trish stratus: down, but not out

Down, but not out

Trish Stratus may have suffered an injury at Backlash, but that doesn’t mean the delicious Diva will be disappearing from your television screen.

Luckily for Trish, her shoulder injury wasn’t as severe as it could have been. “There was a dislocation, but there was thankfully no ligament or tendon damage,” Trish told me over the phone. “There’s a hairline fracture in there, which I have to let heal, but I’m not in all that much pain anymore.”

Trish practices yoga regularly, and she cited that as one of the things that helped keep the severity of the injury down. “The doctors told me that because I was so flexible thanks to yoga, it kept anything from tearing right off the bone, which is the major concern in any dislocation.”

In fact, Trish told me that yoga will be a major part of her rehab. “I went to yoga twice last week and it really helped. Luckily, I was able to do pretty much everything I normally do. I don’t have anything specific to do to rehab my shoulder, other than trying to keep the flexibility and range of motion where it should be.”

Last week, Trish cost Mickie James a tag team match, and she was in Maria’s corner this past Monday night for a match with the Women’s Champion. “Just because I’m injured doesn’t mean you won’t see me,” Trish told me. “I think the fans will still get some Stratusfaction every Monday night!”

If you still can’t get enough Trish, then her “Evolution of a Diva” subsection on WWE.com should help your appetite. But what does Trish think about being profiled? “I think it’s great. I’m totally honored, and it’s enlightening to go back and see my evolution. Sometimes, you tend to forget everything you’ve done over the years, and it’s brought back a lot of memories. I saw that WWE.com did a subsection on Triple H as well; so if he’s the King of Kings, I guess that means I’m the Queen of Queens ?”

trish stratus: growing pains

Growing Pains

This week on RAW, Trish Stratus returned to action after missing nearly two months thanks to a dislocated shoulder. While the initial diagnosis was six weeks of rehab, Trish told WWE.com in an exclusive interview that an injury concurrent with the dislocation cost her couple extra weeks of rehab time.

“There was a small fracture of the humerus that needed to heal, so I had to wait on that,” she said, “but that’s now finally healed and I’ve been hitting rehab pretty hard trying to get my strength back. Luckily I have 100 percent mobility in the shoulder, so it’s just a matter of strengthening it. I’ll be back in tip-top shape in no-time, once again delivering Stratusfaction in the ring.”

While Trish was out, she brought Beth Phoenix to RAW to help her combat Mickie James. Unfortunately, Beth suffered a broken jaw during a match against Victoria , and she will be out of action for a couple months while that injury heals. It was just another in a line of injuries surrounding those that oppose the Women’s Champion; with Ashley breaking her leg, Trish dislocating her shoulder and now Beth breaking her jaw, one has to wonder if maybe there’s some sort of curse surrounding Mickie James.

“Let’s just say that I pity that woman’s love life,” Trish joked. “But you know, maybe in my time off I’ve done a little spell reversing…and maybe she’s going to get injured in my path.”

Hey, if the Boston Red Sox were able to “reverse the curse” in 2004, don’t count out Trish’s chances to do the same.

While she was out, however, Trish got to become part of WWE Shop’s newest line of merchandise: Superstar growth charts. Just about everyone I knew had one as a kid; mine was a poster of Michael Jordan, but I still haven’t quite gotten to 6 foot 6 after all these years. However, today’s youth can now grow up trying to top some of the most recognized WWE Superstars.

Trish is the only WWE Diva making an appearance, joining Carlito, John Cena and Triple H in the initial wave of four. Naturally, Trish was very excited about the new piece of merchandise.

“I think it’s very cool,” she said. “And looking at Carlito’s, I was surprised to see that I’m only about six inches shorter then he is,” she added with a chuckle.

And of course, being the only Diva in the bunch makes it even more special for Trish. “It’s pretty special to have that honor,” she beamed, “and hopefully there will be a number of young and aspiring Divas who try to measure up to Trish Stratus using the growth chart.”

But the growth chart may not be all the new Trish merchandise you see in the future.

“I wear armbands a lot, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I had the Let’s Do It! logo from my new t-shirt put onto an armband,” Trish said. “Armbands are one of my favorite accessories, and in fact, I’m wearing one on the new growth chart. I think some Trish Stratus armbands would be very Stratus-fying for the fans!”

If there is one negative about her new growth chart, it’s that looking at it while rehabbing reminds Trish of the many injuries she’s suffered throughout her career. Regardless, she has taken a licking and keeps on ticking.

“I’ve broken my nose three times, blackened my eye, busted my lip and cracked some teeth…and that’s just my head,” she joked. “I’ve dislocated, separated and torn the labrum in my shoulder, had two herniated discs in my back, broken my right ankle and many toes, the list goes on.” And of course, she later added with a smile that “I’ve had many broken nails and pieces of hair torn out. It’s all part of being a Diva!”

With that laundry list of maladies to her…credit, Trish says that the herniated discs were the hardest to come back from.

