20 years ago today, Trish Stratus’ full-time in-ring career came to an end when she won the WWE Women’s Championship for the seventh time.
Not only did Trish win her farewell match, a rarity in wrestling, but she also won a title and did so in her hometown of Toronto against her most noted rival, Lita.
In a feature from Trish’s official website, the match is heralded as being as close to a perfect send off as any pro wrestler is going to get.
“This kind of goodbye just never happens. More often, the departing wrestler helps pave the way for the next generation. This tradition, known as “doing the honors,” is deeply rooted in the business. The idea is that a star gives back by elevating someone else on their way out, ensuring the company’s future.
“Emotional send-offs with a final victory are the exception, not the rule, because wrestling is ultimately about continuity and building new stars rather than perfect endings.”
Trish’s retirement was announced only a couple of weeks before the match and came after she’d suffered a significant injury earlier in the year.
Speaking to WWE.com at the time, Trish explained her reasons for stepping away from WWE. She said,
“I’ve worked hard, and when you combine WWE and my prior fitness modeling, the last decade of my life has been lived on the road…traveling, being away from home and just working.
“I’ve done all of my growing up, and I’ve become a woman on the road. I just felt that it was time to step back and enjoy the fruit of my labor, take time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.”
Trish has wrestled since then, including in 2008, 2018, 2023, and 2025, though the WWE Hall of Famer has yet to return to a full-time wrestling schedule.
