back in the day.
So to be able to do something that I was not able to was really special. Then just to be able to pull off such an epic match, you know, generational face off with me and Becky Lynch. The best of this generation [and] the best, arguably I’ve heard, of my generation. It was very special.”
Apart from this, Trish also claimed that she has unfinished business in WWE and teased a potential match with Rhea Ripley for the Money In The Bank 2024 event from Toronto.
You can check out her full interview below:
If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus recently acknowledged the 14-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift, who had a great time at Sunday night’s SuperBowl.
Trish Stratus, a multi-time Women’s Champion is one of the greatest to ever step foot inside the ring. Her impressive athleticism and charisma, have left a memorable mark on the industry. She emerged as a trailblazer in the 2000s and captivated the fans with her in-ring prowess and alluring persona. She is a 7-time Women’s Champion which is a testament to her greatness. Well, she recently recognized Taylor Swift’s gesture at Super Bowl LVIII.
This year’s Super Bowl LVIII saw a thrilling finish as the Kansas City Chiefs emerge victorious. At the conclusion of the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were tied 19-19 with the San Fransisco 49ers. The match went to overtime and in the last second the Chiefs scored and earned the lead and captured the Super Bowl championship.
Among some popular wrestling stars and celebs, was Taylor Swift. She was also spotted in the crowd enjoying the high-stakes match.
Taylor Swift grabbed the attention when she pulled off the signature pose of WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus.
Trish Stratus reacts
The former 7-time WWE Women’s champion took to her Twitter/X account and posted a picture of herself and Swift doing a similar pose.
Trish Stratus had returned to WWE last year and had quite the run. She competed at WrestleMania, Night of Champions, and Payback Premium Live Events and was involved in a storyline with Becky Lynch before departing.
