Trish Stratus believes that the WWE Women’s division would look a lot different in the modern day if it were not for the work that Fit Finlay put in.
Before his in-ring return in 2004, Finlay served as a WWE producer in the early 2000s. This transition came after his WCW career concluded when the promotion was acquired by the rival company. Finlay was entrusted with orchestrating matches for the Women’s Division during a period when women’s wrestling in WWE was vastly distinct from what it is today.
While speaking at Big Texas Comic Con, Stratus revealed how Finlay saw that individual quality in her and helped to develop the Hall of Famer into a multi-time World Champion.
“He obviously was so pivotal in the green Trish Stratus to not-so-green Trish Stratus,” she said. “He saw that little something in me and he really brought that out of me.”
Over time the women of WWE would start to compete in more competitive and serious matches much like the men, such as the steel cage match between Lita and Victoria on November 24th, 2003. Stratus would reveal that it was Finlay who was the catalyst for this and the changes would be subtle enough that higher-ups did not notice:
“I mean from management we almost kind of did it under the radar, like let’s just go there and have these matches that are not those typical female matches and he allowed us to do that and he helped us,” she said. “He was just so good with the women at the time and putting together the stuff and bringing stuff out of people, keeping everything very individual for each girl.”
Finlay is still a part of the company today as an assistant coach at the Performance Center.
Trish Stratus Shows Impact Of Last Match
The Hall of Famer’s most recent match to date saw her compete in a steel cage match against Becky Lynch at Payback. Despite an assist from Zoey Stark, Stratus was unable to defeat The Man in the physical encounter. When all was said and done, Trish Stratus revealed the aftermath of her match at Payback.
H/t to Wrestling Inc.