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When it comes to professional wrestling, few women are as important to the fabric of WWE as Trish Stratus and Stephanie McMahon, the seven-time WWE Women's Champion, and “Billion Dollar Princess” who played massive roles in redefining what girls can do in the biggest wrestling promotion in the world.
So, when the former was being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, it made all the sense in the world for the latter to induct her, as, according to Stratus in an interview with The Green Zone, their connection made the moment all the more memorable.
“Her and I went through a lot together. We went through the valet stuff together. I was a valet, she did a little of it, but it was a little when I crossed over and went into the Vince McMahon storyline. She was a big part of that. That was the transition from me standing up for myself finally as a character. She stood up for herself, she moved on, she slapped Vince McMahon. Now, she's the independent woman who can do this on her own and doesn't need a man. That was a very poignant moment and was part of that. She was the one encouraging me and championing the women doing stuff like that, even back then. She was in awe of my wrestling skills, and I was barely green at that point. We had the big match together when it was my first major pay-per-view match, for her as well, we worked our butts off, and a lot of people really talk about that match because they were like, ‘it's going to be a catfight,' and we pulled out some crazy moves. Getting more credibility at the time we went out there. She was part of those major moments for me to transition out of (being a valet) and being taken seriously. She was kind of my sister. We were working side by side. We were in each other's inboxes every moment talking about what to do next and how we could make it better and ‘Let's get in the ring.' We shared that. It felt fitting,” Trish Stratus explained on The Green Zone via Fightful.
“She shared a moment with me, I had just found out I was pregnant, and I first went into performance mode of, usually people come back from an ankle, I don't know if I can because I'm pregnant, should I not do it this year? They specifically picked me as ushering in the new era of the women, so it's a special spot. Stephanie called me, showing those concerns, and said, ‘Listen, this is an amazing moment.' ‘Are wrestling fans going to find it weird?' I literally said that. ‘I'm not their hot bombshell, I'm pregnant.' She said, ‘This is such a moment, why don't we make it a moment we can share with the WWE Universe, perhaps you can make your announcement there if you're comfortable.' ‘Oh my God, that's so special.' To go out there, have my moment, be accepted into the Hall of Fame, and that night I announced I was pregnant. I said the line, ‘By the way, coming this September, I'll be delivering a little Stratusfaction.' It was so cute. Fans were forever part of Baby Stratus being born soon, and they were along for the journey. I felt like she had been part of so many transitional moments for me to get where I was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Could Stratus have called on her ultimate WWE frenemy, Lita, for the induction? Totally, but considering how things shook out, it's hard to imagine Stratus' induction going any other way, as McMahon perfectly set her up for a perfect moment.
Trish Stratus reveals that she rejected a WWE return back in 2009.
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Elsewhere in Trish Stratus' media tour to promote… her general goings on, this time in an interview with Inside the Ropes, the seven-time champion discussed a proposed return to WWE in 2009 as part of the Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal that was ultimately rejected, as in the moment, she felt it wasn't right.
“I always said when I retired, if I go back, it's got to be for something important. Not important, that's not the right word. It's got to be for something that's good. No, that's not right either. It's gotta be just something that has to check a few boxes. I want to work with someone I haven't worked with before. Selfishly, as a performer, I want to challenge myself. But I also want to elevate another person,” Trish Stratus told Inside the Ropes.
“I want to do stuff that hasn't been done before. I want to present things a bit differently. I just thought about coming back after being retired, I didn't think that was a good platform to do it. I didn't think it was necessary. I don't think it would have been way better if Trish Stratus was in there.”
Would it have been cool to see Stratus return at WrestleMania and potentially add another statement win to her resume instead of giving the crown to Santino Marella? Sure, but hey, if she didn't think the creative was right, leaving it on the table makes sense as her eventual returns a decade later more than made up for a single appearance.
