WWE Trish Stratus Patricia Anne Stratigias

WWE Trish Stratus Patricia Anne Stratigias


Trish Stratus
Statistics
Ring name(s)     Trish Stratus
Billed height     5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Billed weight     125 lb (57 kg)
Born     December 18, 1975 (age 31)
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Resides     Richmond Hill, Ontario
Billed from     Toronto, Ontario
Trained by     Ron Hutchinson,
Nora Greenwald,
Dave Finlay
Debut     March 19, 2000
Retired     September 17, 2006

Trish Stratus (born Patricia Anne Stratigias on December 18, 1975 in Richmond Hill, Ontario), is a Canadian fitness model and former professional wrestler. Formerly working for World Wrestling Entertainment, Stratus retired from professional wrestling on September 17, 2006 after winning her seventh WWE Women's Championship[1].

Stratus is marketed as the first woman in WWF/E history to have held the WWE Women's Championship seven times, three more than the four reigns of Lita and the four recognized title reigns of The Fabulous Moolah [2]. She is also one of only four women to have held the WWE Hardcore Championship.

As a fitness model, Stratus has been featured on the cover of many major health and fitness magazines such as Musclemag, Flare, and Total Women's Fitness. She also released a calendar series called "Dream Team" with fellow model, Stacey Lynn. As a sports entertainer, she was proclaimed the "Diva of the Decade" on the WWE RAW X Anniversary Show. She was voted "WWE Babe of the Year" three times between 2001 and 2003.
Contents

    * 1 Professional wrestling career
          o 1.1 2000
          o 1.2 2001
          o 1.3 2002
          o 1.4 2005
          o 1.5 2006
    * 2 In wrestling
    * 3 Championships and accomplishments
    * 4 Personal life
    * 5 References
    * 6 External links

 Professional wrestling career

Stratus caught the attention of the WWF while co-hosting a Canadian professional wrestling talk show called Live Audio Wrestling with "Big Daddy" Donnie Abreu and "Gentleman" Jeff Marek. WWF agents told Stratus that if she felt she had more to offer than her looks alone, she should start training for a wrestling career. Soon afterward, Stratigias began training at the gym of Ron Hutchinson, the same facility where Superstars like Edge and Christian had also trained for the ring. The WWF again had contacted her in late-1999, and this time, Stratigias was ready to start her career as a pro wrestler under the stage name, Trish Stratus, having been a fan since her childhood and idolizing Hulk Hogan.

 2000

Her first WWF appearance took place on the March 19, 2000 episode of Sunday Night HEAT. Stratus appeared on the runway, scouting certain WWF Superstars, in particular Test and Prince Albert. Not long after, Stratus began her first role in the company, managing Test and Albert in the tag team T & A. It was during her stint managing T and A when Stratus had her first taste of punishment in the ring, being driven through a table by The Dudley Boyz. She had been taunting The Dudley Boyz for weeks, in particular Bubba Ray Dudley who was notorious for his fondness for putting females through tables such as Terri Runnels and Mae Young.

More and more, Stratus found herself getting physically involved in the action, taking her bumps from Superstars like The Big Show and Chyna, and even suffering a stinkface from Rikishi. It was not long before Stratus began competing in actual matches, one of the earliest examples being a six-person tag team match at Fully Loaded on July 23, as Stratus teamed with T & A to face The Hardy Boyz and Lita. Although Stratus and her team lost the bout, she was not about to leave that night without making her mark, and proceeded to whip Lita with a leather strap before exiting the ring. Stratus later managed Val Venis to win the Intercontinental Championship, but seemed to be outgrowing managing, as she had bigger aspirations on her mind. These aspirations included challenging for the WWF Women's Championship on a number of occasions against Lita and Ivory, although none of these attempts proved successful. T&A disbanded by the end of 2000, with Trish briefly managing Albert solely. However, that role was soon scrapped in favor of her becoming involved with the McMahons.

