Lisa Marie Varon

Lisa Marie Varon
Born	(1971-02-10) February 10, 1971 San Bernardino, California
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	H.B.I.C. (Head Bitch In Charge) Queen Victoria Victoria
Billed height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Billed weight	136 lb (62 kg)
Billed from	Los Angeles, California
Trained by	Ultimate Pro Wrestling Memphis Championship Wrestling Ohio Valley Wrestling Rob Conway Nick Dinsmore Randy Orton Dave Finlay Nora Greenwald
Debut	June 2000

Lisa Marie Varon, better known as Victoria (born February 10, 1971), is an American professional wrestler currently working for the RAW brand of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Career

Born to a Puerto Rican father and a Turkish mother, Lisa Marie Varon grew up with three older brothers, all of whom became amateur wrestlers. After studying Bio-Med at UCLA and Loma Linda University with thoughts of becoming a doctor, Varon worked as a Human Tissue Coordinator at the Inland Eye and Tissue Bank in Redlands, California, where she was heavily involved in the process of organ donation (she has stated that she would someday like to return to the field of organ donation.)

Varon later began pursuing a career in bodybuilding, fitness competition, modeling, and acting. She appeared on ESPN's Fitness America Series in 1997 and 1998, winning on the latter occasion, and had roles in V.I.P. and Nikki in May and October 2000 respectively. While in South Florida for the 1998 Miss Galaxy Competition, Varon met and befriended fellow fitness contestant Torrie Wilson. The following year, Wilson signed a contract with the professional wrestling promotion World Championship Wrestling and invited Varon to a WCW television taping.

While visiting Wilson backstage at a WCW show, a road agent asked Varon to appear in a segment with Scott Hall. Varon filmed the segment, which featured her sitting on Hall's lap and playing with his hair, and began considering pursuing a career in wrestling. After Wilson tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain a WCW contract for Varon, she returned to California in an attempt to secure work in the television industry. She also did some indy wrestling, and learnt the widow's peak from Roderick Strong.

World Wrestling Federation developmental talent

2000

While working for Crunch Fitness as a trainer in Los Angeles, California in 2000, Varon met World Wrestling Federation employee Chyna, who complemented her on her appearance and encouraged her to become a wrestler. Chyna introduced Varon to WWF officials Jim Ross and Kevin Kelly, and she was hired. Varon was assigned to Ultimate Pro Wrestling, a Southern Californian developmental territory and training camp of the WWF. While training in UPW, Varon was given the gimmick of a domineering cheerleader known as the H.B.I.C. (Head Bitch In Charge).

Like several other divas, Varon made her on-screen debut in the WWF as one of the Godfather's "hos" Victoria. After the Godfather lost a match to Bull Buchanan on July 19, 2000, he was indoctrinated by the conservative Right to Censor faction. Victoria, billed as the "head ho," began a "save the hos" campaign, protesting with placards during R.T.C. matches. R.T.C. eventually responded, with leader Steven Richards ordering the Godfather, now known as the "Goodfather," to drive Victoria through a table on the August 7, 2000 episode of RAW. On the October 9, 2000 episode of RAW, Victoria made her last appearance on WWE as a "ho" when GTV footage of Victoria and another ho Mandy cavorting in a shower with Eddie Guerrero was responsible for the on-screen breakup of Guerrero and his fiancée Chyna.

2001

Varon, by now contracted as a wrestler, was sent to Memphis Championship Wrestling in Memphis, Tennessee, another WWF developmental territory. In MCW, she acted as commissioner for a time, managed Steve Bradley, and feuded with Stacy Carter and R.T.C. member Ivory. In 2001, with MCW closing, she was transferred to Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky, where she trained under Molly Holly who taught her Widow's Peak finisher. Using the name Queen Victoria (named after the British monarch of the same name), Varon managed the "Machine" Doug Basham and the Damaja, later known collectively as the Basham Brothers. In OVW, Victoria used a manuever known as the Dragonrana, a 450 hurricanrana, but the move was considered too dangerous for WWE TV and has not been used since her stint in OVW.

World Wrestling Entertainment

2002-2003

After spending a considerable amount of time training in MCW and OVW, Varon returned to the renamed World Wrestling Entertainment on the July 7, 2002 episode of Sunday Night HEAT, losing to Trish Stratus . She was formally reintroduced on the August 5, 2002 episode of RAW as Victoria, the heel trainee of Molly Holly. Her character was quickly established as that of a psychopath who was jealous of Stratus' success and wanted to make her life a living hell.

In the culmination of a feud lasting four months, Victoria defeated Stratus for the WWE Women's Championship in a Hardcore match at Survivor Series 2002. The following night on RAW, she defeated Stacy Keibler and debuted her finisher the "Widow's Peak." After the match, Steven Richards foiled an attempt at retribution by Stratus, beginning a pairing with Victoria that would last for over a year.

