During an interview on the Getting Over podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus spoke about her experience working on the Wrestlemania 20 storyline where she turned heel and aligned with Christian.
Initially, Trish’s storyline was planned to revolve around a quirky Canadian comedy duo with Chris Jericho. However, Vince McMahon changed the plans on the night of WrestleMania, telling Trish that she would be turning heel instead. Trish was taken aback by the sudden change, as it was months of work that led to that moment. However, she embraced the change and worked alongside Jericho as a heel, which turned out to be her best work as a villain in her career.
Despite the initial disappointment, Trish explained that Christian’s injury allowed her character to grow and take center stage as the main focus of the storyline. It allowed her to work alongside Jericho and learn from him while showcasing her skills as a heel. Trish acknowledged that everything happens for a reason, and the change in plans turned out to be a positive experience for her. She also noted that the fans were thrilled by the unexpected turn of events and it was one of the most memorable moments in her career.
“During that storyline, it was supposed to be, the whole beginning of the storyline was for Chris Jericho and I to end up together and we were going to be Trishtopher, and we were this quirky Canadian comedy duo, which people get annoyed with but find endearing. That was supposed to be the whole thing. When Vince came to us, the night of WrestleMania, and said, ‘I think we’re going to change things up. We’re going to have…’ and he explained I would go heel. ‘What? This is so many months of storyline to get to this moment.’ We were excited about it. We thought fans wanted this, and they did, and that’s why he changed it. Fans wanted it so bad, he thought no one ever expected me to turn. For me, personally, it was a great moment and I was able to turn.
That was the first change that allowed for something positive. Christian ended up getting injured, I hate to say it, it helped my character because I wasn’t a side piece anymore, I was ‘the one.’ It was basically Jericho vs. Trish Stratus. The guys were fighting on my behalf, maybe Tomko would have a match, but the storyline was Trish and Jericho. It allowed me to grow as a heel, work alongside Jericho, who is amazing and I learned so much working in that capacity. It could have been really good, but I think everything happens for a reason. That was my best work as a heel, and my most enjoyable time, for sure. Who knows what it could have been had Christian continued, but it was what it was, and I think it worked out pretty good