“I had to question my future with that, because I couldn’t even sit for more than 45 minutes at a time,” she recalled. “It wasn’t about being in the ring, I couldn’t even travel because of that. It was a little frustrating, because I had two months of physical therapy and it didn’t seem to get better.”

Luckily for Trish, she was able to turn that negative into a positive.

“I look at (the injury) as a pivotal point in my life because that’s when I found yoga,” she said. “It completely healed my back, and I’ve continued practicing yoga for about a year now. It’s completely changed my mind and my body, and I believe I’m more agile than ever now.”

Trish also attributes yoga to helping stem the severity of her most recent injury. “I should have torn something in there, which is what usually happens with dislocations,” Trish stated, “but I think the yoga helped keep that injury to a minimum and helped me heal quicker.”

Of course, now that she’s recovered from her latest setback, Trish says it’s all just part of the job.

“It’s like one of those commercials. You can list all of my injuries, but being a six-time Women’s Champion is priceless,” she said with a laugh. With an attitude like that, it may only be a matter of time before reign number seven begins for Trish Stratus.

trish stratus: divas dish on trish

Divas Dish on Trish

The recent news that Trish Stratus will retire on September 17 following Unforgiven sent shockwaves resonating throughout arenas and television sets across the nation, surprising even Trish herself as Lita broke the story on WWE.com before the six-time Women’s’ Champion could make the announcement herself. Trish will get one last chance at the Women’s Championship when she challenges Lita at Unforgive, and while Lita is determined to rain on Trish’s hometown retirement party, most everyone else will be sad to see Trish go.

The announcement caught some of the Divas by surprise. Candice told WWE.com that she was shocked to hear the announcement that Trish was hanging up the boots after such a long run of consistent success in WWE.

“I was really surprised. She’s at the top of her game, and I guess she’s just leaving on a good note. In her mind, it’s her time to retire, and I’m just happy for her.”

Candice’s fellow Divas experienced a marked sadness over the departure of the WWE women’s icon. Last year’s Diva Search winner, Ashley, told WWE.com that she looked at Trish as a mentor.

“I was really upset when I found out Trish is retiring. She has obviously been a very good friend to me. She was the first one to take me under her wing, she was my first tag partner, she taught me a lot and I was really upset when I found out. I’m not gonna lie, I really felt it,” a choked-up Ashley remarked.

Mickie James, who rose to prominence as a Diva by attempting to emulate all things Trish Stratus, was also especially upset to learn about her idol’s retirement.

“When [Trish] started on WWE, I was actually starting on the independent level, so watching her grow as a performer at the same time as I was doing it in a much smaller league was really cool. Just to see how far she had come in all that time, it was truly amazing,” she said.

Mickie went on to have more than a few battles with Trish, which only served to increase her admiration.

“I think that she is a wonderful athlete and competitor and she is truly someone to be admired for the women in this business. I’m going to miss her dearly,” Mickie remarked.

Candice shared similar sentiments.

“I’m just glad to have had the opportunity to work with her and get a chance to touch Trish in the ring,” the Diva said.

While Mickie and Candice spent many hours training and grappling with Trish in the ring, Melina’s sadness over Trish’s retirement stems from the fact that she was not able to work with Trish in the same way during her still young WWE career.

“It makes me really sad that I do not have the chance to be able to work with her the way other people have. For me, she represents so much, and to be able to work with her and to be around her, that means a lot to me because of how I feel about this business and how I feel about her personally. She’s a great person and I really wish she was able to stick around just a little bit longer,” Melina said.

Whether they experienced shock, anger or sadness upon hearing the news of Trish’s upcoming retirement, the common denominators in all of the Divas’ reflections on Trish Stratus were respect and admiration. Not a single Diva let her interview end without fondly remembering how Trish had taught her the intricacies of the WWE lifestyle and helped her grow into the Superstar Diva she has or hopes to become.

Said Ashley, “I don’t think I would be where I am right now or where I got to on RAW if it wasn’t for her. [Trish is] the pinnacle of what I think all of us want to do in this business, and that’s work hard, get to the top.”

Candice agreed, and reminisced over the lessons she has learned from Trish.

“She’s been so caring and taken me in. Explaining things to me, how so many things work – how to put on three bras and top-stick. I never listened to that, of course, but at least she taught me how to do it!”

There may not be a more respected individual in WWE than Trish Stratus, a sentiment summed up perfectly by her long-time friend and rival, Mickie James.

“It’s going to be sad to see her go, but if this is what she wants, then I respect that.”

trish stratus: coming full circle

Coming Full Circle

The last time the World Series was in Toronto , the hometown Blue Jays gave the Canadian fans a moment they would never forget. With Toronto ahead 3 games to 2 in the series but behind 6-5 in the game, Joe Carter strode to the plate in the bottom of the 9th inning and crushed a two-strike pitch just over the left field fence, giving the Blue Jays an 8-5 victory and their second consecutive World Series crown in about the most dramatic fashion north of Broadway.

