TNA officially renames former Victoria as Tara

______________________
TNA Wrestling's roster page officially confirms that Lisa Marie Varon will be referred to as "Tara." She will work as Tara starting on this week's Impact broadcast.

The former Victoria obviously couldn't use that particular WWE name but one had hoped that she would have been allowed a variant of her real name. Instead, TNA assigned her this new Tara designation, one that it can presumably trademark for its own purposes.

To many fans though, the Tara name either comes off as too lurid or just weak. The name flashes back in my own mind to Willow's meek girlfriend back on the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" television series. Neither the lurid nor meek image particularly fits where TNA should want to go with its newest Knockout.

Lisa Marie Varon had enough of a burden during her final months in WWE trying to hold up the credibility of a fledgling Smackdown Divas roster while being played for laughs. The last thing Varon should have to do now is work to overcome an ill-fitting ring moniker.
______________________

Disputed reports on Lisa Marie Varon's new TNA ring name

(Note: This report does not mention specific match details of upcoming Impact telecasts.) Lisa Marie Varon (fka Victoria) is set to debut on this Thursday's telecast of TNA Impact but the real online speculation over the last day is over the ring name that she will use in subsequent weeks.

Reports from future Impact tapings are in dispute with some claiming that Lisa Marie Varon will simply use her real name, others claiming she will use the name Tara and yet another report that she will be known as Tara Rising.

Of the possibilities, the 'Tara' name by itself comes off as weak and ridiculous, a reminder of either a low-rent stripper or Willow's meek girlfriend from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Neither image fits the established Lisa Marie Baron persona. While stronger, 'Tara Rising' is more an inside joke... a play on Triple H's former Terra Ryzing ring name back in WCW.

All else being equal, it would be preferable for the real-life Lisa Marie Varon to wrestle as Lisa Marie Varon. It's a more credible stronger name that better befits the push that the former Victoria should receive with TNA.

______________________