10 Awesome Wrestlers Who Quit Before They Were 40
4. Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus was a great wrestler who retired young, but the truth is that most female wrestlers with any success could be put on this list.
From Molly Holly to Lita to Chyna, the wrestling industry isn't particularly kind to women, and given the emphasis that's placed on looks, their "glory days" are usually during their 20s and early 30s.
That's not even taking into account the fact that women have to leave wrestling in order to have children, and many use that opportunity to get out of the business permanently.
In Stratus's case, her ascendance to the top of women's wrestling was particularly impressive, as she was never "supposed" to be a star in that sense. Signed in her mid-20s as a manager, Stratus had no in-ring experience, but she worked hard to become a talented star.
In 2001, she captured her first Women's Championship, and she spent the next five years as the anchor of the division. Her matches with the likes of Victoria, Jazz, Lita, Holly, and Gail Kim were among the high points of the history of women's wrestling in WWE.
In 2006, the 30-year-old Stratus decided to hang up her boots. She challenged Lita for the Women's Title one last time in her hometown of Toronto, winning the belt and retiring as a seven-time champion.
She's occasionally come back for a match here or there, but they've been few and far between, with nothing doing since 2011.