The greatest Divas feud of all-time. Bar none. Trish Stratus and Lita will forever be linked to one another thanks to a rivalry that began shortly after their debuts in the spring of 2000 and stretched over the course of the next six years, when each of the revolutionary performers left the wrestling business behind. Their matches forever changed fan perception of what a female performer was capable of when dedicated, talented and given the opportunity by management. Their matches are among some of the greatest and most beloved in WWE history and in 2013 and 2014, respectively, they took their places in the WWE Hall of Fame. Lita was a member of Team Extreme alongside the Hardys and Trish was manager for T&A (Test and Albert) when they crossed paths for the first time in 2000. Trish and T&A experienced great success against their rivals at first, winning two six-persona tag team matches on Sunday Night Heat and SmackDown. The Hardys and Lita would reverse the trend at Fully Loaded, however, as the two teams delivered a wildly entertaining, high quality opening contest. Lita would pin Trish, continuing her meteoric rise to stardom in the industry. Over the course of the next year, their rivalry would be renewed on a handful of occasions, most notably on October 23, 2000 when they met in the first-ever Bra and Panties match on Raw. In November of 2001, Trish's first defense of her newly won Women's Championship came against Lita. As Trish grew and developed as an in-ring performer, many fans anxiously anticipated the first time the two Divas would meet with the Women's title on the line in a high-profile bout. Unfortunately, Lita would suffer a debilitating neck injury and be sidelined for over a year. When she returned, she found a WWE dominated by Stratus, who had become the best female sports-entertainer on the planet. The popular Divas put history aside a worked together, teaming to face the likes of Molly Holly and Gail Kim before a heel turn by Trish in 2004 forced them against one another once more. On December 6, 2004, they met in the main event of Monday Night Raw. The Women's title was on the line and the two were in the middle of an intense personal rivalry. All of the ingredients were present and the Divas put them together to create a delectable treat for wrestling fans. Lita captured the title that night but a knee injury put her on the sidelines. She still feuded with Trish, through a syndicate in the form of Christy Hemme, but the heat that once surrounded their feud was gone. In September of 2006, Trish opted to leave wrestling behind. Upon announcing her retirement, it was revealed that she would meet Women's champion Lita, in front of a hometown audience in Toronto. With emotions high, Trish forced Lita to tapout to the Sharpshooter and collected her final championship. It was a fitting end for a feud that spanned as long as Trish and Lita's did. In 2014, they reunited when Trish inducted her real life friend in to the Hall of Fame, putting a definitive end on the wrestling chapter of their lives and friendship.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
