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Patricia Stratigeas aka Trish Stratus is a true pioneer in the WWE. While her initial years raised the bar in the level of fitness models hired by the WWE, she gradually moved away from the shadows cast by the likes of Sable and Sunny to become a respected in-ring veteran.
Her progression from a vamp into a serious wrestler paved the way for a generation of female wrestlers to focus on the technical side of wrestling rather than the glamour quotient.
Now the owner of a successful yoga studio and a former host of shows like 'Stratusphere', Trish is married to her high school sweetheart Ron Fisico and they have two children.
If you weren't aware of the facts mentioned in the previous sentence, get ready to read about five more things that you did not know about Trish Stratus.
#1 Trish wanted to be a doctor while growing up
Unlike many of her peers, Patricia never had wrestling ambitions while growing up. Raised in Ontario, Canada, Trish joined York University to study biology and kinesiology with hopes of becoming a doctor.
But 1997 saw a winter strike by the faculty and Stratigeas had to look for work to support herself. She became a receptionist at a local gym where she was approached by the publisher of MuscleMag International magazine to do a test shoot.
She impressed and was signed to a two-year contract. After appearing on the May 1998 cover of the magazine, she gained a reputation and graced numerous other magazine covers too.
It was her modelling work that caught the eye of the World Wrestling Federation and she was signed to a multi-year deal in 1999.
#2 Trish was never supposed to be an in-ring talent
Trish was signed by the WWF primarily for her looks and she was never expected to be a serious in-ring performer save for the routine bra and panties matches of the Attitude era. Her debut on RAW saw her scouting Test and Prince Albert.
The trio joined forces and became known as 'T&A' - a wordplay on Trish's sexuality in addition to the names of the male wrestlers in the team. She would also manage Val Venis for some time.
Despite not expected to perform, she took some significant bumps - most notably a Bubba Bomb from the top rope onto a table courtesy of Bubba Ray Dudley at Backlash 2000.
#3 Her first prominent angle was with Vince McMahon
After splitting from T&A, Trish graced the WWE main event for some time as the on-screen mistress of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Just like the usual Attitude Era shenanigans, the angle exploited Trish's 'assets' to gain viewership.
The angle started with Trish seducing Vince to gain favours in the company before McMahon grew tired of her. Infamous segments involved Trish losing a match against Stephanie McMahon and getting 'sewage' dumped on her as well as the controversial angle which had Vince forcing Stratus to strip down to her bra and panties in the ring and bark like a dog.
Trish betrayed Vince during his match against Shane McMahon at Wrestlemania 17 and become a fan favourite.
#4 She held the record for the longest title reign in the WWE since the new millennium
After her face turn, Trish began wrestling part-time and captured her first WWF Women's title at the 2001 Survivor Series. She won the title on six further occasions and still holds the record for most WWF Women's title reigns.
The above fact might be common knowledge, but one that is not is that she had also held the record for the longest title reign by any superstar in the WWE since 2000. This was achieved during her sixth women's title reign which lasted an incredible 448 days.
The title run started when she beat her arch nemesis Lita at New Year's Revolution in January 2005. She would successfully defend her title against the likes of Christie Hemme and later Melina before losing her title at 2006 March's Wrestlemania 22 to Mickie James.
This record was eclipsed by the New Day's 483-day tag-team title run in 2015-16.
5. Trish was the youngest member of the WWE Hall of Fame
For the WWE fans of the Attitude era, it is unfathomable to think that Trish was with the WWE for just six years. She joined the company at the age of 24 and retired as the Women's Champion at the age of 30. However, her accolades were so significant that she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 at the age of 37.
She definitely deserved the honour - the seven Women's titles she earned and her 2005 match with Lita which became the first all-female bout to headline RAW were the inspiration for multiple wrestlers like Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks and Bayley to make it in the business.
At the time of her induction, she was youngest to be inducted into the Hall of Fame - but that record was broken earlier this year by 36-year-old Beth Phoenix.