Victoria's feud with Stratus continued for several more months, encompassing a street fight on the January 27, 2003 episode of RAW, which was won by Victoria. Varon's reign lasted until WrestleMania XIX when she lost to Stratus in a triple threat match that also included Jazz. Following the loss, it was speculated that she had dropped the title in order to allow for her to have surgery on her right knee, which she had injured some time earlier. However, instead of having surgery, Varon opted to wear a knee brace during matches, a practice she continues to this day. In November, Victoria defeated Lita in the first ever female versus female Steel Cage Match on RAW, with help from Matt Hardy.

For the remainder of 2003, Victoria continued to compete in the women's division, in addition to accompanying the by now self-proclaimed "General Manager of HEAT" Stevie Richards wherever he went. As time progressed, she began to receive babyface reactions, prompting the WWE creative team to turn her into a face by the end of the year. With the WWE creative team unconvinced that Varon's gimmick would befit a face wrestler, Victoria began to exhibit certain characteristics of a "good girl," such as having a more revealing wardrobe, allowing young boys to kiss her while she approached the ring, and dancing at the top of the ramp to techno music remix of her new theme "Don't Mess With". The drastic character change was criticized by a number of fans who complained that it lacked an explanation and deprived Varon of a unique gimmick.

2004-2005

Victoria's face run began on WWE Sunday Night HEAT after winning a number one contenders match against Ivory with Molly Holly hitting her over the head with a belt. The next night in a Happy Holidays six woman tag match after her team lost she hit Molly Holly in the face with the belt receiving applause from the fans. Finally on the February 23, 2004 episode of RAW, Victoria won a four-way elimination match to capture the Women's Championship for a second time. Her feud with Holly reached its zenith at WrestleMania XX on March 14, 2004 in a Hair vs Title match. Varon pinned Holly, who subsequently had her head shaved bald as a result of the stipulation of the match. Victoria would go on to feud with Gail Kim before losing the title on June 13, 2004 at Bad Blood 2004 to a heel Trish Stratus in a four-way match that also included Gail Kim and Lita.

File:Victoria Reverse Chinlock.jpg

Victoria holds Trish Stratus in a bridging reverse chinlock.

After losing the title, Victoria renewed her feud with Stratus, and the pair had several matches where Stratus' henchman Tyson Tomko interfered only to be stopped by a man dressed as a woman. This man was later revealed as Stevie Richards, who had left Victoria without any on-air explanation when she became face. However, Stratus suffered a broken hand at a house show that would derail the feud for several weeks. Their feud resumed after SummerSlam 2004, but by this point WWE was more concerned with building up a feud between Trish Stratus and Lita. Their second feud culminated on September 12, 2004 at Unforgiven 2004, where Stratus retained her title with the help of Tomko. Following the end of the feud, Victoria continued to compete in the women's division, albeit with her on-air time greatly reduced. The releases of Gail Kim, Nidia, and Jazz left little competition in the division for Victoria.

On the May 30, 2005 episode of RAW, Victoria reverted back to a heel by attacking Maria Kanellis, Candice Michelle, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Christy Hemme following a loss to Christy in a swimsuit contest and citing jealousy at the opportunities that Hemme had received. Her actions were met with applause by the audience, which was interpreted by some as annoyance on the part of the crowd at the influx of female performers with limited wrestling experience. This resulted in a six person tag team match in which Christy's team was disqualified after Hemme refused to stop choking Victoria. In the following weeks Victoria would break a glass jar over Hemme's head during a backstage interview and would go on to defeat Hemme at Vengeance 2005 on June 26, where she once again enjoyed the support of the live audience. During this time, she also had a brief rivalry with Stacy Keibler, which led to a match on an international edition of WWE Heat, which Victoria won.

Victoria was eventually introduced as the enforcer of Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle on RAW, and the trio eventually became known as "Vince's Devils," a play on the Charlie's Angels TV show and movies. She helped them attack Diva Search 2005 winner Ashley Massaro. She would stay with the stable while they feuded with Trish Stratus, Ashley Massaro, Mickie James, and Maria.

File:Victoria vs Carlito.jpg

Victoria vs Carlito in a Beat the Clock match

During her time in Vince's Devils, Victoria wrestled male competitor Carlito in a Beat the Clock match on the December 26 edition of RAW, where she was the only female competitor. Despite interference from all the members of Vince's Devils, including Torrie Wilson's dog Chloe, Victoria would lose the match in two minutes and thirty-six seconds after suffering Carlito's then-newly introduced modified swinging inverted neckbreaker finisher. Carlito spat an apple in Victoria's face after the match.

2006

The next week, Victoria, angered by her loss to Carlito, led Vince's Devils to the ring and interrupted Maria's Kiss Cam segment. They attacked and stripped Maria until Ashley Massaro made the save; which was thwarted by the three women. Later in the night, it was announced that the five women would compete at New Year's Revolution in a Bra & Panties Gauntlet Match. During the match, Maria eliminated both Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle, but was instantly eliminated by Victoria. After eliminating Maria, The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young came down to the ring and stripped Victoria's shirt off, giving Ashley the easy win.

