What is a Dream?

Merriam Webster dictionary describes a "dream" as: a : a strongly desired goal or purpose <a dream of becoming president> as number four on the list of definitions. We all have dreams. Some are big dreams, some are small, but all are important to us, despite how they may look to others.

The Kings and Queen of Wrestling. Picture by Mike Mastrandrea

I can imagine how people reacted to when Sara Del Rey stated that working for World Wrestling Entertainment was a goal of hers. Actually, I can do more than that, I've read reactions online to when she's stated that. Everything from, "That's awesome, hope she makes it!" to "Why would they hire her? She's not a model and isn't attractive." Some reactions were far worse. It's ironic, no one ever said that she wouldn't make it because she wasn't a great wrestler. Her nickname "The Queen of Wrestling" may have come about from when she was partnered with The Kings of Wrestling, Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero, in Ring of Honor, but it's a nickname that truly defines her. She is the Queen, one of the best wrestlers in the world by far.

Sara made her debut in 2001 and never looked back. She mostly stayed on the west coast but then began to branch out. She was trained by some of the best in the business, such as the All Pro Wrestling boot camp where she was trained by Bryan Danielson, and in the New Japan Pro Wrestling Inoki Dojo. You want to talk about promotions? She's wrestled for promotions in Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia and all over the United States...

All Pro Wrestling.
A to Z in Japan (formerly ARISON).
Impact Zone Wrestling (not to be confused with Total Impact Wrestling/Impact Wrestling).
Lucha Libre Femenil.
Big Time Wrestling.
Pro-Wrestling Iron.
Pro-Wrestling Guerrilla.
Alternative Wrestling Show.
Revolution X.
Independent Wrestling Association: Mid-South.
Ring of Honor.
SHIMMER Women Athletes.
ChickFight.
CHIKARA Pro.
All-American Wrestling.
WORLD-1.
Full Impact Pro.
New England Championship Wrestling World Women's Wrestling.
Pro-Wrestling Unplugged.
Jersey All Pro Wrestling.
Canadian Wrestling Revolution.
International Wrestling Cartel.
Pure Wrestling Assocation.
New Elite Wrestling.
Carolina Wrestling Association.
Pro-Wrestling Association of Queensland (Australia).
Squared Circle Wrestling.
Northern Championship Wrestling Femmes Fatales.
Real Championship Wrestling.
Anarchy Championship Wrestling.
Remix Pro.
Absolute Intense Wrestling.

I'm sure I'm missing some, but that's enough to drive home the point, which is that when promotions want a solid, dependable worker, they bring in Sara Del Rey, be her opponent man or woman. Her matches are always superb and she can bring out the best in anyone. She lives for the gym and for wrestling. You never hear a shred of gossip about her. People of both genders want to work with her. Whole divisions have been built on her hard work and dedication.

SHIMMER's First Champion

On the first volume of SHIMMER, her and Mercedes Martinez went to a 20 limit time draw and Allison Danger on commentary said that if someone wanted to know what female wrestling was all about, she would show them that match. I would as well. If someone wanted to know what females are capable of, I'd show them a Sara Del Rey match. She was SHIMMER's first champion, beating Lacey in a title tournament, and the first woman in the promotion to become a double champion when Courtney Rush won the tag team titles for them in March of 2012. She won the eighth Torneo Cibernetico in CHIKARA last year by being the last woman on her team to survive, and came close to winning the Grand Championship in the same promotion, only falling to Mike Quackenbush after a hard fought contest.

It is a bittersweet feeling for us fans - we hate to lose someone, especially when they are as good as the Queen. Her upcoming matches for AIW (against Hailey Hatred, someone she faced a few years ago at AIW and also in JAPW - it will be a vastly different match at Girls Night Out 7 considering how much both women have changed), CHIKARA (she faces current Grand Champion Eddie Kingston in a title match), Remix Pro (Sassy Stephie is challenging for her title there), and SHINE (a dream match - Jazz v Sara Del Rey is the main event for their very first show) will be well attended by fans who want to see her on her last rotation.

Yet, we are not truly losing her. She is moving to another stage in her career. We should be happy for her. Despite jaded and cynical fans reactions to this news, this is a dream for Sara. I'm of the mind that if you are a fan of someone, you follow and support them in all their decisions (except, you know, if they're harming themselves or other people). I know fans who stopped following Awesome Kong when she signed to WWE, which I found petty. A person doesn't stop being who they are or stop being capable of what they can do just because they sign to another company. Considering what all Sara has accomplished in her storied career, there was not much else to achieve on the independent scene. Wrestling Manami Toyota and Aja Kong (the latter her hero) in CHIKARA was achieved in 2010 and 2011 respectively. She has toured the world, wrestling in several countries. Really, what else is there left, aside from the CHIKARA Grand Championship?

It's a shame for Ring of Honor, considering she had just came back to the promotion to combat the so-called "First Lady of ROH" Maria. However, given their financial situation is up in the air, no one can blame her for choosing WWE. Lets face facts - the money is better in WWE. I'm sure they don't pay their Divas as well as their Superstars, but they don't need to take other bookings or second jobs, and if they are injured the company takes care of them. Plus, there is the obvious advantage of television exposure if she makes it out of FCW.

Do I believe this is the start of the rejuvenation of the women's division? To be very blunt, no. Considering at the moment that AJ is the only woman who is receiving any attention from the creative writers, and she isn't even the champion, it doesn't look good. Kharma is supposedly training for a return but who knows when that will be, even if it happens? Down in NXT/FCW things look good, the stand out being Britani "Paige" Knight who came in with a wealth of knowledge thanks to having been wrestling since she was 15 (18 when she was signed) and growing up in a family of wrestlers. Otherwise you have Ivelisse "Sofia Cortez" Velez who was Juliette the Huntress on the independents, and despite how it appeared on Tough Enough, she has looked great down in the developmental camp. Most recently you have Buggy Nova, who is apparently going under her real name of Natalie. She's a West Coast independent wrestler who competed for NWA Hollywood and Big Time Wrestling. She made her SPARKLE debut in October 2011 and was well received by fans. Her look is somewhat 'alternative' and is sure to make her stand out. However, just because there is a good crop in FCW/NXT does not translate to time and attention on RAW or Smackdown.

At the end of the day, however, this is about Sara Del Rey. This is about a woman who is crossing another achievement off of her list. This is about another woman proving those who said she wasn't "tv friendly" wrong. This is about another woman breaking barriers.

The Queen waves to her loyal subjects.

This is about a woman who had a dream and is going to see it come true. This is what matters in the end. I offer my wholehearted congratulations to her - you did it Sara! All the best for the future!