Toronto fans haven’t had much to cheer about since then, but when Unforgiven rolls into town on Sunday, the WWE faithful will be looking to another hometown favorite to provide some world class heroics as Trish Stratus strides to the ring in the bottom of the 9th inning of her storied career. Sunday’s pay-per-view will be Trish’s last match, and if she defeats WWE Women’s Champion Lita, she will retire with a record seventh Women’s Championship.

“They say that seven is a lucky number,” Trish kidded.

Current Women’s Champion Lita is not quite as amused. She wants to remind everyone what another Toronto local – her Rated R partner in crime Edge – did to John Cena in his hometown at SummerSlam by defeating Trish in her hometown at Unforgiven.

“I know that she’s gonna be on her A-game and be there to impress all her fans for the last time, so I better bring it as well – and I’m ready to,” Lita assured WWE.com.

Trish and Lita have had as bitter a rivalry as any in WWE throughout Trish’s decorated tenure as a WWE Diva. The two have clashed many times, and it is only fitting that Trish’s final match will come against the same opponent that she faced in her first. For Trish, her hometown retirement party at Unforgiven is as much about looking back as it is about moving on.

“I think back to the time when I really got rolling – when the Women’s Championship was brought back in 2001 and I became champion for the first time – and it seems like it would just be coming full circle if I was to go out with it,” Trish reflected.

The fact that the match will occur in Trish’s hometown adds an extra special intangible, as every single WWE fan in attendance will likely be pulling for Toronto ’s favorite daughter. Lita told WWE.com that she expects the fans to be on her side, and that their unwavering support for Trish will not throw her off her game.

“I know that’s how it’s gonna be, and that’s fine. Go for it,” she dared the WWE fans.

Trish won’t have to worry about going up against those fans, but she is still worried about how they will react. Trish has built her reputation on giving everything she has for the fans that have showed her so much adoration, and Sunday’s pay-per-view is still about them for the six-time Women’s Champion.

As always, for Trish, the most important thing about Sunday’s match is “Leaving my fans Stratus-fied.”

trish stratus: short & sweet

Short & Sweet

Retirements in sports are often short lived. Many times they're so short you'd never know there was a retirement and a comeback if you were on vacation.

That is doubly true in professional wrestling, where no retirement would truly be complete without a triumphant comeback or two -- or in Terry Funk's case 71.

So you'll have to forgive me for being a little skeptical when I heard that Trish Stratus, the WWE's most popular "Diva," was retiring this Sunday after her match against WWE women's champion Lita at the Unforgiven pay-per-view show in her hometown of Toronto.

I've always had a soft spot for Trish. Try for a moment to look past her amazing physique (I know, just try) and she's one of the most down-to-earth performers in any sport. She's a self described "tomboy," who loves talking hockey and has no problem planting a wet one on Pamela Anderson if the mood strikes her. In fact, she's one of the few WWE Divas who's turned down offers to pose in Playboy. Not necessarily for moral reasons, but she simply doesn't think she's "sexy."

"It's not my stye, that whole sexy thing is not me," she says. "I'm totally a tomboy. If you think I'm sexy that's fine, I guess that's your own thought."

OK, Trish, I guess I'm in the minority.

"No really, It's not my style at all," she says. "I actually kind of like the mystery. I don't want to be remembered as the chick who posed for Playboy. I want to be remembered for what I did in the ring."

As one of the most popular female performers in WWE history, that's certainly not going to be a problem. Most fans, however, never expected that they'd have to reminisce about her career less than seven years into it. Stratus included. She never really thought about retirement until recently as her contract has come up around the same time as her wedding at the end of the month. It wasn't until then that she realized there were more important things in her life than being body slammed night in and night out.

"It's been almost seven years and my contract renewal came up and it kind of just hit me, where am I at in life? Do I want to be here for another 3-5 years?" she said. "I've spent the past 10 years of my life on the road working. I just thought it was time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy life a little bit and enjoy the fruits of my labor. There are also a lot of things going on in my life; stuff that I had to deal with. Little things, like I'm ready to plan a wedding and be a bride and I'd like to be involved with the planning and my nephew always asks me when I'm going to go see his hockey games and I want to be able to do things like that."

It's always a difficult moment when an athlete decides to call it a career, and Stratus has let her emotions fly a few times, especially during her final appearance on Raw on Monday, but she has no idea what will happen when she steps through the ropes at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday night.

"Oh, I don't even want to think about it now," she says, taking a deep breath. "I'm not sure how I'll react."

Although Stratus is looking forward to marrying her high school sweetheart in a couple weeks and enjoying some "me time," she'll be the first one to admit that she may not be able to overcome that itch to return that so many of her predecessors have scratched shortly after hanging up their boots.

"I'll probably feel it on Monday night," she says. "I'll always watch it and I'll always follow it so who knows what will happen?"

trish stratus: the real story

The Real Story

Trish Stratus is retiring following Unforgiven on Sept. 17; that much has been known. What was unknown, however, is exactly what has been running through Trish’s mind about her retirement. Until now, Trish had not had a chance to address the issue to her fans for various reasons, leaving everyone wondering just why she would seemingly walk away while in the prime of her career.

