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Trish Stratus

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Trish Stratus
Born (1975-12-18) December 18, 1975 (age 49)
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Trish Stratus
Billed height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Billed weight125 lb (57 kg)
Billed fromToronto, Ontario
Trained byRon Hutchinson,
Nora Greenwald,
Dave Finlay
DebutMarch 19, 2000
RetiredSeptember 17, 2006

Patricia Anne Stratigias (born December 18, 1975), better known by the stage and ring name Trish Stratus, 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 Women's Championship. [1]

Stratus is marketed as the first woman in WWE history to have held the WWE Women's Championship seven times, three more than the four title reigns of The Fabulous Moolah and Lita recognized by WWE. [2]

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.

Education and modelling career

Stratigias was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1997, she was a student at York University in Toronto, working towards a B.Sc. in Biology and Kinesiology with the intention of applying to medical school. During the winter of 1997, the faculty association engaged in a strike action that lasted for over two months at the end of second semester. Stratigias was forced to find work while waiting out the labour dispute. After accepting a job at a local gym, she found herself responding to the urging of her peers there to become a fitness model for Muscle Magazine.

Professional wrestling career

Around this time, Stratus co-hosted a Canadian professional wrestling talk show called Live Audio Wrestling with "Big Daddy" Donnie Abreu and "Gentleman" Jeff Marek. This caught the attention of the WWF, whose 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 idolized 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 and 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, The Kat 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.

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.

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 took down Wilson and Keibler in the first ever tag team Bra and Panties Match with Mick Foley as the guest referee. The following night on Raw, however, Stratus suffered an injury in her "Paddle on a Pole" match against 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.

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.

Stratus then started her feud with Molly Holly, where Molly beat Stratus for the title at the 2002 King of the Ring event. However, just like with Jazz, three months later, Stratus won the title back at the 2002 Unforgiven pay per view.

When Victoria debuted in the 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.

2003

As 2003 progressed in the WWE, so did the skills the divas possessed in the ring. The term diva lent more on aggressiveness and assertiveness rather than beauty and looks. This was all too apparent as Stratus went up against matches more based on ring skill than beauty alone. After a bitter rivalry with Victoria, which pitted Stratus in several hardcore matches, Stratus was met with a bitter nemesis from the past, Jazz. Now Stratus was up against two women who had a bitter hate for the Toronto beauty that would culminate at WrestleMania XIX in a triple threat match for the WWE Women's Championship.

At WrestleMania XIX on March 30, Stratus won her fourth WWE Women's Championship in a triple threat match against Victoria and Jazz. Despite losing her title back to Jazz the following month, Stratus stayed in the hunt for another championship. Stratus was engaged in a heated feud with newcomer Gail Kim, who gained the Women's Championship on her first televised WWE match, by winning a battle royal. A miscommunication between Stratus and Kim during a tag team match on RAW (in which Stratus misfired a Chick kick and accidentally nailed her partner) left Kim embittered.

Two weeks later, the now former Champion Kim, who lost the title to Molly Holly the previous week, appeared to be saving Stratus from a two-on-one assault by Molly and Victoria. Kim helped Stratus to her feet before viciously clotheslining her to the mat. Soon, Molly approached Kim with the idea of forever ending Stratus's wrestling career, and for a time, it seemed as though it would happen. Thanks to an assist from the returning Lita, however, it would be Stratus who gained the last laugh.

October 2003 would mark the beginning of what would be Stratus's most emotional WWE saga; the triangle between Stratus, Chris Jericho, and Christian. One night on RAW, as Stratus was being attacked by Victoria and Steven Richards, Jericho inexplicably rushed the ring and warded off the attackers. Even Stratus seemed dumbfounded initially. Soon, however, Stratus started to slowly warm up to Jericho, seeing a side of him that many fans and fellow competitors did not see very often. One which apparently showed warmth, caring, and compassion. Stratus and Jericho appeared smitten with each other. At the same time, Jericho's friend and tag team partner Christian was courting Stratus's close friend Lita. To many fans, neither courtship looked to be on the up and up. As it turned out, they were anything but. On the December 1 RAW, Jericho and Christian were overheard in the locker room mocking Stratus' and Lita's affections, and revealed a bet the two of them had with one another (for one Canadian dollar) to see which man could sleep with their chosen Diva first. Stratus, who was to present Jericho with a handmade Canadian ice hockey jersey as a gift, heard every word and every laugh from outside the dressing room, and it brought her to tears.

