WWE icon Trish Stratus announces heartbreaking personal news

WWE legend Trish Stratus has announced her mother has died after a battle with cancer.

Stratus announced in a heartbreaking Instagram post that her mom, Alice Stratigeas, passed away last week. 

It comes two weeks after the 49-year-old had to pull out of an appearance in Wales because 'my mom needs me by her side right now'.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Stratus wrote: 'My mama is gone. I don’t even know how to write this… she passed last week and I haven’t been able to find the words.

'It’s as if writing the words makes it more real that my best friend, my safe place, my go-to, the one who was there for every single moment of my life, showing up for me in ways that no one else ever could for every milestone, every heartbreak, every joy - is gone. She was always there and now she won’t be.

'You’ve all seen her by my side - cheering me on from the crowd, along for my travels, exceeding expectations as a Nana - practically a second mom to my children. My kids only know a life where their Nana was always there. Explaining to them that she won’t be there anymore was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.

'She fought through so many battles in her life with a strength that amazed me, and even in her hardest days, she was still thinking of everyone else first. That was my mama - selfless, brave, and full of love.' 

Stratus went on to say that her 'heart feels broken in a way I can’t describe' and 'life will never feel the same,'

Stratus is widely considered to be one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time and her 448-day reign as women's champion is still the longest in WWE history.

The Canadian has enjoyed sporadic appearances in WWE since her official retirement in 2006.

She beat former best friend Lita in her final match in the company in her home town of Toronto to become the women's champion for a seventh time - the most on record before the title was vacated.