Sara Del Rey
A trailblazing force in women's wrestling who transitioned from a feared in-ring competitor to shaping the next generation of WWE stars.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: November 13·Generation X
Biography
Sara Del Rey, born Sara Amato in 1980, didn't just wrestle; she redefined what power looked like in women's wrestling during the 2000s. Before the 'Women's Evolution' was a headline, Del Rey was a dominant champion on the independent circuit, known for her stiff, convincing strikes and formidable presence in rings for SHIMMER, Chikara, and Ring of Honor. Her in-ring style earned her the nickname 'The Queen of Wrestling.' Her legacy, however, was cemented when WWE hired her not as a performer, but as a coach. At the WWE Performance Center, she became the first female head coach in the company's history, using her vast experience to train and develop the female and male talent that now defines the industry.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Sara was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sara Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Sara's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first female head coach at the WWE Performance Center, revolutionizing talent development.
- Held the SHIMMER Championship for a record 448 days during her dominant independent career.
- Was a cornerstone of the Chikara promotion, winning the Campeonatos de Parejas and King of Trios tournaments.
- Her in-ring work directly influenced and paved the way for the modern style of women's wrestling in the U.S.
Did You Know?
She occasionally wrestled under a mask using the male name 'Nic Grimes' for MTV's Wrestling Society X.
She trained under wrestlers like Chris Hero and Mike Quackenbush.
She was a high school track and field athlete, competing in shot put and discus.
“I'm not here to be pretty; I'm here to hit you really, really hard.”
