Soon-to-be TNA Hall of Famer Mickie James has officially announced who will have the honor of inducting her into the prestigious Hall of Fame. In a WrestlingNews.co exclusive interview on “The Velvet Ropes with SoCal Val,” James revealed that she has asked her close friend and fellow wrestling legend, Lisa Marie Varon (also known as Victoria in WWE and Tara in TNA), to do the honors at the ceremony. Click here or scroll down to watch Mickie make the announcement.
The TNA Hall of Fame induction will take place at the Bound for Glory event on Sunday, October 12th, in Lowell, Massachusetts. When asked by host SoCal Val about the speculation surrounding who she would choose, James confirmed she had made her decision after giving it careful thought.
“You’re going to be pleased with this as someone who was pretty synonymous with the whole in production of hardcore country,” James began. “I think that we made some incredible, historic moments together, and that would be our dear friend, Lisa Marie. I’ve asked her.”
James shared the heartwarming and humorous story of how the invitation unfolded. After messaging TNA management about her choice, she was waiting for an official response before calling Varon herself. However, TNA’s Tommy Dreamer apparently reached out to Varon first, leading to an emotional and surprising moment for James.
“The next day, who do I have a five minute like, voice note from bawling, like, sweet Lisa,” James shared. “I wanted to call you. I wanted to FaceTime you. I was waiting for Tommy to respond to me!” Varon, despite her tough on-screen persona, was clearly overcome with emotion at the request, a reaction James found endearing.
The selection of Varon is a fitting tribute to their shared history, particularly in TNA, where they had a memorable rivalry under James’ “Hardcore Country” persona and Varon’s “Tara” character. Their careers have been intertwined for decades across multiple promotions, solidifying a deep friendship. James joins The Beautiful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky) as the all-female class of inductees for the 2025 TNA Hall of Fame, celebrating a pivotal era of the Knockouts Division.
This interview is exclusive to WrestlingNews.co. If you use these quotes, please include a link back to this page.
