Hall Of Famers Trish Stratus And Lita Talk WWE Evolution
SPORTbible spoke to two of the greatest female performers of all-time...
The WWE Evolution pay-per view would not be possible without the work of Lita and Trish Stratus back in the day.
The two Hall of Famers have 11 Women's Championships between them and even though they started out in era where bra and panties matches were prominent and women were highly sexualised, in time they well and truly changed the game.
Their rivalry in between the ropes, in particular that show-stealing Raw main event for the WWE Women's Championship in 2004, paved the way for the female performers of today and it's all come full circle with them teaming together at the all women's pay-per-view in New York.
'Team Bestie' will take on the team of Mickie James (an iconic opponent for both of the two) and Alicia Fox following Alexa Bliss' concussion.
Trish, an idol for so many of the current women's roster, never thought things would progress to the point where there would be an entire pay-per-view for women but says it "means so much" to be involved in the event.
"I don't think I would have even thought about it happening - I certainly never uttered the words 'I wonder if one day there will be a women's pay-per-view'," the 41-year old told SPORTbible.
"It wasn't even at the point where we could even consider it, it was like back in the day where people would ask me, 'Did you always want to be a wrestler?' - I didn't have a chance to have that thought consideration because there was no vocation available.
"We saw women here and there but I didn't know that was an idea and something I could possibly do when I grew up so I think the same thing here.
"We were in the main event of course at times but it was kind of like a standalone thing even though we made history, it was amazing and we had the support of our colleagues, who were blown away. I never uttered the words, 'Maybe one day'. I just never did.
"I never thought it would come about. I've watched the revolution, the evolution and how it all came together, it's been amazing to watch and I'm more than honoured to be a part of it.
"I would have been more than happy to sit back and just enjoy it but to have been asked to do the Royal Rumble and now be a part of this historic event, it means so much to me.
"I feel like it's a great shout-out to the girls that came before, knowing that our blood, sweat and tears certainly still a part of the pathway paved right now."
Both were surprise entrants in the first ever women's Royal Rumble match earlier this year, with the duo typically getting incredible reactions in the pay-per-view's main event - which ended with Ronda Rousey showing up and joining the roster.
With short notice and minimal training, the pair looked like they'd never been away so you'd back them to find another level again this Sunday given their increased preparations.
"I feel like I showed in the Royal Rumble that I can kinda pull it off with zero rehearsal and without any training so this time I feel more confident because I've been able to have some heads up and some training time," Lita admitted.
"I feel like I can go in there and have fun as opposed to just having my fingers crossed and my breath held the entire time hoping that it's okay. If that was without no training and I got that out of the way, I can go in there and do my thing with some training that I've been doing."
Trish and Lita are not the only ladies of yesteryear to be thrown back into the mix after WWE announced a battle-royal featuring plenty of former talents, with the winner receiving a title shot.
A couple of Lita's former locker room-mates have been drafted in and though she feels it's right to give a nod to the post, at the same time she is of the opinion that the focus should be on the stars of today.
"It's hard because I do feel that he current roster is to be highlighted but at the same time, this being a one-off pay-per-view, I think it's important to show the evolution and that some are at least invited - and I hope that is the scenario even if we can't all have matches," the former Team Xtreme member added.
"I would love to see my entire locker room of women there: Ivory, Jacqueline, Victoria, Molly Holly, Tori, Stacy [Keibler] and Terri Runnels.
"I would love of all of the women throughout the years to be there and at least be a part of it and then let the focus be on the girls. I'm just excited to support the women that are there with my role."
The big question on everyone's lips is, of course, where do the women of WWE go from here? How can they continue this evolution?
For Trish, the next stride forward on this long, arduous but ultimately trail-blazing journey would be to have a women's match main event Wrestlemania. However, she is quick to point out that it needs to happen organically.
"Yeah I think it is the logical step but I would say I don't want to make it like, 'A women's match at Wrestlemania' - it should just be like if there's a match and a feud that is so great that it's considered to be the main event of Wrestlemania, then put it on," the one-time WWE Hardcore Champion stressed.
"I would honestly prefer it to not be like, 'We're just gonna give the women a spot in the Wrestlemania main event' - it's up to the work of the girls, the feud and the writers to put something together that great in itself that it deserves a spot and end up main eventing Wrestlemania."
You can see Lita, Trish Stratus and other all your favourite female Superstars in action at the inaugural WWE Evolution on October 28, live on the WWE Network.
Topics: Lita, Women's Wrestling, WWE Evolution, Trish Stratus, Wrestling, WWE, evolution
Josh Lawless