Trish Stratus Explains How She Turned “First Crush” Legacy Into Smart Business Move

Trish Stratus isn’t running from her legacy — she’s cashing in on it.

During a recent conversation with Denise Salcedo, the WWE Hall of Famer addressed something she’s heard for more than two decades: that she was “everyone’s first crush.” Instead of brushing it off, Trish revealed she’s fully embraced it — and turned it into a brand concept.

Denise brought up Trish promoting her “My First Crush” signing idea and joked that nearly every guy she talks to still names Trish as their first celebrity crush. That’s when the former Women’s Champion responded with humor first.

“So old, first of all. Definitely not. Young people are telling them like, ‘You were five.’ Okay. Which is fine. Which is fine. I embrace my age. It’s fine. I’m senior talent. It’s fine.”

Rather than shy away from the nostalgia, Trish explained that the reaction from fans actually pushed her to lean into it. She referenced wearing a “My First Crush” shirt during a SmackDown appearance and realizing just how much it resonated.

“No, it’s super cool. And actually, we’re like, you know what? I’m going to run with this.”

She said fans immediately connected to it.

“When I was on — it was like about a year ago — I wore the shirt on SmackDown. Everyone’s like, it resonated with everyone. They’re like, ‘That was my… you’re speaking to me.’ And so it’s kind of cool that I’m still at this point able to be — I’m also still their crush. That’s what’s cool, you know? It wasn’t like you were back when you were. I’m still their crush.”

The idea didn’t stop at a T-shirt. Trish revealed that fans at autograph signings started requesting personalized inscriptions tied to the phrase — and that’s when she realized there was something bigger there.

“They started to be like, I was at signings and they’re like, ‘Could you write, um, your first crush?’ I’m like, I got you, you know? So now it’s like, let’s just go with this, you know. We’re going to go whole — do a whole thing with it.”

It’s a perfect example of how Trish Stratus continues to evolve her brand long after the Attitude Era. What started as fan nostalgia has now become a smart marketing hook tied to appearances, merchandise, and personal interaction. She’s not just remembered — she’s still relevant, and she knows exactly how to work that connection.

Trish has built a career on understanding timing, presentation, and fan psychology. Turning “first crush” into a full-blown signing concept proves she still has that instinct.

What do you think about Trish embracing the “first crush” legacy and turning it into a business move? Smart branding or just nostalgia marketing? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know.

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