Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler, Sara Lee, is dead. Born Sarah Weston, the 2015 winner of the reality competition “Tough Enough” was 30 years old. According to Sara’s mother, Teri Lee, the family is still in shock, and arrangements for her burial are still ongoing.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our Sarah Weston has gone to be with Jesus,” Teri Lee wrote on Facebook. “We are all in shock and arrangements are not complete. We ask that you respectfully let our family mourn.”
The cause of death has not been released, but earlier this week, Sara wrote on Instagram that she had a sinus infection and was recovering fast from it. “Celebrating finally being healthy enough to go to the gym 2 days in a row…first ever sinus infection kicked my butt,” she wrote.
Sara was married to former WWE wrestler Cory James Weston – with the stage-name Westin Blake – and they have three children.
After winning the Series 6 of the Tough Enough competition in 2015, Sara won a one-year contract worth $250,000 with WWE, and she was released in 2016. She also worked as an NXT wrestler. She was born in the small town of Hope in Michigan and attended Meridian High School in Sanford, Michigan, from where she graduated in 2010. Not only that, but she was a powerlifter in the school and also ran on the track team.
“WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of Sara Lee,” the WWE tweeted on Friday. “As a former “Tough Enough” winner, Lee served as an inspiration to many in the sports-entertainment world. WWE offers its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and fans.”
A wrestler who is a friend of the Westons, Bull James, created a GoFundMe fund to raise money for Sara’s funeral.
“We’re all shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Tough Enough winner Sara Lee,” James said. “As her loving husband, Cory picks up the pieces and continues to raise their 3 children, the last thing anyone in that position wants to be worried about is money and paying for a funeral and everything else that comes along with it.”
A number of female wrestlers who were friends of Sara mourned her on social media. Some of these were Chelsea Green, Nikki ASH, and Shawn Bennett among others.