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Sherri Martel

*** Shopping-Tip: Sherri Martel
{{Infobox Wrestler |name=Sherri Russell |image=Sherri.JPG |names=Peggy Sue,
Sensational Sherri,
Sensuous Sherri,
'''Sherri Martel''',
Sister Sherri,
Sensational Queen Sherri |height=5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |weight=138 lb (63 kg) |birth_date =February 8, 1958 |death_date = |birth_place =New Orleans, Louisiana |resides=Kingsport, Tennessee |billed= |trainer=Butch Moore
Donna Christanello
The Fabulous Moolah |debut=1980 |retired= |}} '''Sherri Russell''' (born February 8, 1958 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an United States American professional wrestling professional wrestler, better known by her ring name, '''Sherri Martel''' Throughout her career, Martel competed in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as '''Sherri Martel''', the World Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as '''Sensational Sherri''', '''Sensational Queen Sherri''' and '''Peggy Sue''' and in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as '''Sensuous Sherri''' and '''Sister Sherri'''. On April 1, 2006 she became the second female inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame.

Career

American Wrestling Association
After training under The Fabulous Moolah, '''Sherri Martel''' debuted in 1980. She eventually joined the AWA, and on September 28, 1985 at ''SuperClash'' she defeated Candi Devine for the AWA Women's Championship. Later that year, the title was taken from Martel and awarded to Devine, but Martel regained the title on October 17, 1985. On April 20, 1986 Martel won a battle royal at ''WrestleRock '86'' that included Devine, Debbie Szestecki Debbie Combs, Rose Devine, Joyce Grable, Kat LeRoux, Despina Montegas, Misty Blue Simmes, and Gertrude Vachon Luna Vachon. On May 10, 1986 she helped Buddy Rose and Doug Somers win the AWA World Tag Team Championship. Having previously vacated the AWA Women's Championship, Martel defeated Devine on June 28, 1986 to begin her third reign as champion. In the spring of 1987, Martel began manager (professional wrestling) managing Kevin Wacholz Kevin Kelly. Her most memorable moment as his manager came when she interfered in his arm wrestling match against Tommy Rich, and Rich ripped off her dress. On May 2, 1987 Martel defeated Debra Miceli Madusa Miceli at ''SuperClash 2''.

