Stratus: First Class

All New Comics has been a sponsor of Tha O Show since the beginning. Our friends at All New Comics invited me down to the Toronto Comicon today to check out their event, and more specifically, to reunite with an old friend: the lovely Trish Stratus.

For those who don't know the back story...back in the days when Trish was making a name for herself as a fitness model, long before the Fed (we're talking like 98 or 99), we got to know each other. Myself and Jeff Marek, my co-host on "The Law" at the time, decided that this girl had that "it" factor. We knew we wanted to make her a part of the show, as full time co-host. She immediately accepted. This was Trish's first little baby step into the wrestling industry.

Trish was terrific. She had been a lifelong wrestling fan and had a dream of entering the World Wrestling Federation. She decided that working with us, would be a nice soft entry point to help her decide if this was, in fact, what she wanted...and at the same time, help her make a few contacts in the industry.

I remember thinking how huge it was that she was with us when the FAN 590 (the radio station we were all working for) starting using pictures of Trish in all of their posters and promotional material. Keep in mind, this station didn't give a rat's ass about the wrestling show or us. Having this gorgeous bombshell by our side, certainly opened the eyes of a few suits.

I remember when she first started training at Sully's Gym. There were indy workers scoffing at this billboard model wanting to become a worker. I remember saying to one guy (fully knowing I'd get a shitload of heat), "she's the only one in the gym that's going to make it to the show". A couple of the guys got really hot, but hey - I didn't like the fact that they were dismissing this unique talent based on her looks.

I'll never forget this one time she spoke to Jeff and I. She had been made an offer by WCW to come in and be revealed as "The Powers That Be" in a big Vince Russo storyline. I know the money was significant and she was tempted. I remember Jeff telling her to go with the biggest offer, and I reminder her "your dream was New York". She held out, and did get the deal she was looking for. Obviously you all know the rest...she went on to become WWE Diva Of The Decade and is the most decorated female worker in company's history.

I took a break from the wrestling biz a year or so after Trish's debut. We lost touch. As is the case in wrestling - when you're in - you're in...when you're not...people ask "Whatever happened to that guy?" and nobody seemes to have a straight answer.

I haven't seen Trish face to face in years. When I saw her today, it felt like no time had passed at all. It was great. We joked around, reminisced about the old days, and planned to keep in touch.

In the picture shown here, we watched a match from the Anime convention a couple weeks ago when an indy worker took on a 6 foot version of Elmo from Sesame Street. Here's that same video on YouTube if you wanna check it...

One of the highlights for me was when I got a call from a good friend of mine, indy worker Cherry Bomb, who happens to be a huge Trish fan. Cherry Bomb has told me that Trish was what inspired her to get into the business in the first place. Right after Cherry called, I handed Trish the phone saying, "here...someone really wants to talk to you". Trish was flattered, Cherry was thrilled and I honestly just felt great knowing that money, obscene amounts of fame and celebrity have not changed this York Region native one bit. I can't say that about every wrestler I've ever known that made it big....but Trish has kept it real.

I've always been really proud of how well she did for herself, now I'm even prouder knowing she never lost herself.

Don't be surprised if you hear from the former Women's Champ on a future episode of Tha O Show radio program.

Trish's new television show, "Second City's Next Comedy Legend" debuts in Canada on CBC July 10th. Make sure you check it out.

Credit for the photos goes to Trish's #1 fan, Dana.

Visit Trish online at trishstratus.com (a site I did the original design for!).