When a very emotional Trish contacted WWE.com on Tuesday night, she was finally able for the first time to verbalize her thoughts about her final days in the ring…and that was not an easy task at all.

Trish was unable to narrow down specific reasons for her decision to retire, instead saying that it was just time for a break.

“I’ve worked hard, and when you combine WWE and my prior fitness modeling, the last decade of my life has been lived on the road...traveling, being away from home and just working,” Trish told me. “I’ve done all of my growing up…I’ve become a woman on the road. I just felt that it was time to step back and enjoy the fruit of my labor, take time to stop and smell the roses so to speak.”

Trish’s WWE contract is set to expire soon, and she admitted that the thought of taking time off really didn’t hit her until it was time to think about signing a new one.

“It kind of just occurred to me when my contract came due; I had to stop and say wait, let me think about the rest of my life and what I want to do tomorrow,” Trish admitted. “I just decided that right now I need a little me time.”

For any athlete, the decision to retire is never an easy one. The other athletes in the locker room become almost an extension of your own family, and it’s like leaving behind a brother (or sister) hood. But for Trish, the hardest thing about leaving WWE won’t be based on what’s already happened in her career, but what lies ahead.

“The hardest part of this decision is that this is all I’ve known for the past seven years; my everyday life and everything that is my existence is going to change,” she revealed.

In recent years, Trish has branched out into other avenues; she has appeared on MadTV, and just this past summer, she hosted the Canadian Walk of Fame ceremony. And while she may have the time to pursue more of those interests, the quintessential Diva maintains that the thought of such activity has nothing to do with her retirement.

“My decision to leave was purely to take care of me time,” she said. “Those other things are fun and I enjoy the challenge, but I’m really looking forward to just getting up in the morning, having breakfast at home, enjoying a family barbecue or going to my nephew’s hockey games.”

In her career, Trish has arguably becomes the most heralded Diva in WWE history, and acknowledges that she couldn’t have gotten there without her fans. But when given the open forum to say goodbye, Trish was really at a loss for words.

“I guess all I can say is thank you…it’s so crazy to me, for the last seven years the fans have grown up with me and watched me mature into what I am today. It’s kind of a unique scenario, where they were with me for every step up the mountain…”

At this point in the interview, Trish became very emotional, needing to take a moment to compose her feelings and her thoughts.

“They’ve been with me for the entire ride…”

Again, Trish had to stop, as the emotion of the moment truly overcame her. In fact, it took a little trick out of the movie Austin Powers to help her compose herself; if anything will help you laugh, it’s the thought of Austin thinking of Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day. After repeating that line to herself a few times, Trish was able to laugh and regain her composure.

“The fans have watched me develop and grow as a person and a performer, and I couldn’t have done it without their support.”

As Trish continued, she confided in me that this was in fact the first time she really had to think about saying goodbye.

“Every week, I wanted to go out and give them everything I had. I always wanted to prove myself to them…but I always also wanted to prove to my fellow Superstars that I could do what they do.”

As much as the fans have helped her become the quintessential Diva, there are other people that Trish cited as instrumental in her journey.

“Dave (Finlay)…he took me under his wing, and I guess as he would say he brought out the fighter in me. And Vince McMahon, for giving me the opportunity…”

Once again, Trish needed to pause to collect herself, as she was overwhelmed with the magnitude of the moment.

“Vince gave me the ball, and I just wanted to keep running with it. I don’t know if I even want to put that ball down now; I just want to take it with me.”

Taking a moment to look back on it all, Trish still can’t believe just how far she has come in her WWE career.

“I would’ve never imagined the success or the encounters I’ve had over the years. I always knew that I was athletic and capable; it just took someone to bring it out of me. Working with women like Jazz, Molly Holly, Victoria , Ivory and Jacquelyn…we brought something out in each other that allowed us to really redefine what a Diva is today.”

After taking another moment, Trish said that in everything she’s done in her career (good or bad), she’s taken something from it to help make her what she is today.

“Coming in as part of T&A was the perfect place for me to get in, and then working with Vince, I learned so much…having to prove to my boss literally standing right by his side in the middle of the ring that I was good enough to be in that spot...I’ve worked with The Rock, Kurt Angle, Bubba (Ray Dudley), and those are incomparable scenarios that made me who I am today. So when the day finally came to take those experiences and grow into Trish Stratus…every day when I go out there I still think about those people.”

With that, Trish was reminded of some words of wisdom she gave during her very first WWE Interview years ago:

“If I’m given two minutes, I’m going to give the best damn two minutes I’ve got.”

She has one last chance to do that at Unforgiven. In her final match, Trish will meet the one woman her career has always seemed intertwined with, Lita, for the Women’s Championship. And of course, Trish believes there’s no more fitting way to go out.

