Sara Lee (wrestler)

American professional wrestler (1992–2022)

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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.

Early life

Sara Ann Lee was born on June 7, 1992, in Saginaw, Michigan, and raised in Hope Township, Michigan. 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.

Professional wrestling career

In June 2015, Lee was one of the 13 finalists for the sixth season of the WWE competition Tough Enough. After being at risk of elimination five times throughout the course of the competition, 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.

In September, Lee was assigned to WWE's developmental territory NXT, based at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, to begin training. 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. 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. On September 30, 2016, Lee was released from her WWE contract.

Personal life

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

Death

Lee died on October 5, 2022, aged 30. In May 2023, it was deemed by the Bexar County, Texas coroner that she had committed suicide via a lethal overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills.