Trish Stratus is set to be inducted into her hometown sports Hall of Fame later this month.
The seven-time former WWE women’s champion is set to be added to the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame on January 30 and is the city where she grew up.
Before entering professional wrestling, Stratus was attending York University and played soccer before a strike ended her post-secondary plans and transitioned her into modelling, radio work, and later, professional wrestling.
In late 1999, she was signed by the World Wrestling Federation and trained under Ron Hutchison at Sully’s Gym in Toronto. She was introduced on WWF television the following March and attached to the team of Test and Albert (“T&A”) before ascending to a higher profile role in the McMahon family storyline.
She won her first of seven WWF/E women’s titles in November 2001 after the belt was vacated by Chyna (Joanie Lauer) and was part of the rise of the women’s division alongside Lita, Jazz, Molly Holly, Jacqueline, Victoria, and others and aided by the coaching of Dave “Fit” Finlay and Lance Storm.
Her first retirement occurred in September 2006 in her hometown of Toronto at the Unforgiven pay-per-view event. She has returned for many matches over the years including a mixed tag at WrestleMania 27, an appearance in the inaugural women’s Royal Rumble in 2018, the all-women’s Evolution event, at SummerSlam in 2019 against Charlotte Flair and a regular presence throughout 2023 where she feuded with Becky Lynch.
The ceremony is scheduled for the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts on January 30 and tickets are $40 to attend.
