Trish Stratus Reveals What It Would Take For Her To Return To WWE, Who She Thinks Is The Future Of The Women’s Division
Trish Stratus hasn’t competed in a WWE ring in nearly a decade, but could a return be in the cards for the seven-time women’s champion? In a recent interview, Stratus told Sports Illustrated that she hasn’t completely ruled out a return to professional wrestling but not before saying that the “Divas Revolution” started long before the recent rebranding of WWE’s women’s division.
“The ‘Revolution’ began with us. It was a change in the way women were perceived in the business.”
“Us” undoubtedly refers to Trish Stratus herself and the opponent who will always be connected with her, Amy Dumas, better known to wrestling fans as Lita. Coming out of the Attitude Era, women in WWE were known more for their sexuality, which Trish has always had plenty of, and what they wore as opposed to their actual wrestling ability. However, as more and more talented women entered the company, a shift began to occur within the division where it was more about the wrestling and less about looks. For Trish, she knew that things had changed on a historic night in 2004 when she and Lita main-evented Monday Night Raw. Trish shared the story of finding out she’d be closing the show with her good friend.
“We got to the building that day, and there was a board with all of the matches written on it. Amy and I were riding together, and we thought the board wasn’t complete or that they hadn’t written the main event yet. Then one of the agents–Fit Finlay–said to us, ‘Are you ready for this?’ Then upper management started coming over and saying congrats, and I was like, ‘Holy sh–, this is a big moment.'”
It was then that Trish Stratus knew that things had changed.
“I didn’t care what I was wearing, it was all about the match and telling the right story. There was a moment in my career where I wasn’t sexy any more–I was going out to wrestle. There was a shift in my career where it was all about the wrestling.”
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Since Trish Stratus’ retirement in 2006, 19 women have combined for 41 title reigns as either the WWE Women’s Champion or WWE Divas Champion, but Stratus feels that the future of women’s wrestling is someone that’s never held the title, someone else that recently main-evented a WWE show, Sasha Banks, who closed NXT Takeover: Respect last October in a 30-minute Iron Woman Match with then-NXT Women’s Champion, Bayley.
“Sasha, to me, is a star. There are a lot of comparisons, but I don’t think we are that similar, actually, at all. But she’s the star of the division, and she’s the one. She really knows her character, she owns her character, and she’s so solid in the ring.”
At 40-years-old, would Trish Stratus ever return to the ring, especially given her busy schedule as a mother, actress and entrepreneur? Well, it seems that Trish hasn’t completely slammed the door to the possibility, but recognizes that it would take something special to bring her back to WWE, perhaps a special WrestleMania-type moment with one of the most popular female athletes on the planet.
“Could I physically go back and do what I did before? At this point, yes, I can do that. But I’d only go back if it was worth it and if it was a challenge for me. Something that’s different and unique, like playing a heel again, which would be super cool. I’ve gone back as a babyface, so it would have to be something challenging and something that would elevate either the division or a talent. Not just me for my own sh–s and giggles to raise my brand. It would be good if there was a moment to elevate a character.”
“I’d love to work with Ronda Rousey, but I don’t know if she’d be up for that.”
What do you think? Would you like to see Trish Stratus return to WWE?
[Image via WWE]
