Trish Stratus Returns to WWE—But Why Does TKO Keep Banking on the Past?

The queen of 2000s wrestling crushes is back—Trish Stratus is stepping into the WWE ring once again, this time for the long-awaited return of Evolution.

On the July 4th edition of SmackDown, current WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was moments away from choosing her opponent for Evolution 2, set for July 13th. But the segment took a turn when Jade Cargill entered to confront her—only for both women to be upstaged by the iconic Trish Stratus, who made a surprise appearance that sent fans into a frenzy.

In a twist that shocked even Stratton herself, she chose Stratus as her Evolution opponent, setting the stage for a generational clash between one of WWE’s brightest new stars and one of its most legendary trailblazers.

This marks Stratus’ first match since teaming with Stratton to defeat Nia Jax and Candice LeRae at Elimination Chamber. And while fans are hyped to see the Hall of Famer lace up her boots again, the move raises a familiar question:

🔁 Is TKO too dependent on nostalgia to fuel the future of WWE?

With Evolution 2 shaping up to be a massive night—headlined by NXT title matches, a Women’s Tag Team Fatal 4-Way featuring Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez, and now Trish’s big return—WWE is once again pulling from its legacy talent vault to drum up buzz.

Sure, it works. Stratus remains one of the most beloved figures in WWE history—“your first crush” energy in full effect—but some fans are wondering: where's the focus on building new stars without needing a Hall of Famer safety net?

While the card is filling fast and fan interest is high, the success of Evolution 2 might rest on more than nostalgia. If WWE wants to create lasting momentum in the women's division, it’ll need more than just a walk down memory lane.

Still, with Trish Stratus vs. Tiffany Stratton locked in, Evolution 2 promises fireworks—and maybe a few tears of 2000s-era joy.