WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus appeared on this week’s “The Bellas Podcast” to talk about the progression of women’s wrestling over the years.
Trish was asked what she thinks when she sees how far the women have come along in wrestling:
“I say ‘You’re welcome to everyone,’” Stratus laughed. “No, I mean, of course, it was a collaborative effort for sure. It was laying the groundwork.”
“From the beginning, it was everything from reeducating the fans what to expect from a female performer. It was the acceptance of the fans. It was the acceptance of the producers backstage for them to say, ‘We can give them this,'” she continued.
“I remember one time to have a hardcore match was a big deal. They were like, ‘I don’t think they can’, and I said, ‘Well why can’t we handle it if they can handle it?’ I remember I took a chairshot from Victoria. Let’s put it this way, some people were unhappy that it happened. I’m like, ‘Why? Guys take chair shots all the time.’ I consent to this.”
“What a journey and so many players along the way to help make it happen like Jazz, Victoria, Molly Holly, and Mickie James, so it’s cool watching it and having people looking back saying, ‘This inspired me.’ It’s touching. When you set out to do what you do in your world, the aim is to get the accolades from your coworkers. That was a big part of it for me was to earn the respect of my coworkers. I think we got there. We did pretty good.”
Trish continues to give her thought on this weekend’s Royal Rumble, telling The Bellas who she’s keeping an eye on, with “inside information” on one specific competitor and much more on this week’s episode of “The Bellas Podcast.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Bellas podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription