Trish Stratus -- How did this WWE Diva capture the hearts of millions?

There aren't many women that can wrestle in today's business, which is a shame. Chyna was in a league of her own, until Lita showed up. Jazz was the same. But when Chyna left, Lita got injured, as did Jazz and Jacqui, and there weren't that many female wrestlers left to compete, except for those who did the normal T&A matches!

Then, one surprise came to fans, probably from the female variety, and I am not ashamed to say that I was one of them.

This women came to the WWE as an unknown. She hadn't wrestled before, and this was going to be her challenge. This women had done fitness modeling -- what did she know about wrestling?

Those who were her critics, however, are now those who should be criticized.

This women is Trish Stratus.

Trish, as I said, was an unknown in terms of wrestling. The only connection she had with it was that she watched it when she was a little girl. Until, that is, one day when she was spotted on one of her fitness model magazines, and, as they say, the rest is history.

When Trish first joined the WWE, then known as the WWF, she was a valet/manager for the, then, new tag team of Test and Albert (T&A). She didn't really wrestle when she was on TV. At first and what she did was T&A -- other wise known as Bra & Panties matches or bitchy cat fights. Don't get me wrong, it got the exposure she was needing. She was learning.

We all have to start somewhere, and this was where it was going to begin for her. You can't expect to get into a ring and just automatically know what you are doing -- which I admit I was wrong to do -- I criticized her for doing those matches. Why? Not because I didn't like her, hell I don't even know her! It was because, from a female perspective, it's not what you want to see. But, in terms of business and your other fans (male), it's what sells!

Slowly Trish was growing on us females too! One of the greatest matches she had was against Lita. The two seem to have this chemistry when they are in the ring. Stratus was the one that pulled the slaps, whereas Lita was the one that pulled of the high risk maneuvers such as the Hurricanrana. But, something about Trish stands out (and no I don't mean her breasts!). No. What she has is the charm of a sweet girl that guys would love to take home to their parents.

One of her first huge major story lines was when she "dated" her boss, Vince McMahon. Let's just say that Stephanie wasn't to pleased about that one! It came to the time when Trish and Vince had made a bucket of all the horribly, most disgusting things you could find, and was going to humiliate Stephanie once and for all. Unfortunately, Vince and Stephanie had conducted another plan -- Trish was going to be the one that was going to have the bucket poured over her. When that time came, I almost cried. I felt her humiliation. Yes, she had made me feel her shame and pity -- only a great performer can do such a thing -- sell the story! That's exactly what she did!

Like most things with life, it never runs smoothly. Trish was about to get one of those! She was out with an ankle injury. What would happen next? Would the fans forget?

The answers came. WWE held a poll for Babe of the Year. The fans chose who they wanted to win, and who would get a web site dedicated to them. Trish might have been off the TV screens trying to get back as soon as possible, but the fans hadn't forgotten her. They gave her the title of Babe of the Year 2001 -- she deserved it! After all, not many would have went through some of the things she had!

The time came when Trish was healed and ready for action. What we were about to see was the transformation of Trish from another "weak" female to one of the most dominant.

In her time from recovering from her injury to coming back to TV, she had trained more than ever. She made sure that her character was going to be more than what some would class as a "dumb blond." She was out to prove that she could do it. And did it, she did!

Trish had learned to not only take bumps, but to sell them. She learned new moves. She became the women's champion, the most coveted prize for women, in the WWE.

The day she did it, Trish beat Molly Holly. It will be a day her fans will not forget. It was long time in coming -- to see her smile and joy. To see her tears -- you felt her joy. Trish deserved that title because she worked for it. She went from being a naive manager to a pro wrestler to the women's champion.

This month, Trish got another prize from her worldwide fans -- Babe of the Year 2002. Congratulations Trish.

I hope the fans grow with her and support her every move. To some she was a "dumb blond." But to those who have followed her throughout her two-and-a-half year wrestling career, she is a professional who excels at what she does. Not many women, working in a man's world, can say that.