Countdown to High Noon: Interview with "Queen of Wrestling" Sara Del Dey

If you think women's wrestling begins and ends with the WWE Divas, then do you have another thing coming.

Sara Del Rey has been giving the boots to "sports entertainment" for a decade now while proving -- all across the globe -- that the fairer sex can be just an entertaining and brutal inside the squared circle as men.

No better example was made when she took part of Chikara's 12 Large: Summit with 11 other men and made it further than just about all of them. It was in the semi-finals that her Cinderella story ended, falling victim to Mike Quackenbush after 15 minutes of hard-fought action.

Aside from gracing the Chikara ring, she has also made a name for herself in Ring of Honor (ROH), Jersey All Pro Wrestling and SHIMMER, winning titles in the latter two.

Del Rey is a consummate professional wrestler, through and through. In a landscape filled with bleach blonde ex-models with more on their chest than in their head, the "Queen of Wrestling" is a breath of fresh air.

I was lucky enough to get a few words with her before her showdown with Tursas next Sunday (Oct. 30).

But first, if you haven't seen Del Rey in action, what are you waiting for?

Cageside Seats: First off, I want to thank you for taking time out to talk with us here at CSS. I know you're preparing for a big match on October 29th with Serena Deeb in Reading, PA. What can we expect from you in that match?

Sara Del Rey: Serena is one of my all time favorite opponents. I have so much respect for her and know she has supreme skills. Since we last wrestled she has been touring regularly in Japan so I am excited to see the influence that has had on her. What to expect is GREAT wrestling.

Is it difficult making the transition back to wrestling women? You spent most of the summer taking on the less fairer sex as part of the 12 Large: Summit. You're coming off an impressive win against Kana at "Klunk in Love" so are you back in the swing of things?

A little, it's an entire different approach but the wrestling is always the same fight hard to win.

Talk to me about how you felt when you lost to Mike Quackenbush at "Small but Mighty". You put up a great fight but eventually succumbed to submission. Are you over the loss or are you going to be taking out any leftover aggression on Deeb?

It's hard to say. I wasn't disappointed with myself but through the entire tournament I was proud of what I was able to accomplish. Really there is not shame in being submitted by the Master of a Thousand Holds! 

Do you prefer wrestling men or women? What different challenges do each present?

It really depends on the day. I have yet to meet a women who equals my size and strength so I usually feel like I have the upper hand going in. With guys that's not entirely the case so I need to rely on my defense, speed and smarts.

Which of your female opponents hits the hardest?

Kana. 

The day before Halloween at "Maiden Flight of the Great Condor", you're taking on former BDK stablemate Tursas. How are you going to deal with someone of his size and strength?

I really have not come up with a game plan yet. I have never been faced against a man of his size. I think his downfall will be his lack of ring knowledge and I intend to exploit that.

After you get the 1-2-3 on that big galoot, what are you going to dress up as for Halloween?

Depending on how it all goes down I might have to dress up as a patient.

One last question before we let you go, Sara. Who are you picking to win the Grand Championship at the High Noon iPPV on November 13? Quackenbush or Eddie Kingston? And how soon can we expect you to challenge the winner?

Mike Quackenbush beat me, and even showed a bit of a dark side... so I think if he continues down that road, nothing can stop him. Not even a backfist from Eddie Kingston.

There you have it, folks. Straight from the lady herself. And finally, here are a couple more Chikara videos you should check out:

Up first, the second High Noon Report with the absolutely stunning Jessie McKay...

And lastly, an awesome "less is more" teaser for JoshiMania featuring Del Rey...