20 Things You Didn’t Know About Trish Stratus
12. The Pressure Of Survivor Series 2001 Was Very Real
By Survivor Series 2001, Vince McMahon decided to see how Trish would handle the pressure of becoming Women's Champion. It's easy to forget sometimes that women's wrestling wasn't always a valuable part of WWE's product - back in '01, it was a sideshow on cards, so McMahon wasn't risking a thing by putting the belt on Trish.
Still, she felt every bit of tension behind the scenes.
Stratus knew what people had been saying, and she was determined to prove them wrong. Plus, Trish was aware that following someone the standing of Chyna (who had vacated the title when she left the company) wouldn't be easy with fans either. This Canadian spitfire was fighting an uphill battle.
The tears Trish shed after winning that 'Six Pack Challenge' were 100% authentic. She has described the win as a huge weight being lifted off her shoulders. That first chance to show she belonged had been such a long time coming.