n the audio below, Trish Stratus talks to Diva-Dirt.com about the decision to have Stephanie McMahon induct her into the WWE Hall of Fame this weekend. Trish told Diva-Dirt:

“It was a difficult [choice]. There’s so many people who have had such an influence on my career and shaped my career. Getting a nod to be in the WWE Hall of Fame, it’s a look back at your career and at the end of the day, there would have been no career, no opportunity, no revamping of the women’s division if Stephanie wasn’t behind it all. When we feuded, there’s something about when you have an experience with someone that you bond with them. When we had our feud, we bonded then and we remained close ever since. She’s just always supportive of showcasing a strong, powerful woman. There would be no division and none of the women would have gotten the push that we needed, or the encouragement we needed. She and I have remained friends. I’ve watched her evolve into a businesswoman. We were at the same level — green workers having fun wrestling and then she really just got behind the scenes and became a businesswoman. It’s very empowering to see the position she has now. I retired and went into the business world and with all my endeavors, it’s a tough world for a woman. I admire her greatly and respect her greatly.”

Stephanie talked with TrishStratus.com about the induction:

“It’s hard to believe that it was a little over 10 years ago that Trish and I were in storylines together. We had a lot of fun together. I said it in my Tweet last night – she was my favorite person to slap. We both started around the same time, we were both ‘green’ as you would say.” Trish went on to become an incredible Diva in the ring… but we had the opportunity to start in a similar place. To be able to tell the story that we told was quite an amazing opportunity at a really entertaining, attitudinal time in our business. That’s one of the things that is so remarkable about Trish. It’s not common, in anyone really, to be able to develop their own brand on television and then know how to market that brand to audiences all around the world. To take Trish Stratus and the Stratusphere and turn it into an actual business that is successful and also allows you to continue to raise your profile as you market different products, and become more involved in many different opportunities. Trish is truly a business woman, and as a business woman, I appreciate and respect that, especially as Trish has really done that on her own. She is a strong, powerful, smart woman, and we need more women in leadership roles.”