Sara Lee (wrestler)

Sara Ann Lee (June 7, 1992 – October 5, 2022) was an American television personality and professional wrestler, best known for her time in WWE. In 2015, she was the female winner of the sixth season of the WWE competition Tough Enough.

Sara Lee
Sara Lee in 2015
Birth nameSara Ann Lee
Born(1992-06-07)June 7, 1992
Saginaw, Michigan, U.S[1]
DiedOctober 5, 2022(2022-10-05) (aged 30)[1]
San Antonio, Texas, U.S
Cause of deathSuicide by combined drug intoxication
Alma materDelta College
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2017)​
Children3
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
Billed height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[4]
Billed weight125 lb (57 kg)[4]
Billed fromHope, Michigan[4]
Trained by
DebutAugust 25, 2015[2]
RetiredSeptember 30, 2016

Early life

Sara Ann Lee was born on June 7, 1992, in Saginaw, Michigan, and raised in Hope Township, Michigan.[4][6] She spent time in competitive powerlifting. She graduated from Meridian High School in 2010, and went on to study diagnostic medical sonography at Delta College in Bay City, Michigan.[4][7][6][8]

Professional wrestling career

In June 2015, Lee was one of the 13 finalists for the sixth season of the WWE competition Tough Enough.[7] After being at risk of elimination five times throughout the course of the competition,[9][10][11] on August 25, Lee was chosen by fan vote as one of the winners, along with Josh Bredl, earning a $250,000 one-year contract with WWE. During the final, Lee adopted the ring name Hope and lost a singles match to Alicia Fox.[2][12]

In September, Lee was assigned to WWE's developmental territory NXT, based at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, to begin training.[13][6] Returning to her real name, Lee made her first appearance for NXT at a live event on January 16, 2016, when she delivered a heel promo.[14] She made her in-ring debut at the January 30 live event during a six-woman tag team match, which also involved fellow Tough Enough competitor Mandy Rose.[3] On September 30, 2016, Lee was released from her WWE contract.[15]

Personal life

Lee married former WWE wrestler Wesley Blake on December 30, 2017.[15] They had three children.[16]

Death

On October 5, 2022, Lee died at age 30.[16][17][18] In May 2023, it was deemed by the Bexar County, Texas, coroner that Lee had died by suicide via a lethal overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills.[19]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References
  1. "Obituary for Sara Weston at Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home". hall-kokotovichfuneralhome.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. "WWE TOUGH ENOUGH RECAP, AUGUST 25, 2015: AND THE WINNERS ARE..." WWE. August 25, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  3. Kiger, John (January 30, 2016). "1/30 T RESULTS FROM VENICE, FL". PWInsider. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. "Tough Enough – Sara Lee". WWE Tough Enough. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  5. "MEET THE COMPETITORS AND CAST OF WWE TOUGH ENOUGH". WWE Tough Enough. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  6. "Tough Enough competitors join new class of recruits at the WWE Performance Center". WWE. October 28, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  7. "MEET WWE TOUGH ENOUGH'S 13 FINALISTS". WWE Tough Enough. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  8. Henry, Lindsay (August 20, 2015). "Sara Lee a finalist to win professional wrestling contract on 'WWE Tough Enough'". Midland Daily News. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  9. Nida, Kenneth (July 1, 2015). "WWE TOUGH ENOUGH EPISODE 2 RESULTS AND RECAP". F4WOnline. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  10. Nida, Kenneth (July 7, 2015). "WWE TOUGH ENOUGH EPISODE 3 (JULY 7) RESULTS & RECAP". F4WOnline. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  11. Nida, Kenneth (July 14, 2015). "WWE TOUGH ENOUGH EPISODE 4 (JULY 14) RESULTS & RECAP". F4WOnline. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  12. Sapp, Sean Ross (August 25, 2015). "WWE Tough Enough Finale Recap: Winners Announced, Cesaro And Alicia Fox Work Matches With Cast". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  13. "Sara Lee: Tough Enough's greatest underdog story". WWE Tough Enough. August 28, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  14. Middleton, Marc (January 16, 2016). "Photos: Tough Enough Winner Sara Lee Makes WWE NXT Live Event Debut, Cuts Heel Promo". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  15. Johnson, Mike (October 2, 2016). "TOUGH ENOUGH STAR RELEASED BY WWE". PWInsider. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  16. "Sara Lee, former WWE 'Tough Enough' winner, dies at 30". NBC News. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  17. "Sara Lee, former WWE wrestler and "Tough Enough" winner, dies at age 30". CBS News. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  18. Davis, Paul (October 5, 2022). "WWE Tough Enough winner Sara Lee has passed away". Wrestling News. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  19. WWE’s Sara Lee Died By Suicide
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