Hall of Famer Trish Stratus has looked back on the night when she had the impossible task of following what some consider the greatest WWE match of all time.
A dream match took place at WrestleMania 18 as The Rock and Hulk Hogan faced off in the Icon vs. Icon match in Toronto. Known for the crowd getting behind Hogan, the big moves and the face turn at the end, it is still regarded as one of the greatest Mania matches of all time more than 20 years later. However, while it was clearly the match of the night and widely regarded as a match that should have main evented the show, there were two more bouts that followed.
Before Chris Jericho and Triple H had their WWE Championship match, there was a Women’s Title triple threat. Champion Jazz put her title on the line against Lita and Trish Stratus, who was the hometown hero heading into the match. However, going on directly after Rock vs. Hogan and before the main event, this was the match for the fans to get their energy back before the closer.
“We Gotta Follow That?” Trish Stratus On Following Iconic WWE Match
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, the 7-time Women’s Champion admitted that although the position on the card was not ideal, she was pleased with how the match played out:
“We were in Gorilla going we gotta follow that? We might as well just not even go out. But no, you guys gave us some love. We got the crowd reaction. We got that. I mean, just to see that match from that position and watch them come through the curtain afterwards, and watching the reaction, seeing the boys react, everyone-it was iconic and definitely a memory as a wrestling fan. I’m like, sh*t, that was cool. But for as positioning, nah, don’t want that position thanks. But I think we nailed it. I think we did really well that night, and I think the crowd was into it. The Toronto crowd. I mean, for me, if you think about it, that was 2002.”
Continuing, Stratus noted that the Mania match was only 2 years after she had debuted. The Hall of Famer also added that while some fans wanted her to win that night, it wasn’t the right time:
“So I’d only debuted two years before that. I was just blessed and honored to be in a Women’s Championship match. I mean, two years ago I would have never thought I’m going to be in front of 68,000 people at the Sky Dome performing and hopefully winning the Women’s Championship in my hometown. I didn’t win it that night. It’s fine though, but it wasn’t my time. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you should have won that night.’ I’m like no, it wasn’t the right time. It’s like the Chelsea Green win. To me, I always say sometimes there’s just the right win. It’s an organic win. It was the right moment. It wasn’t positioned like she’s the hometown girl. Let’s let her win, and I think those are really special. So that wasn’t the moment. Eventually, it was my moment.”
Featured image: WWE