 2001

In early 2001, Stratus became involved in a storyline with WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, during a time when Vince's wife Linda was "institutionalized" following a demand Vince had made for a divorce during a live show in Madison Square Garden in December 2000. Vince and Stratus's relationship increasingly angered the boss's daughter, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and at No Way Out on February 25, Stratus and Stephanie squared off, with "The Billion-Dollar Princess" scoring a tainted win via the interference of William Regal. This match is considered to be one of the best of Trish's early wrestling career, as this was the first time she had displayed any form of capability in the ring. It was also a highly anticipated match, as the rivalry between the two ladies had been going on for quite some time. In the midst of a tag team match that pitted Vince and Stratus against Regal and Stephanie, Stratus found herself the victim of a grand set-up by Vince, Stephanie and Regal. Regal executed the Regal Cutter on Stratus, and Stephanie then dumped mud over Stratus's body. Vince stood over Stratus, and he told her she was a toy that he had grown tired of playing with.

The following week on RAW, Stratus actually gave Vince an apology for the disruption she felt she had caused in his life. Vince then humiliated her further, forcing Stratus to strip down to her bra and thong, get on all fours, and bark like a dog. It ended up being part of a plan Stratus had set into motion to embarrass Vince, and at WrestleMania X-Seven a month later, it all became clear. During a Street Fight between Vince and his son, then-World Championship Wrestling (WCW) "owner" Shane McMahon, Stratus rolled out a seemingly catatonic Linda McMahon in a wheelchair to the ring. When the action was taken to the floor, Stratus walked up to Vince and slapped his mouth before chasing Stephanie from ringside. Shortly thereafter, Linda stood up out of her wheelchair and kicked Vince in the groin, enabling Shane to gain control of the match and eventually pin his father.

After her situation with the McMahon family ended, Stratus began focusing on wrestling full-time. On the April 23 edition of "Raw," Stratus was backstage promoting the "Divas in Hedonism" video when she ran into Mr.McMahon. McMahon then placed her in a match against Ivory in which if she lost, she would be forced to join the Right to Censor. However, Stratus displayed some improved in-ring ability, managing to pin Ivory following a modified bulldog. Trish was later involved in The Rock & Vince feud which led to a match pitting Stratus and The Rock against Vince and Kurt Angle. The most noticeable point of the match was when The Rock tagged in Trish and she viciously attacked Vince delivering a Low Blow and pinning Vince herself.

During the WCW/ECW Invasion storyline, Stratus and Lita attempted to put their past behind them and began focusing on taking out alliance girls, Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson. At the InVasion pay-per-view, the two WWF divas faced off against the WCW Divas in the 1st ever Bra and Panties Tag Team Match, with Trish & Lita coming out on top. The following night on Raw, however, Stratus suffered an injury in her "Paddle on a Pole" match against Torrie Wilson. She underwent ankle surgery later in the summer. It would be at least four months before Stratus would fully heal and be able to continue her pursuit of wrestling glory. As she rehabilitated, Stratus kept herself visible by co-hosting Excess on TNN. When she was not doing the show, Stratus continued training and rehabilitation, preparing herself for her comeback in the ring. She received extensive ring training from Dave Finlay, a former WCW Television Champion. Finlay's schoolings served Stratus well; by the time she returned to the ring, she was better prepared for combat than ever.
Trish Stratus winning the WWE Womens Championship for the first time
Trish Stratus winning the WWE Womens Championship for the first time

Her return came at the Survivor Series on November 18 in a six-pack challenge for the vacant WWE Women's Championship. At this event, Stratus faced off with Lita, Mighty Molly, Jacqueline, Ivory, and former Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) mainstay, Jazz. Stratus pinned Ivory after unveiling her new Stratusfaction finisher, a modified bulldog headlock which saw Stratus apply the headlock, climb the ropes, and in mid-air, catapult herself backwards to the canvas with her opponent's head still gripped in her arms. And with that, Stratus had won her first WWE Women's Championship.

 2002

Trish went on to feud with Jazz for several months over the Women's Championship, coming to a battle at the 2002 Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View where, despite an "injured hand", Trish waled away with the victory after a bulldog finish brought Jazz down for the count. Jazz would not be denied however and 2 weeks later, walked away with the title on an edition of RAW in Las Vegas, Nevada. Trish would go after the title for several months after that, even competing in a triple threat match at Wrestlemania 18 against Lita and Jazz in her hometown of Toronto, Canada. Trish was unsuccessful that night, however she would get her revenge soon.

