Trish Stratus had a hilarious reaction after being reminded of an old photo of Roman Reigns that has made the rounds among WWE fans.
The WWE Hall of Famer appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s show in Toronto and was asked about a throwback picture showing a young Roman Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa’i, standing beside a personalized, signed Trish Stratus poster.
“Have you seen the photo of a young Roman Reigns with a Trish Stratus poster?” Van Vliet asked.
“I have,” Stratus replied, before pointing out that the poster had been personalized. That made her think she must have met Reigns when he was younger.
“It’s personalized and everything. So like, I must’ve met him. ‘Hello Joe, aren’t you cute?’”
Van Vliet then told Stratus that it was fair to say she was Reigns’ first crush. She agreed before appearing to remember the encounter in greater detail.
“Actually, no. I actually vividly remember it now. I was like this, ‘Joe, how are you? Good to see you. Let me sign that for you. What’s that? First crush? Ah, cute. And then I went, ‘I’ll see you later (doing her famous finger-point pose then raising her arm to a Bloodline finger pose). I’m just saying. I’m just saying. I’m just saying origin stories, okay. Who was doing the point first? Acknowledge Trish.”
The crowd sided with Stratus, chanting her name after the question.
The reference to the pointing gesture was a nod to Reigns’ presentation as The Tribal Chief. His raised-hand gesture became one of the recognizable parts of his character, particularly alongside his “Acknowledge Me” catchphrase.
Stratus was clearly playing around with the connection. Still, the throwback photo gave her a chance to revisit a moment from long before Roman Reigns became one of WWE’s biggest stars.
Trish Stratus Previously Joked That Roman Reigns “Acknowledges” Her
The same photo had already led to another memorable exchange between the two WWE names in 2023.
After Stratus returned to WWE television and delivered a promo on RAW in which she said, “I am not a nostalgia act, I am not your childhood fantasy,” the throwback image resurfaced online.
WWE on TNT Sports joked that the picture suggested “The OTC” might have a different view. Stratus then joined in on the joke, posting:
“At least @WWERomanReigns acknowledges me.”
The line played directly off Reigns’ “Acknowledge Me” catchphrase and turned the old photograph into another piece of wrestling social-media lore.
More than three years later, Chris Van Vliet’s question brought the photo back into the conversation, and the former WWE Women’s Champion once again leaned into the joke.
For someone who spent years as one of WWE’s most recognizable female stars, Stratus clearly has no problem having a little fun with the idea that she was once a young Reigns’ favorite wrestler.