“No matter where my final match took place, it would always be special…but if this were a fairy tale, the writer couldn’t come up with a better scenario. My family, my friends…I couldn’t ask for a more perfect scenario. To survive and prosper in this industry, all the sacrifices, you have to have the support of the people closest to you, and to go out in front of the people who always supported me is fitting for the moment.”

It’s also fitting that her final opponent will be Lita. Both Divas made their WWE debut around the same time, and since their first encounter in 2000 they’ve had a roller coaster relationship. Lita has undoubtedly been Trish’s most heated rivalry, and it’s arguably one of the most intense we’ve seen in the last few years.

“Our careers have paralleled since we came in…going out, there wouldn’t be another ass I’d like to whoop as much as I’d like to whoop her ass at Unforgiven. She and I in the ring standing face to face just tells the story, and so much more will unfold at Unforgiven. It would be my honor to go out by whooping her ass one more time.”

And if that does happen, Trish will extend her record by becoming a seven-time Women’s Champion. For the quintessential Diva, that would be the icing on the cake, and it’s a thought that choked her up instantly.

“Like I said, you couldn’t write a better fairy tale ending. It would be a dream to go out on top, so I hope it comes true. After all I’ve done…the beginning of everything that I am today was when I won the Women’s Championship for the first time at Survivor Series 2001. I began to grow when I won it the first time, and to go out as champion again, it would be like coming full circle.”

As far as a legacy goes, Trish believes that her fans watching her evolution into the Trish Stratus of today is more of a legacy than any one moment.

“My journey to where I am today has been a great one, and I can’t think of a more unique scenario where the fans have seen all my efforts and progress…my evolution as a Diva.”

In the movie A League of Their Own, there is a scene near the end where Lori Petty’s character (Kit) is trying to convince Geena Davis’ character (Dottie) not to walk away from baseball. Kit tells Dottie that she’ll miss it too much, to which Dottie replies:

“Miss what? Catching doubleheaders in 100 degree heat? Pushing the bus through the mud? Having batter hit line drives at me? No, I’ll tell you what I’ll miss. I’ll miss the fans. I’ll miss the girls. I’ll miss you, Kit.”

The above paragraph could easily sum up the life of a sports-entertainer. When it’s time to walk away, it’s a tough moment. Trish Stratus may never miss the bumps and bruises, the long hours of traveling and the injuries that come with the territory of being a WWE Superstar. But the fans, the friends she’s made a long the way…those are the true blessings.

In sports and entertainment in general, the word “retirement” is very rarely ever final. Players return from injury or hiatus, Hall of Famers come back for “one more match” and actors will always find that one last role. So with that said, Trish made it clear that while she is retiring right now, that doesn’t necessarily mean WWE has seen the last of the six-time Women’s Champion.

“My career has been buoyed by the support of the fans…so whenever the fans feel like they need some more Stratusfaction, all they have to do is let me know. It’s just like the Bat signal…let me know, and I’ll be there.”

trish stratus: toronto diva stratus says goodbye to wwe

Toronto Diva Stratus Says Goodbye to WWE

TORONTO (CP) - With her World Wrestling Entertainment career in its final hours, Toronto native Trish Stratus rifled off a laundry list of things to do when she packs it in.

"I want to alphabetize my DVD collection," Stratus joked in a recent telephone interview. "My closet's a mess. And I think I want to take up gardening."

Stratus doesn't mind tackling such menial tasks after spending the past six and a half years as one of the WWE's most recognizable, not to mention attractive, faces. Her run with the company ends Sunday night at Unforgiven (available on pay-per-view), where she will face arch-nemesis Lita for the WWE Women's Championship.

At 30, Stratus remains in her physical prime. But years on the road have taken their toll on the blond beauty, the first woman in WWE history to hold the women's title on six different occasions.

"Looking back, I've been on the road for 10 years," said Stratus, who first considered leaving the business while recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in April. "In that time, I've missed girlfriends' weddings, births, everything. Even little things like having a barbecue with my nephews was so great."

Stratus' contract expires this month, and the timing couldn't be better: she's due to be wed Sept. 30, and retiring after Sunday's event allows her to say goodbye in front of her hometown fans.

"The fans have been remarkably supportive," said Stratus, whose real name is Patricia Anne Stratigias. "At the end of the day, they've really accepted my leaving. They've told me, 'whatever makes you happy.'

"I actually read one comment where a fan said she had followed me throughout my entire career. She asked, 'what do I do now?' It's pretty crazy to think of that."

Stratus' path to the WWE was even crazier. It began in 1997, when she was attending York University in Toronto , studying biology and kinesiology with hopes of becoming a doctor. A faculty strike that winter sent Stratus looking for work, and she found it at a local gym.

At the time, Stratus was also the co-host of the radio program Live Audio Wrestling, which caught the attention of the World Wrestling Federation, the WWE's previous name.

She began training with Ron Hutchinson, who was also responsible for the ascension of fellow Canadian wrestlers Adam "Edge" Copeland, the current WWE heavyweight champion, and Jay "Christian" Reso.

