Sherri Martel
Sherri Martel | |
---|---|
New Orleans, Louisiana[5] | |
Trained by | Donna Christanello[3] The Fabulous Moolah[6] |
Debut | 1980 |
Retired | 2006 |
Sherry Schrull (
Martel began her professional wrestling career in the Mid South after training in
Early life
Sherry Lynn Russell was born on February 8, 1958, in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up playing basketball and participating in track and field.[8]
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1980–1985)
Martel was first introduced to professional wrestling as a child, when her mother took her and her sister to shows in Mississippi.[4] Their mother initially asked them whether they wanted to attend a wrestling show or go ice skating. In 1974, Martel approached Grizzly Smith for advice on becoming a wrestler, but he questioned her conviction and told her to come back to him in 1980 when she was an adult.[1] She eventually married her second husband and gave birth to a son named Jared, but she soon divorced her husband.[4][1] During this time, she again became interested in becoming a professional wrestler and sought training from "Mr. Personality" Butch Moore in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] She started wrestling as Sherri Martine, but decided she needed more training.[4] She continued to train at The Fabulous Moolah's school, where Moolah changed her name to Sherri Martel and sent her to wrestle in Japan in 1981.[4] Moolah claims that Martel frequented night clubs and liked to party, which resulted in Moolah kicking her out of the school.[9]
After leaving the school, she traveled back to Tennessee.[4] In Memphis, she was managed by Jim Cornette.[1] During a mixed battle royal, Martel suffered an injury that removed her from wrestling temporarily.[1] She then worked as both a wrestler and manager for Pat Rose and Tom Prichard.[1]
American Wrestling Association (1985–1987)
After Martel recovered, Larry Zbyszko helped her join the American Wrestling Association (AWA).[4] She eventually debuted in the AWA and, on September 28, 1985, at SuperClash in Chicago, she defeated Candi Devine for the AWA World Women's Championship.[5][10] She traded the belt with Devine, and on June 28, 1986, at "Battle by the Bay," Martel defeated Devine to win the AWA World Women's Championship for a third and final time.[10] Martel, however, only held the title briefly before vacating it.[5]
During this time, in addition to wrestling, Martel acted as the
World Wrestling Federation (1987–1993)
Debut & Women's Champion (1987–1988)
After former AWA wrestler
Concurrent with her reign as WWF Women's Champion, Martel made several appearances in costume as "Peggy Sue," the girlfriend of The Honky Tonk Man, who was in the midst of a run as Intercontinental Champion. Her primary role was to irritate Honky's opponents—namely, Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake—and interfere in his matches.
Managing Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase (1989–1992)
After
At WrestleMania VI in 1990, Martel and Savage lost a mixed tag-team match against Sapphire and Dusty Rhodes after Miss Elizabeth, who was in the corner of Sapphire and Rhodes, interfered and shoved Martel.[17] During that same year, Martel and Savage appeared on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach.[5] During a steel cage match at Madison Square Garden, The Ultimate Warrior pulled off an escaping Martel's miniskirt to reveal matching black garter belts and lace underpants. Practically in tears, Martel raced back to the locker room. At WrestleMania VII, Savage lost a "retirement match" against The Ultimate Warrior, in which the loser would be forced (Kayfabe) to retire.[5][18] After Savage lost the match, an irate Martel attacked Savage but was thrown from the ring by Miss Elizabeth, who had been watching from the audience.[5][18]
Later on the WrestleMania VII card after she and Savage parted ways following the career match, Martel came to the ring to help
Pairing and feuding with Shawn Michaels (1992–1993)
Subsequently, Martel began managing
USWA (1993)
Towards the end of her time in the WWF, Martel participated in a WWF invasion angle in the USWA, reuniting with Savage. Martel would suffer a similar embarrassment to that which she had suffered at the hands of Warrior when she ran in the ring to aid Savage in a steel cage match in Memphis against his old enemy in the area, Jerry "The King" Lawler, but after accidentally knocking Savage from the ring, she had her dress yanked off by Lawler as she climbed the cage to escape.
Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1993)
After her WWF release, Martel had a brief spell in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, siding with Tracy Smothers in a feud with Tammy Sytch, Brian Lee, as well as several intergender matches with Jim Cornette.
Eastern Championship Wrestling (1993–1994)
She began working in
World Championship Wrestling (1994–1997, 2000)
Managing Ric Flair (1994)
Martel signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994. The original plan for her was to manage Kevin and Dave Sullivan against Missy Hyatt and The Nasty Boys, but after Hyatt was fired in February 1994, the proposed rivalry went on with no managers for either team.
Martel made her debut on the April 23 edition of WCW Saturday Night, under the name Sensuous Sherri. In an interview with
At Bash at the Beach, Martel tried to help Flair to defeat Hogan in a match by giving him brass knuckles, but failed.[25] At the feud's climactic battle, a steel cage match at Halloween Havoc, Martel climbed the cage to aid Flair and in the process had her dress pulled off by Jimmy Hart, Hogan's manager, leaving her dangling from the cage in black lingerie.
