This is a solid, well-written retrospective on Trish Stratus‘ career highlights, especially fitting for Women’s History Month. The article correctly positions her as a pivotal figure who helped elevate the WWE women’s division from bra-and-panties novelty acts to credible, athletic main-event talent during the Ruthless Aggression Era and beyond. Her seven WWE Women’s Championship reigns (a record at the time) and 2013 Hall of Fame induction underscore her legacy, and her later returns showed she could still deliver.
Breakdown of the Five Matches
Here’s a quick take on each pick, based on their in-ring quality, storytelling, and historical impact:
- Trish Stratus vs. Lita – WWE Raw (December 6, 2004) This remains one of the most iconic women’s matches ever. It was the first time women main-evented Raw, and the fast-paced, hard-hitting action in just ~7-8 minutes (with a hot crowd) proved women could carry the flagship show. Trish’s heel work (frustration selling, cheating attempts) and Lita’s comeback with the Moonsault for the title win created a memorable moment. It’s more about the milestone and atmosphere than technical perfection, but it absolutely belongs on any “best of” list.
- Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James – WrestleMania 22 (2006) The in-ring work is good but not elite by modern standards. However, the storytelling elevates it massively: Mickie’s obsessive fan-to-stalker arc was one of the best women’s angles of the era, and the crowd in Chicago surprisingly cheering the “nutjob” heel (as Jim Ross called her) showed how effectively it was built. Trish helped make Mickie a star here, and the post-match crazed celebration is unforgettable. Trish herself has called this one of her favorites due to the long-term rivalry payoff.
- Trish Stratus vs. Lita – Unforgiven 2006 (Toronto) Billed as Trish’s retirement match in her hometown, this had strong emotional weight. With more time than their 2004 encounter and reversed roles (Lita as heel), they leaned into the drama and chemistry. The Toronto crowd’s “Thank You Trish” chants, the Sharpshooter finish (homage to Bret Hart), and Trish winning her record 7th Women’s Title before “retiring” created a perfect send-off moment. It capped her prime run beautifully.
- Trish Stratus vs. Charlotte Flair – SummerSlam 2019 (Toronto) For a wrestler returning after nearly a decade away from singles competition (at age 43), Trish looked shockingly sharp—quick, willing to bump, and hitting her signatures. Charlotte did excellent work making her look credible, including selling the Figure Eight and Stratusfaction. The back-and-forth chops and near-falls delivered, and the post-match ovation was electric. It wasn’t flawless due to ring rust, but it was a strong “dream match” that bridged generations.
- Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch – Payback 2023 (Steel Cage) At 47, inside a cage no less, Trish turned back the clock impressively. The betrayal angle built heat, and the match featured high-risk spots (Bulldog from the top, suplex off the cage, kicks out of big moves) over 20 minutes. It was easily her best outing in her 2023-2025 run and stood out for intensity and drama. Many fans and reviewers rank this among her career-best for how well she kept up with one of the top stars of the current era.
Overall Assessment
The list is strong and focuses on matches with both quality and broader significance (breaking barriers, building stars, emotional hometown moments). It leans toward historically impactful bouts over pure in-ring classics (e.g., her matches with Victoria or Molly Holly from earlier in her career sometimes get mentioned in “best of” discussions too).
If I were expanding it, I’d consider adding:
- Her multi-woman matches at WrestleMania 19 (with Victoria & Jazz).
- Strong tag or feud bouts from the mid-2000s.
Trish’s influence is undeniable—she helped pave the way for the women’s evolution we see today, where main events and long storylines are the norm rather than the exception. Her comebacks in 2018-2025 also proved longevity and adaptability.
What do you think of this ranking? Any match you’d swap in or out, or is there a specific Trish bout (or full match video) you’d like more details on?