Two and a half years later, Stratus made her WWF debut as a manager. Soon after, she began in-ring action.

Stratus also serves as a fitness model, gracing the covers of major health and fitness magazines like Flare and Total Women's Fitness. But it's her time with the WWE that has galvanized her place as one of Canada 's most recognized personalities.

"There have been so many neat opportunities thanks to exposure with the WWE," said Stratus, who has repeatedly rebuffed overtures to pose for Playboy. "If I can conquer something, that's what is so appealing to me."

Stratus wasn't sure what to expect Sunday night, but she grasps the significance of finishing her career in Toronto, and has happily embraced her role as a Canadian wrestling icon.

"It's so special," said Stratus, who was given a standing ovation in her final appearance at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sept. 11. "Most people just have a hometown. I have a hometown that's the size of a country. Canadians are so proud and so supportive.

"When I was in MSG, the response was unbelievable. It made me so emotional. This is going to be even more so. I'm their girl. They're gonna show their love."

As with most WWE "retirements," Stratus wouldn't rule out the possibility of returning to the ring. "I wouldn't not consider it," said Stratus.

"WWE and the wrestling and the fans and performing, it's part of my blood. So never say never. We'll see."

trish stratus: stratusfaction comes to an end

Stratusfaction Comes to an End

When that catchy Lil' Kim ditty blasts out of the Air Canada Centre tonight, when Trish Stratus walks to the ring with thousands of cheering fans giving her a sendoff fit for the queen of the divas, she's bound to have a tear in her eye.

Whoa! It's time to rock n' roll, This time I'm in control.

There've been so many memories, so many highlights stuffed into a six-plus-year WWE career ... and this will be her final night. It's much more than a storyline. Trish is leaping out of her career and right into marriage ... in real life ... saying "yes" to her high-school sweetheart Ron on Sept. 30.

"Really, I'm trying not to think about it because I might burst into tears," says Patricia Anne Stratigias over the phone. "I'm happy, I'm sad and I'm anxious. Next time I retire, remind me not to get married at the same time.

"It's been such a crazy ride. These people became my second family. It's a textbook story with a fairytale ending."

And what a career it's been. She's a six-time women's champ and a Diva of the Decade, a blonde bombshell with beauty and brains ... and a girl whose ambition not so long ago was to be a doctor.

I'm ready to take a break," she says. "I've been on the road for the last 10 years of my life.

"I've missed going out to see my nephews' hockey games ... I've missed my girlfriends' weddings and the birth of their kids. I want to stop and smell the roses and enjoy life.

"I haven't had a chance to enjoy the process of being a bride yet. My fiance and I have been together for 14 years. He grew up with my cousins in East York . Then he moved to Richmond Hill and I met him on a school bus in Grade 8.

"We became best friends, then boyfriend and girlfriend when we were 17.

"I'm going to be a professional vacationer for awhile. I've been everywhere, but I haven't really seen anything. So we're going to start in Greece and end off (the honeymoon) with fish and chips in London ."

Trish says the wedding will be big: "I'm Greek, he's Italian." And among the guests will be diva buddies Lisa Moretti (Ivory) and Nora Greenwald (Molly Holly), who will soon embark on the KickAss for Gas: The Wedding Tour. The former WWE divas will embark on a drive of more than 2,000 miles in a Scamp camper, appearing at wrestling shows along the way.

Trish would love to leave the WWE on a high note tonight, with a win over Lita ... and her seventh women's championship.

"It's been a wonderful ride," she says. "There's not one moment I would change. And hopefully I can walk away from Sept. 17 and retire as a seven-time champion."

Trish will maintain her home-town roots by moving right around the corner from her mom in Richmond Hill .

trish stratus: trish stratus & hubby

Trish Stratus & Hubby

Long before she was posing for magazine covers as a fitness model, before she was a wrestling diva, before she was hosting CBC’s The Second City’s Next Comedy Legend (which just aired its first season), Trish Stratus was falling in love with her high school sweetheart, Ron.* Here’s what the former WWE vixen and her home builder hubby have to say about how they keep things interesting.

ON HOW THEY MET AND FELL IN LOVE:

Ron says… We’ve known each other since we were kids, but, of course, boys and girls at that age don’t really like each other. Then we met years down the road [in high school]…That’s when her sister and I became good friends. It’s kind of weird because I’d be calling the house for her sister and then I’d end up talking to Trish. It just progressed naturally from there.

Trish says…The summer of Grade 12 he said to me, “I can’t be friends with you anymore because the more I hang out with you, the more I fall in love with you.” We spent the summer apart and were totally missing each other, and my mom said to me, “What do you have to lose? You’ve already lost your best friend.” So I called him up and said, “Will you be my boyfriend?” That was the beginning.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FRIENDS FIRST:

Ron says… We’ve always come to the conclusion that when we’re in our 60s or 70s, the physical attraction won’t matter. My worst fear would be sitting in a restaurant and having nothing to talk about.