World Wrestling Federation
Image:Sherri2.jpg left|thumb|150px|Sensational Sherri with the WWF Women's Title. On July 24, 1987 Sherri Martel debuted in the WWF and defeated The Fabulous Moolah for the WWF Women's Title. Renaming herself '''Sensational Sherri''', she reigned as WWE Women's Championship WWF Women's Champion for fifteen months, taking on opponents like Debbie Combs, Velvet Mykietowich Velvet McIntyre and Desiree Peterson. At the ''Survivor Series 1987 Survivor Series'', Martel's team consisting of Martel, The Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai and Judy Martin), Dawn Marie Johnston Dawn Marie and Donna Christanello lost to The Fabulous Moolah's team consisting of Moolah, Velvet McIntyre, Robin Smith Rockin' Robin, and the Jumping Bomb Angels (Noriyoi Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki). It was on October 8, 1988 that she was finally defeated for the title by the young fan favorite Rockin' Robin. In the early months of 1988, she portrayed '''Peggy Sue''', the valet of The Honky Tonk Man, while appearing as Sherri in the same period (Peggy wore sunglasses and a blonde wig, so she was not recognizable). She was often jealous of Elizabeth Hulette Miss Elizabeth and even attacked her during one match. When the WWF phased out its women's division in 1990, Martel remained with the company and turned her attention to managing male wrestlers. At ''WrestleMania V'', Martel appeared backstage and mocked both Rockin' Robin and Miss Elizabeth. After the main event, Martel confronted Miss Elizabeth. This led to a brawl between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. Throughout the remainder of 1989, Martel and Savage feud (professional wrestling) feuded with Hogan and Elizabeth. At the ''SummerSlam 1989 SummerSlam'', Hogan and Edward Leslie Brutus Beefcake defeated Savage and Tom Lister Jr. Zeus. After the match, Elizabeth knocked out Martel with her purse, and she, Hogan, and Beefcake cut Martel's hair (a long ponytail hair extension). Shortly after, she became known as '''Sensational Queen Sherri'''. At the ''Royal Rumble 1990 Royal Rumble'', Martel appeared on the "''Bruce Prichard Brother Love Show''" with Juanita Wright Sapphire. After insulting the "common woman", Martel was slapped by Sapphire. At ''WrestleMania VI'', Martel and Savage lost a mixed tag-team match against Sapphire and Dusty Rhodes after Elizabeth, who was in the corner of Sapphire and Rhodes, interfered and shoved Martel. At the ''SummerSlam 1990 SummerSlam'', Martel defeated Sapphire by forfeit when Sapphire failed to appear for the match (It was later revealed that she had betrayed Rhodes and was now working for Ted DiBiase). Martel and Savage also appeared on ''Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'' with Robin Leach. At ''WrestleMania VII'', Savage lost a career match against Warrior (wrestler) The Ultimate Warrior. Martel attacked Savage but was thrown from the ring by Elizabeth, who was watching from the audience. When she and Savage parted ways following the career match, Martel became the right hand woman of the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. Image:Sherri4.jpg right|thumb|150px|Sensational Sherri on the 1989 Summerslam program cover. She managed Ted DiBiase until early 1992 and then parted ways with him after she announced that she was in love with Shawn Michaels. She would go on to manage Michaels during his feuds with Bret Hart and Rick Martel (who had a flirtatious relationship with Martel). She also appeared on ''Family Feud'' during this time, representing the WWF. One night in late 1992, Marty Jannetty, Michaels' former tag team partner, entered the ring before one of Michaels' matches. He grabbed Martel's mirror; and when he swung the mirror at Michaels, Michaels pulled Martel in front of him, and she was smashed with the mirror. Martel disappeared but returned to the WWF at the ''Royal Rumble 1993 Royal Rumble''. She was in a neutral corner for the match between Michaels and Jannetty. Near the end of the match, Martel confronted Michaels outside the ring and slapped him. At the end of the match, she entered the ring to smash him with her shoe, but he ducked, and she hit Jannetty instead. Michaels finished the match and won, while Martel fled the ring in tears. Backstage, Michaels confronted her, and Jannetty came to her rescue. The following week, Martel thanked Jannetty, and she later appeared in his corner for a match against a jobber. There were rumors that the WWF was planning to hire Debra Miceli Madusa and promote a Martel/Jannetty vs. Michaels/Madusa feud, but Jannetty left the WWF before this ever happened. Martel was soon left without anyone to manage and found herself accompanying Brian Adams (wrestler) Crush and Randy Savage to the squared circle ring for their matches against Michaels at house show house shows. Most matches ended when Martel would be invited into the ring, and she would slap Michaels. At ''WrestleMania IX'', Martel accompanied Chris Chavis Tatanka for his match against Michaels, who brought Gertrude Vachon Luna Vachon with him. After the match, Luna attacked Martel, and they began feuding. On the April 12, 1993 edition of ''WWE RAW RAW'', Martel attacked Luna in the first women's segment on ''RAW''. They erupted into a catfight that spilled into the audience, and both women ripped each other's clothes off. Throughout April 1993 April and May 1993, Martel also appeared in United States Wrestling Association (USWA). She wrestled Miss Texas (Jacqueline Moore Jacqueline) and helped Randy Savage in his feud against Jerry Lawler (who ripped off Martel's dress after she interfered in a steel cage match). On May 31, 1993 Martel appeared in the returning Jannetty's corner for his match against Scott Bigelow Bam Bam Bigelow on ''RAW''. After the match, Martel called Luna into the ring for a fight. Bigelow run-in (professional wrestling) interfered, and Tatanka ran to her rescue. During this time, Martel and Luna began having matches at WWF house shows. A couple of weeks later, Martel interrupted an interview with Bigelow, and Tatanka again came to her rescue. When Martel was scheduled to face Luna on television TV one week, Luna came to the ring with her arm in a cast (she had broken it in an earlier match against Martel). Bigelow and Luna attacked Martel, and Tatanka yet again saved her. This was going to lead to a mixed tag team match pitting Martel/Tatanka against Luna/Bigelow at the ''SummerSlam 1993 SummerSlam'', but Martel left the WWF to attend cosmetology school.

