Trish Stratus Reveals Story Behind Off-Script Jab At Ex-WWE Star

Trish Stratus has revealed the real story behind why she went off-script with a fellow WWE star on live TV.

Trish Stratus was the definitive women’s wrestler in WWE in the 2000s as she made waves in the ring alongside the likes of Lita, Victoria, Molly Holly, and Jazz. However, the company was still insistent on marketing its female stars as Divas and that led to the infamous “Diva Search” contest to find new talent.

The first winner of that competition was Christy Hemme, who went on to pose in Playboy during her stint in WWE. But her Playboy cover was met with some unhappiness in the WWE locker room.

Trish Stratus Hits Back At Champion Claim

Speaking to Inside The Ropes, Stratus revealed that the locker room took exception to Christy Hemme being referred to as a “champion” by Playboy and settled matters in the ring:

Can I tell you one interesting moment? I do remember one thing. When they did the Playboy cover, and there was like—what did it say at the top? It was like ‘Cover Champion’ or something. And so there, internally—just between us guys—when we saw the cover, the wrestling girls were like, ‘Oh hell no.’ You know? But we’re like, ‘Oh, I love your cover, I love your cover, it’s so nice, it’s cool.

So yeah, when I went out there, that was not planned. But it was almost like my wink to the girls, like, ‘Watch this, girls.’ So I’m like, ‘You ain’t no champion!’ I don’t know why I spoke in this weird southern… I don’t know. ‘You ain’t no champion, honey!’ I don’t know what that is.

So that was a little moment for the girls that I was like, ‘Yeah, right. She’s not. Because she’s not a champion.’ Why’d they call her champion? She’s not a champion. Must be clear. Just be clear. She was not a champ. She’s a champion of the Diva Search. But they didn’t imply that. They were saying ‘champion’—you know, like, as in what I was. I was the champion, sir.

Trish Stratus was back in action at Evolution, where she challenged Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship. Stratton won the match to retain her gold.