The following week, Stratus and Lita confronted and assaulted Jericho and Christian in front of a nationwide viewing audience on RAW, leading to a "battle of the sexes" tag team match held at Armageddon on December 14. While Christian seemed to take pride in beating down his female opponents, Jericho seemed to want no part of it. Apparently, Jericho was starting to develop true feelings for Stratus, and was having a difficult time going through with the match before him. Stratus seemed to take a lot more pleasure in beating down Jericho than Jericho had in facing her in a match. Soon, it became obvious that Jericho was feeling an enormous amount of guilt for initiating the Canadian dollar bet.

At first, Stratus was unwilling to show Jericho any forgiveness, but appeared to accept his apologies enough to at least accept him as a friend. Meanwhile, Christian appeared to be harboring jealousy, accusing Stratus of driving a wedge into his partnership with Jericho and labeling her "Yoko Ono." But soon, Christian also appeared to have something of a change of heart, albeit a very condescending one. To the face of Jericho, he was very accepting of his feelings for Stratus...but to Stratus's face, Christian seemed to be courting her affections.

2004

It looked like everything became crystal clear on the February 23 RAW, when Christian was booked to face Stratus in a one-on-one match. In the dressing room prior to the contest, Christian (feigning friendship with Stratus) promised her he would allow her to pin him. In the ring, however, Christian instead plowed Stratus down with a clothesline, and locked her in Jericho's submission hold, the Walls of Jericho. Stratus was taken out of action for several weeks with injuries, and Christian gloated over his actions. A match was soon signed for WrestleMania XX on March 14, in Madison Square Garden, pitting Chris Jericho against his former best friend, Christian.

It appeared this long and intense storyline would reach its conclusion at WrestleMania. Unbeknown to the fans in attendance, it was only just getting warmed up. Stratus surged toward the ring late in the match, appearing to be firmly in Jericho's corner. Christian, apparently disgusted by Stratus' presence, pulled her violently into the ring and attempted to attack her. Jericho made the save, but when he leaned down to assist his fallen friend, Stratus thrust forth an elbow, apparently believing that it was Christian. Her elbow jabbed Jericho's temple, and Christian scored a roll up pin for the three count. After the match, Stratus appeared to be all apologies, but as she and Jericho argued in the ring, Christian came running back down the aisle, to seemingly get his hands on Stratus in a violent and hateful manner once again. As Jericho tried to hold her back, the fans witnessed the turn of Stratus.

Stratus suddenly reared back and throttled Jericho with two vicious slaps to the face, which Christian followed with the Un-Prettier. Christian and Stratus walked away holding hands, mocking their former friend who sat in the ring looking on with an expression of disbelief. Before they departed, Christian grabbed Stratus's hair, pulled her to his lips, and passionately kissed his new girlfriend.

The following night on RAW, after the two squashed Spike Dudley in an unprovoked attack, Stratus revealed on how she had never forgiven Jericho for the Canadian dollar bet, how her feelings of sadness and hurt ate away at her for months as she plotted her ultimate revenge. She also revealed to the fans how much she "likes it rough." She ended the promo by proclaiming to Jericho and to the world, "You can't get no...Stratusfaction."