Managing Harlem Heat (1994–1997)
Next, Martel began managing Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) using the name Sister Sherri.[10] She managed the team to seven WCW World Tag Team Championship reigns.[3] In late 1994 (while still managing Harlem Heat in WCW), Martel made a return appearance in ECW managing Shane Douglas and Brian Pillman against Ron Simmons and 2 Cold Scorpio.[26] Back in WCW, Martel had a brief on-screen romance with Col. Robert Parker until October 1996 when Harlem Heat fired him and Martel had a match with him at World War 3 in November. She continued to manage Harlem Heat until she got fired from the group on the July 7, 1997, edition of Nitro.[27]
Return and final appearances (2000)
In 2000, she made three wrestling television appearances with WCW. The first was at the
Later career and WWE Hall of Fame (1997–2006)
After leaving WCW, Martel won the IWA Mid-South Women's Title defeating Debbie Combs on August 28, 1997. A few weeks later she dropped the title back to Combs.[28]
Early in 1999, Martel competed in a mixed-tag team match for the Apocalypse Wrestling Federation's Heavyweight Championship, a title held predominately by men.[29] Missy Hyatt pinned Martel to win the title.[29] In October 1999, she appeared on the Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view managing Greg Valentine in a match against George Steele.[30] Also in 1999, she was awarded the AWA Superstars Women's Championship.[3]
She wrestled her very last match at WrestleReunion on January 29, 2005, teaming with Peggy Lee Leather, Amber O'Neal and Krissy Vaine losing to Wendi Richter, Malia Hosaka, Bambi and Jenny Taylor.
In 2005, she returned to WWE to take part in a storyline with her former client,
She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ted DiBiase in April 2006.[1] Later that year, she worked for TNA Wrestling, taping a backstage vignette trying to offer her managerial services to "free agent" Bobby Roode that aired on the September 21, 2006 TNA Impact!; it was her last wrestling television appearance.[1]
Personal life
By 2003, she was living in Tennessee with her husband, Robert Schrull, where she helped him renovate houses.[4] She was married and divorced at least twice during her life.[4] She had one son.[1]
Death
On June 15, 2007, Martel died at her mother's residence in McCalla, Alabama, near Birmingham. She was 49 years old.[1] On September 11, 2007, homicide investigators in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, released the toxicology report stating that she died of an overdose with multiple drugs in her system, including high amounts of oxycodone.[31] She was cremated after her death.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- International Wrestling Association
- IWA Women's Championship (1 time)[33]
- Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2022
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Southern States Wrestling
- Women Superstars Uncensored
- WSU Hall of Fame(Class of 2009)
- Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2024[37]
- World Wrestling Federation
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Manager of the Year(1991)
See also
References
- ^ SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ "Profile of Sherri Martel". Pro Wrestling.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Spears, Jim (January 4, 2005). "Women's wrestlers today are tougher, better". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Greenberg, Keith Elliot (2003). "Still Sensational". RAW Magazine. October: 26–29. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, 136–138.
- ^ Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p. 111.
- ^ "Sherry Russell Obituary (2007) - The Birmingham News". legacy.com. July 1, 2007. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ Bayless, Brian (March 27, 2014). "RF Video Shoot Interview with Sherri Martel". RSPWFAQ.net. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, pp. 196–197.
- ^ World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
- ^ Michaels, Shawn. Heartbreak and Triumph, p. 97.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, 164.
- ^ Dethroned and demoralized! Can Randy Savage Recover From Wrestlemania V? - The Wrestler August 1989
- ^ "... featured highlights of the WWF World Champion Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan match from WrestleMania V to begin the broadcast with exclusive footage also from backstage after the match, in which Gene Okerlund was preparing to interview Miss Elizabeth before Sensational Sherri and Randy Savage interrupted, with WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan eventually stepping in; moments later, Sherri distracted Hogan long enough for Savage to hit Hogan with a steel chair..." History of WWE – 1989
- ^ Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, 192.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- ^ ISBN 1-57806-021-4.
- ^ Michaels, Shawn. Heartbreak and Triumph, p. 159.
- ^ a b c d e f Michaels, Shawn. Heartbreak and Triumph, pp. 166–167.
- ^ "Biography". SensationalSherri.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ "New Details about Sherri Martel's Death". Wrestling Epicenter. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ "Biography". FranchiseFanSite.com. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "November to Remember". Extreme Championship Wrestling. November 13, 1993. pay-per-view.
- ISBN 0-7434-9181-5.
- ISBN 1-59670-021-1.
- ^ Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, 208.
- ^ "Sensational Sherri - Matches". Cage Match. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "AWF Championship: Missy Hyatt". Apocalypse Wrestling Federation. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (October 11, 1999). "Heroes PPV a disappointment". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Sherri Martel autopsy results reveal drugs". SLAM! Wrestling. September 11, 2007. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Cauliflower Alley Club Reunions & Awards, Past & Present & Future". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on April 22, 2001. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Caldwell, James (November 26, 2013). "News: Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame announces 2014 HOF class". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ^ Johnson, Mike; Whitehead, Tim (May 10, 2015). "5/10 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: GREAT MUTA & THE ROCK GO FACE TO FACE, ROH DEBUTS IN HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM, ROGERS BEATS THESZ FOR WORLD TITLE AND MORE". PWInsider.com.
- ^ "Independent Wrestling Results - May 2003". Online World of Wrestling.
- ^ Wilkinson, Nick (January 17, 2024). "Jacqueline, Rockin' Robin, Lisa Marie Varon, and More Inductees WWHOF 2024". Diva Dirt. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
References
- Ellison, Lillian (2003). The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle. ReaganBooks. ISBN 978-0-06-001258-8.
- Michaels, Shawn (2005). Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7434-9380-X.
- Shields, Brian (2006). Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s (4th ed.). Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
Further reading
- Holliday, Bob (March 24, 2007). "Scary Sherri gets what she wants". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
External links
- Sherri Martel at IMDb
- Sherri Martel on WWE.com
- Sherri Martel's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database
- Sherri Martel at Find a Grave