WWE icon Trish Stratus to come out of retirement at Wrestlemania 39

07 March 2023 , 13:19

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Stratus issued a challenge to Bayley on RAW (Image: @WWE/Twitter)

WWE icon Trish Stratus will make a sensational return to Wrestlemania in April alongside women's tag team title holders Becky Lynch and Lita.

The Canadian initially retired from professional wrestling following the Unforgiven PPV in September 2006, after winning a then record seventh WWE Women's Championship. She's appeared sporadically ever since, appearing at the 2018 Royal Rumble and then losing to Charlotte Flair at Summerslam the following year.

But last Monday, she made a dramatic comeback to RAW to help Lynch and fellow legend Lita defeat Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky to capture the tag belts. And seven days later, on the same show, she confirmed that this latest return wouldn't be a fleeting one.

Confronting Bayley, the unofficial leader of the three-women faction Damage CTRL that also consists of Kai and Sky, Stratus responded to being goaded by saying: "I couldn't think of a better place to do it, to shut your mouth up, on the grandest stage of them all."

With Lynch and Lita looking on, Stratus then added a line that prompted a roar from the sell-out crowd in Boston, asking: "So how about us three versus you three at Wrestlemania?" The decibel levels rose further when Bayley responded: "We accept."

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There was little time for fans to take in the moment though, with a brawl soon ensuing, culminating in Bayley being left to fend against the three fan favourites alone. And she paid the price, with Stratus dropping her new rival with a big right hand, sending her scarpering out of the ring.

Stratus made her WWE debut in 2000 (Trish Stratus/Instagram)

The return of Stratus adds to an already favourable Wrestlemania card, with WWE Undisputed champion Roman Reigns taking on Cody Rhodes in the main event. The company's marquee show will run over two nights on April 1 and April 2 at the SoFi Stadium.

The return of Stratus is confirmed as rumours of another dramatic comeback die down. Speculation was rife that The Rock would also be making an appearance, but his Hollywood commitments have seemingly scuppered that despite his family being in favour of the idea.

Stratus debuted back in 2000 as the manager of Test and Albert, with her subsequent 'T&A' gimmick making her a sex symbol with WWE fans. Soon, her appeal stretched to in-ring performance as well though, and is widely recognised as a pioneer of the women's division.

Fraser Watson