Quick Links
While a number of fans lament the old-school way that WWE presented its women's wrestlers in the early 2000s, it is hard to deny that a number of the ladies during that period would become some of the most iconic female stars in wrestling. Names like Trish Stratus, Lita, Mickie James, and Gail Kim would pave the way for future generations. Another name that was a key figure in the 2000s and 2010s for women's wrestling would be Lisa Marie Varon, known as Victoria during her time in WWE, and Tara during her time wrestling in the Knockouts Division for TNA. While she is a legend in her own right, many fans may not know how she got into the wrestling business in the first place, with an interesting career beginning during the early days in the medical field.
Victoria's Journey Started In The Fitness World
Looking back to the beginning of her wrestling story, during her senior year in high school, Lisa Marie Varon was nationally recognized by the National Cheerleading Association, being chosen to cheer at the NFL 1989 Pro Bowl, alongside 70 cheerleaders. After graduating, she studied biology at the University of California, and she studied medicine at Loma Linda University, with the intent on becoming a physician. While working as a human tissue coordinator at the Inland Eye and Tissue Bank in California, Lisa Marie was also working as a personal trainer before entering the world of fitness competitions and professional modeling. Through her good looks and athletic ability, she would catch the eye of many people, including Chyna, Trish Stratus, and a number of WWE scouts.
Breaking out through a number of steamy shoots and victories at fitness competitions, after meeting Chyna, Lisa would be convinced to try and become a wrestler. Following the advice from Chyna, Varon would begin training and developing her first gimmick, a stuck-up cheerleader character, before sending in materials to WWE. After scouting from Bruce Prichard and Kevin Kelly, she would be brought into the company shortly after, beginning the wrestling journey of a future women's legend.
Victoria's Wrestling Career Began In 2000
Lisa Marie Varon would officially begin appearing for WWE during 2000, where she would portray one of The Godfather's Ho's. She would eventually even be given a name during this period, the name that would stick for her entire WWE career, Victoria. Following her on-screen boss' turn into The Goodfather, Victoria would lead a "Save The Ho's" movement among the other women that were used for his services. She would even take her first on-screen bump during this story, eating a powerbomb through a table from The Goodfather. Victoria would be taken off TV later that year in order to be sent to developmental where she could further increase her wrestling skills before becoming a full-time wrestler with the company.
She would officially debut as a member of the women's division in 2002, immediately targeting Trish Stratus in a story that tied back to their time as fitness models. At Survivor Series, Victoria would defeat Trish in a Hardcore Match to win her first WWE Women's Championship, thus beginning a legendary career for the women's wrestling icon.
Lisa Marie Varon Wrestled For 20 Years
During her wrestling career in WWE, Victoria would win the WWE Women's Championship on two occasions, with her first coming early in her career after defeating Trish Stratus for the belt. The second title reign would come after she defeated Molly Holly in a hair vs title match at WrestleMania 20. Her career would not end there, however, as she would continue to be featured in WWE as a heel alongside Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson as the group known as Vince's Devils. Following her departure from the company in 2009, Victoria would jump ship to TNA and would make waves as a part of the trend-setting TNA Knockouts Division.
Alongside names like Mickie James, Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, Madison Rayne, and Velvet Sky, Victoria would find success at yet another point in her career, winning the Knockouts Championship 5 times over the course of her career. She would also have a reign as Knockouts Tag Team Champion with Brooke Tessmacher. In 2021, Victoria would return to WWE in the Royal Rumble before officially retiring.