Sara Del Rey (real name Sara Amato) is often credited as one of the driving forces behind the women's evolution in WWE as she has been the top female trainer since signing with the company in 2012.
Before she joined WWE as a trainer, she was highly respected from her time on the Independent scene, where she wrestled for ROH, SHIMMER, CHIKARA, and more promotions.
Speaking on ROH Strong, Maria Kanellis, who worked a mixed tag team match alongside her husband Mike Bennett against Del Rey and Eddie Edwards in 2012, recalled stepping in the ring with Del Rey.
"That's when I learned how terrible I am in the ring because they are so amazing. I literally did nothing. Eddie was like, 'We're going this direction.' 'Okay, fine Eddie, whatever you want.' They were incredible. Sara Del Rey is a Ring of Honor staple and people know that, they know the impact she's had on women's wrestling. She created women's wrestling as it is today in WWE. I want that back, of Ring of Honor being the place of having this shining light in women's wrestling," said Maria.
Kevin Eck, who worked as a writer in WWE when Del Rey was signed, revealed that they were told Del Rey was coming in only as a coach and wouldn't be wrestling on television. This news surprised Eck.
"Me and some of the other writers were trying to get the women's division of being a little more than just two minutes. We had Natalya and Beth Phoenix. Vince said nobody wants to see the girls fight over the guys, so it was a losing battle. I remember one of the SmackDown head writers came in and he goes, 'Sara Del Rey has been signed. Not as a talent, as a coach. We're not using her as a talent at all. Don't even go there.' It was like, 'Do not, under any circumstances, pitch her being on TV.' I couldn't get over it," he recalled.
Maria, who was out of WWE at the time, said she was excited for Del Rey to get the opportunity in WWE because she knew how hard she had worked.
Del Rey's mixed take match against Maria and Mike turned out to be her final wrestling match before she signed with WWE. She is currently an assistant head coach at the WWE Performance Center.
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