Stephanie Finochio, also known as Trinity, is an American multi-talented performer who has worked as a stuntwoman, actress, and previously as a professional wrestler and valet for NWA Total Nonstop Action and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Early Life & Education
Stephanie Finochio grew up in Long Island, New York, and completed her education at Lindenhurst Senior High School in 1989. She then went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Dowling College in 1994.
Afterward, she went back to Dowling and obtained a master’s degree in education in 2000. Finochio has been a dancer for more than two decades and is also a certified aerobics instructor.
Stephanie Finochio’s Wrestling Career
On October 10, 2002, Finochio had her first professional wrestling match under the name “Stephanie Trinity” after finishing her training. She was defeated by Phoenix. Three days later, she faced and defeated Simply Luscious, marking her first win in the world of professional wrestling.
Stephanie Finochio, under the name Stephanie Starr, had her first Chikara match on October 26 but was defeated by Mercedes Martinez. She then faced Luscious again on November 1 but was unable to secure a victory. On January 17, 2003, Trinity challenged Bam Bam Bambi for the NWA Canadian Women’s Championship but was ultimately defeated.
Trinity became the new CSWF Women’s Champion on September 13 after defeating April Hunter. She successfully defended her title for the first time on February 21, 2004, against Ariel.
However, on August 28, 2004, Trinity’s reign as champion came to an end when she lost to Hunter in a four-way match that also included Ariel and Tracy Brooks, after holding the title for 350 days.
Trinity participated in the first-ever Queens of Chaos event on May 13, 2005, where she took part in a battle royal to crown the promotion’s first World Champion. However, Nikita emerged as the victor.
Stephanie Finochio had a try-out match with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2005, teaming up with Chris Cage and losing to Beth Phoenix and Aaron Stevens on November 9.
Following this, she appeared on the January 6, 2006 episode of Heat with Talia Madison in a segment involving The Heart Throbs. As a result, WWE offered Finochio a contract.
Stephanie Finochio debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling on March 22, 2006, as a special guest referee. She made her in-ring debut on March 29 against Sosay but was attacked by Phoenix, resulting in a no-contest. She lost to Phoenix in a match on April 5.
Trinity and Kelly Kelly joined forces on January 13, 2007, at an ECW house show, but unfortunately, they were defeated by Michelle McCool and Jillian Hall. The next day, Trinity’s last match in WWE took place where she and Kelly were once again bested by McCool and Hall. Eventually, Trinity’s WWE contract was terminated on June 22, 2007.
Following her departure from WWE, Finochio decided to retire from the world of professional wrestling and focus on her career as a stunt performer. However, on September 20, 2008, she briefly came back to the ring under her previous name, Stephanie Starr, and was defeated in a triple threat match against Peggy Lee Leather and Fantasy.
Stephanie Finochio joined the Strong Island Derby Revolution on April 19, 2012, and started competing in roller derby. On March 17, 2013, Trinity returned to TNA for their One Night Only event, Knockouts Knockdown, which was broadcast on September 6, 2013. During the PPV, Trinity faced ODB but was unsuccessful in securing a victory.
Movies
Aside from her wrestling career, Stephanie Finochio has also dabbled in cinema. She has acted in movies such as Before Sundown (2005) as Sheriff, Knock, Knock (2007) as Rachel Volpe, Jesse (2011) as Jesse, and Coalition (2004) as Leah.
She is also a successful stunt actress. Some of her credits include:
- Strangers with Candy (2005)
- War of the Worlds (2005)
- World Trade Center (2006)
- The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
- Awake (2007)
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- Burn After Reading (2008)
- Duplicity (2009)
- Sex and the City 2 (2010)
- The Night Never Sleeps (2012)
