Former five-time TNA Knockouts Champion and two-time WWE Women’s Champion, Lisa Marie Varon, announced she is retiring from in-ring competition, in 2019. Lisa, formerly known as Victoria during her run in WWE and Tara of TNA, made the announcement today, via Twitter and Instagram.
The nearly 20-year veteran didn’t say what her “next adventure” will be, but she’s bound to be an eventual Hall of Famer. She debuted in August of 2000, and made her first WWE appearance as Victoria in 2002, on an episode of Sunday Night Heat. Victoria became WWE Women’s Champion in her first year.
She is probably the most famous for her run with the company, spanning until Jan. 2009. Her heel character, feud with Trish Stratus, and notoriously vicious finishing move, Widows Peak, set her apart from her contemporaries and made her a fan-favorite.
She went on to wrestle for TNA (now known as Impact) later that year, using the new ring name Tara. During her four-year tenure, she was a TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with Brooke Tessmacher, and a five-time TNA Women’s Knockouts Champion. After her release, she worked the indie circuit including: entering Chikara’s King of Trios tournament with WWE colleagues Jazz and Mickie James, and a run at Ring of Honor.
Varon’s last match was at OVW 1000 last October, marking her return to the Louisville-based promotion where she trained in 2000. Hopefully, the announcement could set up a return to WWE for Royal Rumble or Queen of the Ring, later this year. It would be a fitting send-off. She’s been one of the most glaring absences when celebrating the women’s division from that era.
Regardless of what she does next, Lisa Marie Varon will go down as a legend. Check back with Diva Dirt for any updates on her next in-ring appearance.
