Motorcycles a Passion for WWE Diva
By Linda “Jo” Giovannoni (Motocycling columnist)
March 6, 2006
Diva wrestlers have been around for half of a century. Meet Lisa Marie (dubbed Victoria for her wrestling career) born in San Bernardino, Calif. Victoria grew up under the shadow of three older brothers, all amateur wrestlers. Almost destined to be a tomboy, by the tender young age of 9 she was riding a 50cc dirt bike to keep up with her brothers.
Victoria proudly explained, “One day my brother Mike said, “Go check out the back yard.’ I wondered if I had done something wrong. Instead, there sat a Honda 80cc … my brother bought me my first motorcycle! Down the road I moved up to a 125cc. One day while we were riding in the desert I got separated from my brothers. I was looking down, navigating the rough terrain, when suddenly another motorcycle was coming right at me. We hit head-on. I have to say, for a time I was terrified about riding again. I knew if I did not get back on soon, I might not again. I’ve been an athlete since high school, competing in gymnastics, track, cheerleading, motocross, playing baseball, riding Jet Skis and ATVs and even dancing (hip- hip, ballet and jazz). I was chosen along with a handful of girls nationwide to cheer during halftime at the 1989 NFL Pro Bowl. I won a bodybuilding competition and had a short but successful run as a fitness competitor, where I earned and still hold an IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness) card. There were not many women in wrestling school so I mostly trained against men. Women competing in this mostly male-dominated sport know whining is not an option! If you want to become a wrestler you ‘suck it up’ and deal with any pain associated with the grueling training and competition. Wrestling is a real adrenalin rush and so is riding a motorcycle. I feel safe on a motorcycle – when I am in control. It’s the other people on the road that concern me.
“I want to be more involved in motorcycling; each year at the Kentucky Arena Cross I present the awards in each class. I wish I had more time to ride, but like most wrestlers, my schedule is full … work out, train, go to an arena (for an event), grab a quick meal, then and it’s off to the next arena, a guest appearance or a meet-and-greet. If you want to be a pro wrestler, you pretty much eat, sleep, live and breathe wrestling!”
Victoria has been a professional wrestler for four years now and stays in shape by working out daily: one hour of cardio and then with her trainer. Three years ago at a live WWE event she injured her ACL muscle. Three months later the ACL was completely torn during a hard-core match at a Pay-Per-View event. She compensates for the torn ACL through performance training drills.
When she is not on the road with the WWE, working out or riding motorcycles, you might find Victoria in her restaurant, Fat Tony’s Pizzeria, in Louisville, Ky., where they proudly serve New York- style gourmet pizza.
“I’ve heard a lot about the big motorcycle rallies – Sturgis, Daytona, Laconia – and some day when time allows, I hope to ride to them. I think it would be fun if my restaurant became an annual stop for riders heading to and from such events,” she said.
Victoria’s riding time is limited. She recently sold her two sport bikes: a Suzuki 750cc GSXR, which was lowered and customized, and a Kawasaki 500cc Ninja. She’s without a motorcycle at the moment but has her heart set on a Harley-Davidson V-Rod. Victoria rode a V- Rod at an “Donna’s Ride,” an annual benefit in Columbus, Ohio, started by WWE’s Al Snow in memory of his sister. The ride benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association.
It might be difficult to imagine anyone with a “finishing move” called the Widow’s Peak to affectionately refer to her Dachshund, Pookie, or Cocoa and Chloe, her two Siamese cats. Or, in the next breath hear her say: “When I was 12 years old, I got one of my shoes autographed by Rick Johnson and it might be strange to have kept it, but it still means a lot to me.” Johnson is a Hall of Famer noted as one of the greatest AMA Motocross and Supercross racers of all time.
“Jo, let all the Daily Herald readers know that right now I am focused on winning back the WWE Women’s Champion from Trish Stratus and putting that gold belt back around my waist again. I had it twice and it’s time to bring it home again!”
You can see Victoria every Monday night on “RAW,” which airs at 8 p.m. on the USA Network.
Credit: Arena Cross & WildCat Studios
