'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Currently, WWE is on a hiring spree, signing up many available, critically-acclaimed independent stars. In addition to recent signees such as Claudio Castagnoli (Antonio Cesaro), Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno) and Jon Moxley (Dean Ambrose) among others, WWE has reportedly signed three more major independent stars: Johnny Gargano, “The Man That Gravity Forgot” PAC, and in somewhat of a surprise (albeit welcome move), “The Queen of Wrestling” Sara Del Rey.
Del Ray’s signing is not confirmed, but is pretty much a done deal. She was offered a contract, and is simply waiting for the results of her physical to come back, as WWE now rigorously tests many new signees. This is pretty much a technicality for the clean-living Del Rey, and word has it that she may not only be brought up to the main roster immediately upon signing, but also may be made a trainer for the women down in Florida Championship Wrestling.
For those that aren’t familiar with her work, SDR is considered by many to be the number-one female performer in the entire United States of America, and is considered one of the top ten best female performers in the entire world by many writers and fellow wrestlers. SDR has been competing around the world since 2002, plying her trade in the U.S., Mexico, Japan and Canada. Her highest profile appearances thus far have been in Ring of Honor from 2006-2012, where she was not only prominently featured as an incredibly dominant wrestler, but also the manager of the tag team The Kings of Wrestling, made up of the aforementioned Castagnoli and Hero. Shortly after both were signed, SDR announced that her goal was to follow suit and sign with WWE by the end of 2012, and it appears she has done just that.
If you are familiar with SDR, you may notice that she is not the prototypical WWE diva you are used to, in that she is not blonde, rail-thin or a former bikini/lingerie model. This is the result of an edict passed down by current WWE COO and Executive Vice-President of Talent Relations Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who in addition is very interested in restructuring WWE with young, fresh talent, is also looking to overhaul the Divas division by hiring women who not only want to wrestle, but have actually been trained to do so. With SDR added to viable talents like Tamina Snuka, Natalya, AJ and Beth Phoenix, we may finally see a strong women’s division in WWE, something that hasn’t been around for nearly a decade.
In addition to SDR, word going around is that fellow independent female star (and also considered one of the best in the world) and frequent SDR rival Mercedes Martinez recently impressed WWE officials with a tryout and may be getting a contract offer very soon.
