Out Of The Clouds (WOW Magazine - November 2000)
by Thomas Chamberlin


Trish Stratus is belping usher in a new era of female performers in the WWF

   On the March 20, 2000, edition of RAW, an unusual tag team formed in the
World Wrestling Federation. As Test and Val Venis fought in the ring, Prince
Albert and Trish Stratus - making her debut as the most recent blonde
bombshell to join the WWF - appeared at ringside. Albert quickly interfered
in the singles match, seemingly under Stratus' orders, and a beatdown of
Venis resulted.

   "Boys, boys, boys, that's enough of that," said Stratus as Test and Albert
double-teamed Venis. "We know what everyone wants to see... that's T... and
A. Well, that's just what you're lookin' at - Test and Albert. T&A."

   With that simple declaration, WWF fans were introduced to a team named
after the qualities that many male fans find attractive in Stratus. The
team's success in matches doesn't seem to be the most important goal. Rather,
the team has functioned as a showcase for the 24-year-old from Toronto. Since
her debut, she has shown she is more than "what everyone wants to see" as she
has been involved in mixed tag team matches with other physical WWF females,
including Lita.

   In person, the former fitness model has a bubbly personality that is a
sharp contrast to her backstabbing character. Recently Stratus [real name:
Trish Stratigias] - all 5 feet, 4 inches of her (in platform tennis shoes)
talked about her experience in the WWF.

Q: Since you debuted in March, your character has enjoyed high-profile
exposure on WWF programming. What kind of ride has it been?

A: You're right. It has been a ride. It's been kind of a blur. It seems like
wo started T&A just a couple of days ago. And now here we are. The fans have
responded great. I couldn't have asked for anything better. It's been
amazing. I love working with Test (Andrew Martin) and Albert (Matt Bloom).
Being from Toronto, I had run into Andrew before. It's nice to work with
someone you know and someone with a similar background. He's a hockey fan
like me, and he has reallv helped ease my transition.

Q: When you came in, you immediately started getting physically involved in
matches. Is that something you knew would happen?

A: When I signed and came in, I was told T&A was being formed. Because we
all had athletic backgrounds, I was told we would have a real physical style,
and that included me.

Q: Rikishi has given you the "stinky face," Lita has beaten you with her
moonsault and The Dudley Boyz have put you through a table. How much does
the risk factor concern you considering your diminutive stature?

A: I think I'm in pretty good hands with whatever spot I do. There are always
risks involved. You know that before you get involved - at least you better
know that before you get involved. I like doing the physical stuff because of
my athletic background. I didn't want to come in and just be a face walking
around. I think you're seeing a new kind of woman in the WWF with Lita and
some of the other girls, you see all of us getting involved, doing physical
stuff with a variety of people.

Q: What's the advantage of having women get involved in matches?

A: It mixes it up for the fans. When you get a girl who is a villain and
can take bumps, fans love that. Fans loved it when I went through the table
at Backlash (on April 30), and they like it when I get into it with Lita or
whomever. And because we can get involved physically, it leads to other
things we can do in the ring and in the storyliaes. We can do tag team
matches. We can do specialty matches. It gives you so many more options.

Q: You joined the WWF after working as a fitness model. That seems like
quite a switch. Was it?

A: Actually, it wasn't. You should have seen all the fights we had on the
sets! From a lifestyle standpoint, it hasn't been that much of a switch. I
still travel a lot, which I enjoy, and I work with a variety of people.
Vince [McMahon] has been great. Everybody I have worked with or come across
has been really nice to me.

Q: How did Trish Stratus the fitness model become Trish Stratus the female
performer in the WWF?

A: I had a contract doing modeling for Muscle Magazine International. I was
happy doing that and was doing pretty good. I also hosted a wresting radio
show in Toronto. I started forming a little following in Toronto and on the
Internet. I was backstage at a WWF show in Toronto one night, and I began
talking with one of the road agents. He asked me if I ever thought about
getting into wrestling. I told him I thought I might like to. One thing led
to another, and J.R. (Jim Ross) offered me a contract.

Q: There were rumors that you were having problems joining the WWF after you
signed your contract. What was going on?

A: I had a lot of problems getting over here [in the United States]. My visa
situation was terrible. Maybe they just doing like Canadians. Do you know how
much paperwork is involved in filling out stuff for a visa? Oh, what a pain.
I underestimated how long it was going to take.

Q: How come United States immigration officials wouldn't want someone like
you working here?

A: That's what I wanted to know. You'll have to ask the United States
Immigration Service that question. I wondered that for about three months.