Vince's Devils would appear regularly on WWE TV until Candice, with Victoria by her side, turned on Wilson a few weeks before WrestleMania 22. Following the implosion of Vince's Devils, Victoria would remain active in the Women's Division and make sporadic appearances on RAW, as well as try-out matches with independent women's wrestlers on HEAT: Talia Madison, Cheerleader Melissa, and Mercedes Martinez.

On the June 5, 2006 episode of RAW, Victoria fractured the jaw of the newly debuted Beth Phoenix after giving her an open palm slap while Phoenix's mouth was open. Phoenix would go on to win the match, but she would be out of action for several months.

Victoria competed in the tournament to crown the new WWE Women's Champion after Trish had vacated the title at Unforgiven 2006. She was eliminated from the tournament by Mickie James who advanced in the tournament. At Cyber Sunday, Victoria grabbed Mickie James' leg as she ran against the ropes, distracting her and allowing Lita to deliver a DDT and win the finals of the WWE Women's Championship tournament.

On the November 27, 2006 episode of RAW, Victoria dominated Melina, Torrie Wilson, Maria, and Candice Michelle in a number one contender battle royal for the WWE Women's Championship (eliminating all the divas). She injured Candice Michelle's nose in the process with a kick to the face, before hitting Candice with her signature Widow's Peak. The next week, Victoria had a checklist with the RAW Divas names on it, checking off divas after she defeated them in matches, week after week. She also attacked Lilian Garcia, who was not originally on the list. On December 18, Victoria defeated Mickie James in a non title match, checking her name off the list, as well.

2007

Victoria was given a championship match at New Year's Revolution 2007, where she would lose to Mickie. Just before this match, Victoria formed an alliance with Melina, with whom she occasionally teams up with for tag team matches. She even assisted Melina in her backstage brawl with Mickie during the first ever Women's Falls Count Anywhere Match on RAW. Victoria makes appearences on RAW occasionaly, teaming with Melina in tag matches, and HEAT singles action.

Wrestling facts

File:Victoria Widows peak large.jpg

Victoria nails Christy Hemme with the Widow's Peak

• Finishing and signature moves
  • Widow's Peak (Gory neckbreaker)
  • Spider's Web (Fireman's carry into swinging sidewalk slam)
  • Black Widow (Sitout inverted powerbomb)
  • Standing moonsault with theatrics
  • Moonsault (on the second or top rope)
  • Savate kick
  • Slingshot somersault legdrop
  • Powerslam
  • Bridging reverse chinlock
  • Hair-pull Gory Special
  • Cross armbreaker
  • Surfboard
  • Knee lift (with her braced right leg)
  • Snap suplex
  • Gorilla Press Slam ( into front slam or gut buster)
• Double team signature moves
  • Double hair-pull mat slam-- with Melina
  • Tree of woe (Victoria) into a running straddle (Melina)
  • Bite of the Dragon (Melina) into a Savate kick (Victoria)

• Wrestlers managed by Victoria
  • Doug Basham
  • Steve Bradley
  • Damaja
  • Steven Richards
  • Candice Michelle
  • Torrie Wilson

• Nicknames
  • Vicious Vixen
  • Jacked Up Jezebel

• Themes
  • From December 2002-May 2004, Varon used a modified version of "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u..
  • From May of 2004, Varon used an instrumental of "All the Things She Said" as the WWE's license of the song ended.
  • From June of 2005, Varon turned face and used the WWE production of "Don't Mess With" from the WWE ThemeAddict album.
  • Following Victoria's heel turn in the summer of 2005, Varon began to use a slower more sinister version of "Don't Mess With".

Championships and accomplishments

• World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Women's Championship (2 times)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Woman of the Year (2004)

Personal information

Pizzeria that Varon owns in Louisville, Kentucky

Varon and Trish Stratus used to be fitness models together. This real life fact was actually used as an often-overlooked key element to the first "psycho heel Victoria vs. Trish" angle. When explaining her psychotic jealousy against Trish in an interview on RAW, Victoria went on to reveal that they were fitness models together until Trish left for success in wrestling without her, although this was not all completely the case in real life.

In a January 2005 interview, she was quoted as confessing that she was legitimately jealous of the salary and opportunities given to WWE Diva Search winner Christy Hemme. She later retracted and refuted this statement on her website, claiming that the reporter had twisted her words and that she and Hemme were friends .

In a running gag on his website, Lance Storm maintains that he and Varon are siblings, but this is not the case, as the two are unrelated .

She has a tattoo of a heart on her ankle, which she got in high school and hid from her parents. .

External links

• Official Site
• Lisa Marie Varon's Myspace Profile
• WWE profile
• Fat Tony's Website of restaurant Varon owns.
• Solie's title histories
• Victoria at Online World of Wrestling
• Victoria's secret
• Complete Interview: Victoria