Extreme Championship Wrestling
Image:Sherri5.jpg left|thumb|100px|Madusa Miceli and Sherri Martel Martel re-emerged in Smoky Mountain Wrestling later that year and feuded with Tammy Lynn Sytch Tammy Sytch. She also appeared in the independent NWA professional wrestling promotion promotion. On October 22, 1993 at the ''NWA Weekend of Champions'', Martel accompanied Terry Funk against Kevin Sullivan (wrestler) Kevin Sullivan (with Nancy Daus Woman). After the match, Martel attacked Woman and put her in a head-scissors. She then appeared at the ''NWA Bensalem Bash'' on October 30, 1993. Martel, with Kathy Fitzpatrick in her corner, defeated Jim Cornette (with Tammy Sytch in his corner) in a "loser gets spanked" match. She then joined ECW and soon managed Shane Douglas to the ECW World Heavyweight Championship ECW World Heavyweight Championship. ECW began promoting a feud between Martel and Madusa and scheduled a match between them at ''November to Remember'' on November 13, 1993. Madusa had just signed a WWF contract, so Martel faced Malia Hosaka instead. At ''ECW Ultraclash '93'', Martel wrestled in a battle royal against Tigra, Angel, Don E. Allen, Jay "Six Pack" Sulli, Freddie Gilbert, and Hunter Q. Robbins, III. On January 18, 1994, Martel and Woman appeared in a Carver W. Reed commercial. In February 1994, Martel was going to join WCW to feud with Melissa Hiatt Missy Hyatt, but Hyatt left the company. She later made appearances in WCW aiding Kevin Sullivan (wrestler) Kevin Sullivan and Bill Dannenhauser Dave Sullivan. On February 5, 1994 Martel accompanied Shane Douglas for a triple threat match against Terry Brunk Sabu and Terry Funk. Paul Heyman Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) attacked Martel before the match, but she recovered and was active throughout the match (which ended in a time limit draw). Martel made a brief appearance in the Mexican Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) promotion and accompanied Jake "The Snake" Roberts against Konnan. She returned to ECW to accompany Shane Douglas in matches against Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond and then officially joined WCW in May 1994.

World Championship Wrestling
Martel appeared in World Championship Wrestling in 1994 under the name '''Sensuous Sherri'''. She appeared at Slamboree scouting potential new clients in May 1994. She announced that she would manage who she felt was WCW's top star. Behind the scenes, Kevin Sullivan wanted her to be the manager of Ron Simmons. But, this was during the time of the Nicole Brown Simpson Nicole Brown and O. J. Simpson investigation, so they thought that might be pushing it a little. At ''Clash of Champions Clash of the Champions 27'', just as the match between Ric Flair and Sting (wrestler) Sting got underway, Martel approached the ring wearing facepaint identical to Sting's. Indeed, she was cheering for him to defeat Flair. Late in the match, Sting attempted to dive over the ropes onto Flair, but The Nature Boy yanked Martel into his path. Sting spent the rest of the match totally distracted and concerned for her, giving Flair the chance he needed to grab Sting's tights for an illegal pinfall and become the WCW Champion. Martel then entered the ring to embrace Flair. The new couple attacked Sting until Hulk Hogan ran them off. She helped Flair in in feuds against both Sting and Hulk Hogan. Image:Sherri3.jpg right|thumb|150px|Sister Sherri at ringside in WCW. After Flair lost a retirement match to Hogan, it was originally planned for Martel to manage the tag team of Jean-Paul Levesque (Triple H) and Lord Steven Regal (Darrin Matthews William Regal). The duo was slated to capture the tag team title with Martel as their manager and feud with Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner. However, Levesque was in the process of leaving WCW. There were also rumors that Martel was going to be paired with Stone Cold Steve Austin "Stunning" Steve Austin, but Austin was also on his way out of WCW at the time. Instead, Martel began managing Harlem Heat (Booker Huffman Booker T and Lane Huffman Stevie Ray) using the name '''Sister Sherri'''. In late 1994 (while still managing Harlem Heat in WCW), Martel made a return appearance in ECW managing Shane Douglas and Brian Pillman (substituting for an injured Steve Austin) against Ron Simmons and Too Cold Scorpio. It was soon evident that Martel only returned to ECW to humiliate her former protege on behalf of Ric Flair. Late in the match, Douglas tried to pin Scorpio but Martel grabbed Scorpio’s foot and placed it on the rope to break up the count (which Douglas didn't notice). Then Martel went to the top rope and came off with a double axe handle on Douglas. Simmons and Scorpio won after Simmons pinned Pillman. Martel was on the outside showing no remorse for accidentally hitting Douglas. Pillman then went outside and tossed her back in the ring by her hair. Douglas pointed to her chest after Pillman ripped off her jacket and she had a picture of Ric Flair taped to her dress. Douglas ripped the picture off and tore it up, then gave Martel a piledriver for revenge. Back in WCW, at ''Clash of Champions Clash of the Champions 31'', Harlem Heat and Martel defeated Bunkhouse Buck, Dick Slater and Robert Fuller Col. Robert Parker (11:01) when Martel pinned Parker. Martel hit her head on the mat, and suddenly fell in love with Parker. At ''Clash of Champions Clash of the Champions 32'' Martel and Paker were going to get married, but Debra Miceli Madusa interruped the wedding. She and Martel engaged in a catfight, and then wrestled in the first women's match on ''WCW Monday Nitro'' on January 29, 1996 (Martel pinned Madusa). Martel was then fired in 1996 after developing an addiction to prescription pain killers but cleaned up and returned to WCW by summer of that year. She once again managed Harlem Heat and even became involved in a catfight with Debra Marshall Debra on an episode of Nitro. At the 1996 WCW World War 3 pay-per-view, Martel defeated Col. Robert Parker by count-out. Martel left WCW in the summer of 1997.

