Stratus came to fame during a time where women weren’t exactly the top draw in WWE, and while many fans who grew up in the Attitude Era into the Ruthless Aggression Era may remember her as their “first crush” due to her stunning beauty, Stratus was a pioneer for the women who came after her. She proved that she wasn’t just a pretty face over the last 25 years, evolving from a fitness model to one of the Greatest of All Time.

She served as a coach on “Tough Enough” in 2011 in an effort to give back to the business. Stratus was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, the sixth woman to have received the honor, in 2013 ahead of WrestleMania 29.

Stratus can be considered one of the GOATs of WWE for many reasons, including her seven women’s championships and excellent matches over the years when women weren’t really having them, from her “Raw” main event alongside Lita, to her WrestleMania 22 match against James. As wrestling retirements often go, Stratus wasn’t done after first stepping away from the ring, and proved herself in today’s world of female stars, mixing in up in unfamiliar match types years removed from her full-time career, and when her two children could see her mix it up in the ring. Her popularity spilled over outside of the ring, as well, and she has appeared in various TV shows and movies over the years, including a run from 2022 to 2024 as a judge on “Canada’s Got Talent.”

She’s been a role model for many stars of today, including Alexa Bliss, Deonna Purrazzo, Mandy Rose, Shazza McKenzie, and more. Through her continued work in WWE, it’s safe to say this GOAT will be an inspiration for many more stars in the future.