Patricia Anne Stratigeas (; born December 18, 1975), better known by the ring name Trish Stratus, is a Canadian professional wrestler, actress and yoga instructor. She is currently signed to WWE where she performs on the Raw brand. A member of the WWE Hall of Fame, Stratus was ranked the greatest women's superstar of all time by WWE.
Initially studying at York University to become a doctor, Stratigeas began her career as a fitness model. She began working for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1999, later renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002. Early in her career, she was mostly involved in sexually themed storylines, such as managing the team T & A and a kayfabe affair with WWE owner Vince McMahon. As Stratus's popularity increased due to receiving more in-ring experience, she was made a one-time WWE Hardcore Champion, three-time "WWE Babe of the Year", and was proclaimed "Diva of the Decade". After nearly seven years in WWE, Stratus retired from professional wrestling on a full-time basis at WWE Unforgiven on September 17, 2006, after winning her record seventh WWE Women's Championship.
Following her initial retirement from full-time performing, she has since made occasional WWE appearances. On Raw, she made sporadic tag-team match appearances between 2008 and 2011 – as well as a one-off singles match against Vickie Guerrero – before being involved in a mixed six-person tag team match at WrestleMania XXVII. In 2018, she returned to WWE to participate in the promotion's first Women's Royal Rumble and later competed at the all-female Evolution event in October of that year. She then wrestled Charlotte Flair in her first singles match on pay-per-view since her initial full-time retirement at SummerSlam 2019. In 2023, Stratus appeared in a six-woman tag team match at WrestleMania 39, after which she returned as a full time member of the roster.
Aside from professional wrestling, Stratus has appeared on a number of magazine covers and has been involved in charity work. She appeared as a judge on WWE Tough Enough in 2011, where she also had her first role in film as the main character in Bail Enforcers. She has also hosted several award and television shows and formerly owned a yoga studio. Since 2022, Stratus has been a judge on Canada's Got Talent.
Early life
Stratigeas was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and attended Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She enrolled at York University, where she studied biology and kinesiology and played soccer and field hockey. Due to a faculty strike in 1997, she was forced to change her plans. She was working as a receptionist at a local gym when she was approached by the publisher of MuscleMag International to do a test shoot for the magazine. She later appeared on the cover of the May 1998 issue and was signed to a two-year contract. For the next six months, she worked on her body and appeared on numerous magazine covers. During this time, she joined Big Daddy Donnie & Jeff Marek as the third host of Live Audio Wrestling on Toronto Sports Radio, The FAN 590.
Stratigeas had been a fan of wrestling since childhood and was especially fond of wrestlers Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, among others. Her modelling work caught the attention of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In November 1999, she was signed to a multi-year contract with the company, who sent her to Sully's Gym where she was trained by Ron Hutchison.
Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (2000- present)
T & A (2000–2001)
Stratigeas made her debut as a heel on the March 19, 2000, episode of Sunday Night Heat under the ring name Trish Stratus. She appeared on stage to scout Test and Prince Albert. The next night on Raw Is War, Test and Albert joined forces as the tag team T & A and Stratus began her first role in the company as their valet. It was during her stint managing T & A that Stratus took her first major bump in the ring, by being driven through a table by the Dudley Boyz at Backlash, after she had been taunting Bubba Ray Dudley for several weeks. In June, she was on the receiving end of a stinkface from Rikishi on Raw.