TNA Knockout Tara, real name Lisa Marie Varon, has spoken about a number of topics including recent rumors surrounding her in an interview with F4WOnline.
After former WWE Superstar Ken Doane seemingly implicated her as having an extramarital affair with WWE’s John Cena, the former WWE Diva — who competed as Victoria from 2002 to 2009 — has spoken out to clear her name.
Lisa says:
KD said a Diva married to someone not in the business who moved from RAW to Smackdown in 2007 was sleeping with John Cena. Considering I had nothing to do with why he was whining on the internet, he sure gave enough details about someone he claims he wasn’t trying to involve. I was the only Diva married to someone not in the business who moved from RAW to Smackdown in 2007.
I want to address this both professionally and personally. Professionally, you hear people talk about ‘backstage politics’ in wrestling. I’ll tell you what that means to me. Backstage politics is not some kind of psychological maneuvering. You work and travel with your wrestling co-workers more than you want to work and travel with anyone. The people who complain about backstage politics generally don’t have the ability to respectfully interact with others.
I treat everyone with respect. Everyone. Ask the caterers, building security, wrestlers, executives, crew, fans, anyone, who I don’t treat with respect and they would be at a loss for words. And because you spend so much time with these people, you know a lot about the people who you travel with and work closely with. I found that the best way to not make waves is to keep my eyes and ears open, and my mouth shut when it comes to other people’s business.
The people who complain that they were the victim of backstage politics often either don’t show people respect, or bud into other people’s business.
On a personal level, what KD said was mostly false, although there was a little truth.
I have been with my husband for 20 years. He’s the best guy in the world. But like any 20 year relationship, we have some good times and we have had some bad times. And anyone who I traveled with knows that. Because you learn intimate details about each other whether you want to or not.
We have separated a few times. One of those times that we were separated, I dated John for about a month. It was not in 2006 or 2007. It was in 2002. It was when we were both in Louisville. I was married but separated. John was single. I was never his ‘road girlfriend’. I know that when we were separated, my husband also dated a couple girls. That’s what happens when you are separated.
In 2002, it was common knowledge that John and I dated. It fed the rumor mills for people who have nothing better to do than gossip like old ladies. So for KD to use bits of information that he was only able to pick up because he was allowed in the inner circle of WWE, and smear me, when I only treated KD with respect, over an incident that he is upset about from 5 years ago, tells me that he didn’t learn anything about ‘backstage politics’ and how it relates to being a decent human being.
Moving forward, I’m a glass-is-half-full kind of girl. Only my glass isn’t half full. My glass is 99% full. I am blessed. And I’m done discussing the 1%.
Regarding wrestling, Lisa has lots of kind words for other women in the business. She says:
I’ve worked with A LOT of girls. So I want to apologize to anyone I leave out. I learned a lot from Molly Holly and Ivory. I had great matches with Trish and Lita. Nattie Neidhart reminds me of myself in her attention to detail of the craft. I wish I would have had more of a chance to work with Beth Pheonix. To this day I feel bad about breaking her jaw. Jazz was super intense in the ring. I was afraid she would freak out and kill me, even when she was on my team. I saw Eve and Michelle McCool as bikini models coming in, but they both have incredible work ethic and both became great wrestlers. I had so much fun working with Torrie and Candice. Gail Kim is a great athlete. Mickie is very ambitious. ODB and Kong were the two that I most looked forward to facing in TNA. Christy Hemme has great stage presence. Brooke Tessmacher is the future of women’s wrestling. Angelina Love is a good mean blond. But I don’t know if she knows that she is a great all around wrestler and I think she has the ability to be amazing as more than just a mean blond. Rosita has a great future.
Sarita is a warrior. If I started my own promotion, I’d build it around Sarita. If I needed someone to get my back in a street fight. I’d get Sarita. If I were the CEO of a company, Sarita would be on my board of directors. She knows how to succeed, and she has unparalleled work ethic. She is the most under utilized talent in wrestling. Pound for pound the most hardcore female I have ever met. And a super nice person.
Lisa also addresses her future in wrestling, adding:
I don’t know how much longer I want to continue. And I don’t have a time frame. As long as I can keep fit, love what I do, and am proud of my work, I will continue. My knee and elbow are both very minor, and are manageable. I know that at my age, I am one injury away from retirement.
There’s plenty more discussed in the interview, which is a great read and should provide plenty of water cooler discussion. Check it out here.