Trish says… That’s why we have such a lasting relationship—because we were friends and foremost. We weren’t playing that girlfriend-boyfriend role when you are on your best behaviour and then the reality check hits you later. You see your true self when you’re friends.

ON BRAINS VERSUS BEAUTY:

Ron says… Without brains, beauty is nothing. I don’t think I’d be with Trish this long if there weren’t anything upstairs.

Trish says… I used to get asked all the time, “How do you feel about people viewing you as a sex symbol?” And I’d say, “That’s fine, I got your attention and now I have something to say.” I’ve always viewed those openings as an opportunity to knock down preconceived notions of what a successful woman should be. Brains and foremost.

ON STAYING FIT TOGETHER:

Ron says… She does a lot more than I do, but it’s fun to get out. It doesn’t mean we have to go to the gym, but we like to be active—ride bikes, go rollerblading, that kind of stuff.

Trish says…I’ve always trained for the purpose of my job, but when I injured my back three years ago, Ron and I started going for these long walks and we both loved it. We bonded, and Ron started losing weight without trying.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMOUR:

Ron says… There’s a lot of comedy in our relationship. We make fun of each other a lot—jokingly, of course.

Trish says… Humour is actually one of the most important elements in a relationship. It’s nice to be with a fellow goofball.

ON KEEPING THINGS FRESH:

Ron says… We’re both really busy people. That has kept it fresh just naturally, I guess. If I saw somebody 24 hours, seven days a week, I can see how things could get stale. But we’ve never had a routine to fall into—it’s just whatever comes at us.

Trish says… Every year we say, “Okay, what are we going to do this year that’s new?” When we got married, we took dance lessons for a full year and we actually choreographed a tango routine for our dance. Another year, we totally got into the videogame Dance Dance Revolution. We’re such nerds. And this year we’re taking golf lessons.

trish stratus: trish bows out on top

Trish bows out on top

Before a vociferously partisan crowd and amidst chants of “Thank you Trish!” six-time Women’s Champion Trish Stratus made it lucky number seven by defeating Lita in front of 16,105 of her hometown supporters in Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Trish paid homage to another classic Canadian Superstar by applying the Sharpshooter, forcing Lita to tap out and hand over the Women’s Championship to the woman who has been the penultimate WWE Diva for the past seven years.

It was clearly a moving night for Trish, who had been riding a wave of emotion since news broke on WWE.com that she would be retiring after Unforgiven. It was not Trish, however, but her long-time rival Lita, who made the announcement, frustrating the most decorated Diva in WWE history. It was only appropriate that Trish’s final match would come against Lita, the Diva with whom she has waged more than a few all-out grudge matches and the woman she faced in her WWE debut. Lita could not have wanted anything more than to taint Trish’s legacy by defeating her on her home turf in her final match, but Trish made sure that she ended the intensely personal rivalry the same way she has conducted herself throughout her storied career: on her terms and no one else’s.

As Trish made her way to the ring, it was clear that her emotions were swirling as she took her time at the top of the stage to give a long, pensive look around the arena. She appeared to be soaking in the rush of a WWE entrance one last time, wishing she could acknowledge each and every one of the WWE fans in the sold-out Air Canada Centre.

She would get her chance to do so at the conclusion of what was, not surprisingly, an intensely physical contest between two bitter rivals. After nearly scoring several pin-falls, Trish was finally able to corner Lita and lock in the Sharpshooter, lifting the impassioned crowd to its feet as they raucously cheered their hometown hero.

Once Lita submitted, the torrent of emotion gave way to relieved triumph, as the capacity crowd saluted Trish with a standing ovation. Announcers Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler joined in the celebration, as did a bleary-eyed Lilian Garcia, while Trish held the Women’s Championship high above her head for the seventh and final time. Then, in the classy fashion WWE fans have come to know and revere from their favorite Diva, Trish took a bow and blew a kiss to the still frenzied crowd, as her emotional roller coaster finally eased back into the station.

Trish got her storybook ending, but it is a curious ending for the Women’s Championship because – for the first time in WWE history – a Champion is retiring with the gold. Will Trish relinquish her championship? If so, who will take over? Certainly Trish would not turn it back over to previous champ Lita, her most bitter rival. Will the Women’s Championship simply be retired along with its greatest ambassador? The world will be looking to RAW tomorrow night for answers. For now, Trish can celebrate a well-fought match, a well-deserved Women’s Championship and a magical seven-year ride in WWE that will not soon be forgotten.

trish stratus: trish tells it like it is

Trish tells it like it is

There’s no denying that Trish Stratus is the quintessential Diva in WWE. She made her debut in 2000 and has worked tirelessly over the last six years to become the most accomplished Diva in WWE history. Through hard work and perseverance Trish overcame the stigma of being just another pretty face to become a six-time Women’s Champion. So, with the 2006 Diva Search Contest coming up, who better to talk about the annual event than the most successful Diva herself – Trish.

This year’s contest will be the third of its kind, and Stratus isn’t surprised in the least that it has lasted this long.

