Trish Stratus has discussed a scrapped return pitch and why she ultimately didn’t feel it was the right time for her to come back to WWE.
Unforgiven 2006 saw the Hall of Famer compete for the final time in her full-time career with a perfect send-off. Wrestling in her hometown of Toronto and against her greatest rival Lita, Stratus won the Women’s Championship for the 7th time and retired at the top of the division.
Stratus would only appear part-time since this victory, only wrestling 7 times between the match at Unforgiven 2006 and the 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble. While other one-off matches were due to Stratus taking part in guest appearances such as hosting Raw or being a judge on Tough Enough, there was another match the former Women’s Champion was asked to be a part of.
At WrestleMania 25, WWE presented the “Miss WrestleMania” Battle Royal, which featured stars from that era and a number of legends battle it out. Stratus was asked to be a part of this match but turned down the offer.
“I Didn’t Think It Was Necessary”: Trish Stratus
Speaking with Inside The Ropes Magazine for Issue 43, Stratus was asked about the decision to not compete in the WrestleMania match. the former Women’s Champion stated that if she wanted to return then it had to be meaningful, adding that the match would not have been any different if she was a part of it:
“I always said when I retired, if I go back, it’s got to be for something important. Not important, that’s not the right word. It’s got to be for something that’s good. No, that’s not right either. It’s gotta be just something that has to check a few boxes. I want to work with someone I haven’t worked with before. Selfishly as a performer I want to challenge myself. But I also want to elevate another person.
I want to do stuff that hasn’t been done before. I want to present things a bit differently. I just thought about coming back after being retired, I didn’t think that was a good platform to do it. I didn’t think it was necessary. I don’t think it would have been way better if Trish Stratus was in there.”
In a new interview in May 2024, Trish Stratus revealed the advice given to her by Stephanie McMahon.
The full interview with Trish Stratus is available in issue 43 of Inside The Ropes Magazine, which can be purchased here.
If you use any quotes from this article please credit Inside The Ropes.