Three months later, Stratus won the title back in a unique tag team match where both the Women's and the Hardcore title was on the line. It was Stratus and Bubba Ray Dudley vs. Jazz and Steven Richards, where Stratus pinned Jazz to capture her second Women's title in her hometown of Toronto. During her association with Dudley, Stratus would also have a brief reign as Hardcore Champion; however, under the 24/7 rules of the title, she won and lost the title within minutes.

Stratus would then go on to feud with newly heel, Molly Holly. Molly defeated Trish at the 2002 King of the Ring for the WWE Womens Championship. The two divas would carry on feuding for the next 3 months finally ending with Stratus defeating Holly at 2002 Unforgiven for the title back.

When Victoria debuted in WWE, Stratus was first on her mind to try to defeat. After successfully defending her title against Victoria at No Mercy 2002, Victoria gained revenge when defeating Stratus at Survivor Series 2002 in a hardcore match.

Stratus won the Hardcore Championship from Crash Holly, on May 6, before losing it the same night to Stevie Richards. Stratus also became WWE's most popular Diva, gracing the cover of WWE Divas 2002 swimsuit magazine (in which Lita graced the cover the year before), and also winning the Woman of the Year achievement award as voted by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine. In the brand extension between RAW and SmackDown!, Stratus was drafted to RAW.

 2005

Stratus defeated Lita to win her sixth Women's Championship on January 9 at New Year's Revolution 2005 with Lita tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in the course of the match, when Stratus failed to properly catch Lita, when Lita attempted a diving Thesz Press from the apron to the floor. This resulted in Lita being put on the shelf for well over a year, and subsequently Stratus became a six time champion and would go on to hold the title for well over a year.

Stratus went on to feud with 2004 RAW Diva Search winner Christy Hemme, (who, incidentally, was trained on-screen by the injured Lita) retaining her title in a poor bout with Hemme at WrestleMania 21. Stratus and the injured Lita feuded throughout April 2005, with Viscera wrestling Lita's husband Kane on behalf of Stratus. In May 2005, Stratus was sidelined with a herniated disc; the storyline explanation for her shelving was that Viscera had injured her with a big splash after she berated him for losing to Kane. Stratus would take a leave of absence with the Women's Championship.

Stratus returned to WWE television in September, turning face once again by siding with Ashley Massaro against Vince's Devils. In the course of the feud, Stratus was saved from a beating at the hands of Victoria by the debuting Mickie James, who was quick to introduce herself as Stratus's "biggest fan". All six women took part in a "Fulfill Your Fantasy" Diva battle royal for the Women's Championship at Taboo Tuesday 2005, with Stratus retaining her title for a second consecutive year. The match ended when Mickie James sacrificed herself in order to eliminate Victoria, leaving Stratus the only woman standing.

On the November 14 Eddie Guerrero tribute show, Stratus took part in an interpromotional Diva battle royal that was won by SmackDown! Diva Melina. Following her victory, Melina challenged Stratus to a match for the Women's Championship. The two fought one another at the 2005 Survivor Series, with Stratus narrowly defeating Melina, once again with the assistance of Mickie James.

Stratus and James teamed together throughout late 2005, with James becoming increasingly obsessive. On the December 26 episode of RAW, James initiated an "intimate" kiss with Stratus under a sprig of mistletoe, causing a surprised Stratus to flee the locker room.

 2006

The unusual partnership between James and Stratus continued into 2006, with Stratus defeating James in a Women's Championship bout at New Year's Revolution 2006. Despite the defeat, James continued to be enamored of Stratus. Her fixation with Stratus led to a rivalry between James and Ashley Massaro, who dubbed the lovelorn James a "psycho". At the same time, James continued to pursue Stratus, on one occasion having her (kayfabe) date, Jack, arrested on false grounds.
Trish Stratus with a side headlock on Mickie James
Trish Stratus with a side headlock on Mickie James

In early March, Stratus confronted James, telling her that she needed space. The duo briefly reconciled on the March 18 Saturday Night's Main Event, teaming together to defeat Candice Michelle and Victoria. However, James turned on Stratus after the match, attacking her with a Mick Kick and the Stratusfaction. This Storyline was memorably lampooned by comedian Mario Rosenstock in a Gift Grub sketch on Today FM which also featured Mick McCarthy and was a parody of Stan by Eminem in which Mickie jumps of a cliff at the end. Mickie James said in an interview with Chris Moyles on BBC Radio 1 that she actually liked the impressions of herself and Trish. James won the Women's Championship at WrestleMania 22, where Stratus was heavily booed by the crowd.

