In 2001, Trish Stratus got involved in an on-screen storyline with Vince McMahon, becoming his mistress as Vince looked to divorce his wife Linda.
The relationship between Trish and Vince played out in front of Vince's daughter Stephanie McMahon and his wife Linda.
"One of my very first storylines was being paired with Vince McMahon. Knowing that I was about to work with the boss, and with Mr. McMahon, was a huge opportunity. I was super excited about it. I don't think the storyline was pitched like, 'What's gonna happen is you're going to be Vince's mistress and you're gonna eventually drug his wife.' It wasn't quite pitched like that. I'd have gone, 'What am I gonna do now?' It was something that evolved. It was like, 'Let's see where we can take this.' Well, it took some interesting turns," Trish recalled on "Mr. McMahon."
Vince stated, "Get this now. I kissed Trish Stratus in front of my wife in a wheelchair. The reason why we did that was to show what a despicable heel I was. I mean, you can't get any more despicable."
Trish commented, "We were very aware of what we were doing to provide fuel for our storyline and Linda was super cool about it too. She was in on it. We were all in on it. There was a scene where I lean over and I kiss Linda. That came from Linda. She's like, 'It would irk so many people if you lean over and kiss me on the head.'"
Linda said, "What you must do is evoke emotion. Whether it's anger, whether it's happiness, even sometimes disgust, if the bad guy went a little too far. It's always about emotion."
Asked if anyone in his family objected to the storyline, Vince said, "I don't think our family had an objection to it because they knew I was a character. Trish was a character. As I recall, I don't think anybody had a problem with it."
The payoff to the angle was Trish turning on Vince and Linda kicking Vince in the balls at WrestleMania X-7.
Elsewhere during the documentary, Trish commented on the "bark like a dog" segment. You can find her full comments by clicking here.
Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit in January against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking. On May 30, Grant agreed to pause the lawsuit for six months while the federal investigation continued against McMahon, who resigned from TKO/WWE following the lawsuit being filed.
Victim Resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Hours: Available 24 hours
1-800-656-4673