The Stratus/Christian union continued for several more months, and even saw the addition of a "problem solver" to their mix, the hulking Tyson Tomko. As the Jericho/Christian feud reached its conclusion, Stratus refocused herself on the Women's Championship. At Bad Blood on June 13, Stratus won the Women's Championship in a Fatal Four Way. Lita appeared to have victory at hand following a DDT to Gail Kim, but Stratus moved in for the kill, rolling up Lita from behind for the win and the title. This win was historic for Stratus, as she became the first-ever five time WWE Women's Champion. Stratus began a much more aggressive mat style. She held the title for the next six months, fending off all challenges and even tying the record for the fastest match in wrestling history, pinning Nidia in just three seconds on the July 5 edition of RAW. One notable feud in her 2004 title run was with Christy Hemme when Jonathan Coachman was about to announce the winner of the first Diva Search Contest, and Stratus's music hit and she came out wearing a short blue dress. She warned the eventual Diva Search winner that she would be hazing them as part of an "initiation party" next week on RAW.

Finally, after taunting Lita for months over her kayfabe marriage to Kane and the loss of her baby, Stratus defended her title against Lita at Survivor Series on November 14. Lita attacked her opponent, smashing Stratus with a steel chair and driving her into the ring steps, breaking her nose. Stratus did win the match by disqualification, but several weeks later, Chris Jericho, in his capacity as General Manager for the evening, booked Stratus for another title defence against Lita on the December 6 edition of RAW. Lita kept her composure and hit Stratus with a Reverse Twist of Fate and a moonsault to win the championship.

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 subsquently 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, incidentaly, 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. 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. 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.

File:Trishmickie.jpg
Trish Stratus giving Mickie James a handshake after their match

Stratus returned to the ring in late June, joining forces with Carlito against Melina and Johnny Nitro. In August, Stratus and Carlito, by then an onscreen couple, 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. Upon her "official" retirement the next day, the title became vacant with plans to be awarded to the winner of the championship tournament taking place the next month at Cyber Sunday 2006.

Post-WWE

Stratus will star alongside Erik Estrada, Jack Osbourne, Jason Acuna (Weeman), and La Toya Jackson in an upcoming reality show set in Muncie, Indiana. The show titled 'Armed and Famous' which is set to air on CBS, has become somewhat of a controversy in the community of Muncie as some of its residence are in fear that the celebrities and the producer of the show, Tom Forman, are out to exploit them and embarrass them for the sake of ratings by filming them against their will. The Mayor of the city, Dan Canan, agreed to the shows presence claiming national publicity will increase the liklihood of future investors getting to know the city through its police department. The celebrities, supposedly trained as rookie police officers, will have actual police powers and will be involved in doing routine traffic stops and will respond to emergency calls.

Trish showed up at the IPW indy event in Muncie, Indiana, on December 15th 2006. Stratus was originally scheduled to be a guest referee in the Mr. Smiley vs. Doctor Love main event, but was unable to because she was on duty (being a police officer for the reality series) and could not remove her gun holster. However, she did enforce from ringside, as well as punching Doctor Love's manager, Justin Tyme, in the face... where he henceforth landed in the casket that was ringside.

In wrestling

Finishing and signature moves

  • Wrestlers managed by Stratus

Championships and accomplishments

Personal life

Stratus's parents are named John and Alice, and she has two younger sisters: Christie and Melissa. [5]

Stratus married her high school sweetheart and boyfriend of 14 years, Ron Fisco, on September 30 2006 with numerous past and present members of the WWE roster in attendance. [6] Her custom wedding dress was featured on the cover of Today's Bride Magazine [7].

Trivia

[original research?]

  • Stratus holds the record for shortest Women's title defense on July 5 2004. The match pitted Stratus against Nidia and lasted only 3 seconds.
  • Stratus is missing a knuckle on her right hand. She is also missing a tooth in the bottom left hand side of her mouth. Both considered "war wounds" by Stratus during previous in-ring matches.
  • She was not pinned in the year 2005.

References

  1. ^ Baines, Tim "Stratusfaction comes to an end", Ottawa Sun
  2. ^ History of the Women's Championship
  3. ^ Survivor Series Report
  4. ^ Unforgiven Report
  5. ^ Profile
  6. ^ Maria attends Trish's wedding
  7. ^ Keep an eye out for...
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