Stratus and James engaged in mind games throughout April, with James dressing like Stratus (complete with dyed blonde hair) and vice-versa. On the April 17 episode of RAW, Stratus (dressed as James) brought a tied-up Jack to the ring, telling him that "the real Trish Stratus" would attempt to save him. A confused James chased Stratus from the ring, then attacked Jack for "betraying" her. The rivals fought one another for the Women's Championship at Backlash 2006, with Stratus winning by disqualification after James refused to relinquish a chokehold. In the course of the match, Stratus (legitimately) dislocated her right shoulder, which would require six weeks of rehabilitation. She continued to feud with James by proxy throughout May, bringing in and working with Beth Phoenix until Phoenix suffered a broken jaw.
Trish Stratus giving Mickie James a handshake after Stratus's final RAW match
Trish Stratus giving Mickie James a handshake after Stratus's final RAW match

Stratus returned to the ring in late June, where she started a (kayfabe) relationship with Carlito , and joined forces to take on Melina and Johnny Nitro. Their fued continued to Saturday Night's Main Event, where they were victorious against Nitro and Melina in a mixed tag team match. In August, Stratus and Carlito began feuding with Edge and Lita. In late August, Lita stated that Stratus would retire following their singles bout at Unforgiven; this was later confirmed by Stratus. Stratus wrestled her final RAW match on September 11 in Madison Square Garden, defeating Mickie James, whom she hugged following the match. At Unforgiven, in her home town of Toronto, Stratus defeated Lita by using fellow Canadian Bret Hart's signature submission maneuver, the Sharpshooter, to win a record seventh Women's Championship.
 In wrestling

    * Finishing and signature moves

        * Stratusfaction (Springboard bulldog)
        * Chick Kick (Roundhouse kick)
        * Bulldog
        * Air Canada (Lou Thesz press with punches)
        * MaTrish (Bridging evasion)
        * MaTrish Reloaded / Whirlybird Headscissors (Handstand swinging headscissors)
        * StratusFear (Handstand frankensteiner) [3]
        * Stratus Splash (Stinger splash) [3]
        * Backhand chop (preceeded by licking the palm of her hand)
        * Combination headlock takeover and headscissors takedown on two opponents
        * Victory roll
        * Bicycle kick
        * Spinebuster


    * Wrestlers managed

        * Albert
        * Ashley
        * Big Show
        * Kurt Angle
        * Mickie James
        * Carlito
        * Christian
        * Bubba Ray Dudley
        * Jeff Hardy
        * Chris Jericho
        * Beth Phoenix
        * Test
        * Tyson Tomko
        * Val Venis

 Championships and accomplishments

    * FIGHTING SPIRIT magazine

        * Double X Award 2006
        * Three Degrees Award 2006

    * Pro Wrestling Illustrated

        * Woman of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)

    * World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

        * WWE Women's Championship (7 times)
        * WWE Hardcore Championship (1 time)
        * WWE Babe of the Year (2001, 2002, 2003)

    * Wrestling Observer Newsletter

        * Worst Worked Match of the Year (2002, with JBL vs. Christopher Nowinski and Miss Jackie

 Personal life

Stratus's parents are named John and Allison, and she has two younger sisters: Christie and Melissa.

Trish has repeatedly been asked to pose nude for Playboy, but has turned every offer down. According to Stratus, "I've always been a fan of leaving things to the imagination. Playboy is not really something I'm interested in. If people want to see a sexy image of me, I think I can still give it to them (without taking my clothes off)" [4].

On September 30, 2006 Stratus married her high school sweetheart and boyfriend of 14 years Ron Fisco, with many members of the past and current WWE roster present. Stratus is also friends with model/actress and fellow York University alumnus Victoria Pratt. Her custom wedding dress was featured on the cover of Today's Bride Magazine. Trish resides in Richmond Hill, Ontario with her husband. Her newly renovated home aired on an episode of Entertainment Tonight Canada, as the Canadian Design show Designer Guys renovated her bedroom as a wedding present to her husband [5].