5 WWE Superstars who defeated their wrestling role models

#3. SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair

Although Charlotte Flair initially did not want to become a professional wrestler, she admired what WWE Hall of Famers Trish Stratus and Lita did inside the squared circle when they main-evented RAW for the first time in 2004.

Fifteen years later, The Queen had the opportunity to share the ring with The Diva of the Decade. In 2019, Stratus returned to the promotion to challenge Flair for a match at SummerSlam.

Speaking to GameSpot, The Queen described the idea of facing The Diva of the Decade as "crazy."

"It's just crazy. And now that woman that I was watching as a senior main event [and] make history... Now I'm walking into SummerSlam [with] her being the greatest of all time and me going, 'No, I'm the greatest of all time,' it's just crazy. I mean, I don't have another word," she said.

Although Stratus gave in an impressive performance, she lost to Flair. In a backstage interview after the match, The Queen showered the seven-time Women's Champion with praise and called her a "hero."

"It doesn't get any bigger than that. I mean, the women today, of my generation, grew up wanting to be Trish Stratus and Lita, and do what they did because they main evented RAW. But the real hero of tonight was the mom with two kids at home and the full career, who has been gone for what, ten years? No, she's the real winner and the hero," she said.

Stratus has not competed since her defeat against Flair. Meanwhile, The Queen is currently active on SmackDown. She now holds the SmackDown Women's Championship and will defend her title against Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 38.