“Of course it’s still around because you can’t beat a bunch of sexy women on RAW every week,” she said. “We know that is a formula that works. So I’m not surprised at all.”

While the contest is returning this year, there is a new twist. The Diva Search will be held on both RAW and SmackDown for the first time ever. Previously, the contest had been a RAW exclusive. Stratus thinks spreading the contest out over both brands is a smart move that can benefit the contestants.

“It will give the contestants more exposure, which is good, and it might give them a chance to interact with both RAW and SmackDown Superstars,” she said. “Obviously we have Divas on both shows, and it will be good for the contestants to get a feel for both brands.”

Even though the Diva Search has been a success in terms of ratings and finding new talent, Trish says that the contest isn’t perfect.

“I think there should be a preliminary question on the application such as what does WWE stand for?” she said. “If they get it right or wrong, it would be a good way to weed them out. I would also like to see more personality and get to know each contestant a little bit more throughout the process. I just need to see more than a pretty face and hotdog eating skills.”

Several of the current Divas got their first WWE exposure through the Diva Search Contest. Playboy cover girl Candice, Maria, Kristal and of course, last year’s winner Ashley, were all contestants in the Diva Search. So, surely the contest is paying dividends, right? Well, maybe not according to Trish.

“Well, Ashley broke her leg so I don’t know if it is working out that well. I don’t know, I think that this time around we have to get more of their physical attributes out, and I mean that as physical, not “physical” if you know what I mean,” joked Trish. “That is what the audience demands, and that is what a Diva of today is all about. She gets into the ring and she kicks ass. A little more athleticism should be seen.”

And when a new winner of the contest is crowned this year, Trish will be ready to greet her in her own special way.

“Any Diva who wants to come along, I will be more than happy to Stratisfy her.”

trish stratus: significant diva on diva action

Significant Diva on Diva action

At Unforgiven, Trish Stratus won her record-setting seventh Women’s Championship. It was her last match before retirement, and while it cemented her place in Women’s wrestling history, it also left the championship vacant.

An 8-Diva tournament began Monday on RAW to crown the next Women’s Champion, and the RAW Divas all shared their thoughts on what the revered award means to them.

Besides Trish, such legends as Sheri Martel, Wendy Richter and Fabulous Moolah have all held the Women’s Championship. For many of the Divas, to be held in the same esteem as these women is what being champion is all about.

“All of the top women in the WWE have held the Women’s Championship,” explained one former champion, Mickie James. “I think it’s prestigious and honorable to be the Women’s Champion. I was really honored to hold it when I first won it from Trish at WrestleMania 22 (before losing it to Lita). It’s a huge honor to be crowned Women’s Champion and it is an honor I look forward to having again.”

Lita, a three-time champion who lost the gold to Trish at Unforgiven, agreed.

“I think that the championship means a lot not only for its historical value; within the last five years or so, there have been more women on the roster in WWE than ever before, so there’s more competition,” she said. “I think a tournament is a great opportunity for the Divas to showcase their talent and to see competition that sometimes gets lost in the entertainment that the Divas also provide to the show.”

“It’s a big deal,” Melina confessed. “Men have more than one championship, but for women, there’s just one for all of us and it means a lot. It represents the cream of the crop, the top of all the Divas.”

All of the Divas share a respect for the Women’s Championship that transcends their own desire to be champ.

“I’m just starting; I think it’s just the very beginning for me, so there is no comparison between me and those legends,” said a sincere Maria. “I’m going to fight tooth and nail. In the end, if I don’t wind up as champion, I just hope that someone who really and truly deserves it does get it.”

During Trish’s many reigns, it was always important to her that the Women’s Championship represented women’s empowerment. Her example has left an impression, as all of the RAW Divas listed qualities of a Women’s Champion that were in line with Trish’s vision.

“The championship embodies a woman who is strong, independent and all the things that I aspire to be,” beamed Torrie Wilson. “Like the other Divas, I’m a strong and independent woman who isn’t afraid to show my athletic ability and isn’t some weak little girl that’s going to go cry in the corner.”

Another thing the Divas all felt strongly about was that part of being the Women’s Champion was being a role model for other girls and women.

“I think that I show women that they can be everything they want,” boasted Victoria . “They can be tough and strong and sexy because I am all of those things. Plus I have a college background, so I am not just some muscle head.”

Candice Michelle thinks she has an equally personal message to bring to the WWE fans. Not coming from a strong wrestling background, Candice has been training hard since joining WWE to make up for lost time.

“I want to show people that if you believe in something and you have the dedication and you go after your dreams, anything can happen,” said Candice. “If you don’t go after your dreams somebody else will, so you just have to go for it, otherwise it will never happen.”

Monday night marked the beginning of the women’s tournament. It seems like a fitting way to crown the new champ after Trish’s legendary career, by highlighting eight talented, strong, confident, beautiful, competitive women doing what they love best. All the Divas are aware of the large shoes to fill as Women’s Champion, but all are looking forward to the potential challenge.