Independent Circuit
Image:Sherrimartel.jpg left|thumb|150px|"Sensational" Sherri being inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame (2006).]] Martel has continued to work on the independent circuit. Early in 1999, Martel competed in a mixed-tag team match for the AWF World Heavyweight Title (a men's title). Martel teamed with Squeegee Kid against Melissa Hiatt Missy Hyatt and Ms. B Haven. Melissa Hiatt Missy scored an upset, and pinned Martel to win the title. In the Summer of 1999, she appeared on the ''Heroes of Wrestling'' pay-per-view managing George Steele against Greg Valentine. Also in 1999, she was awarded the AWA Superstars Women's Championship. In 2000, Martel made a brief return to WCW to wrestle Madusa and Noreen Greenwald Mona. In 2002, she made appearances in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) feuding with Lisa Marie Varon Victoria and managing Rob Conway. In 2005, Martel appeared at "Wrestle Reunion" in an 8-woman tag team match (teaming with Peggy Lee Leather, Krissy Vaine and Amber O'Neal wrestling against Wendi Richter, Bambi, Malia Hosaka and Jenny Taylor). In 2005, she made a return to ''WWE Friday Night SmackDown! WWE SmackDown!'' as part of the Shawn Michaels/Kurt Angle feud leading up to ''WrestleMania 21''. There she sang a parody of Michaels' theme music theme song with Angle but was eventually put in the Professional wrestling holds#Ankle Lock Angle Lock. Sherri Martel was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ted Dibiase on April 1, 2006, at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont, IL.

Wrestling Facts

Finishing and Signature Moves
*Professional wrestling holds#Sleeper hold Sleeper hold *Backbreaker#Argentine backbreaker rack Backbreaker rack *Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Splash Flying splash

Wrestlers Managed by Sherri Martel
*Kurt Angle (World Wrestling Entertainment WWE) *Rob Conway (Ohio Valley Wrestling OVW) *Ted DiBiase (World Wrestling Entertainment WWF) *Shane Douglas (Extreme Championship Wrestling ECW) *Ric Flair (World Championship Wrestling WCW) *Terry Funk (National Wrestling Alliance NWA) *Harlem Heat (World Championship Wrestling WCW) *Marty Jannetty (World Wrestling Entertainment WWF) *Honky Tonk Man (World Wrestling Entertainment WWF) *Kevin Wacholz Kevin Kelly (American Wrestling Association AWA) *Shawn Michaels (World Wrestling Entertainment WWF) *Jake "The Snake" Roberts (Asistencia Asesoría y Administración AAA) *Buddy Rose (American Wrestling Association AWA) *John Williams (wrestler) Ian Rotten (Mid American Wrestling) *Randy Savage "Macho King" Randy Savage (World Wrestling Entertainment WWF) *Dan Sawyer (Global Championship Wrestling) *Tracy Smothers (Smoky Mountain Wrestling SMW) *Doug Somers (American Wrestling Association AWA) *Bill Dannenhauser Dave Sullivan (World Championship Wrestling WCW) *Kevin Sullivan (wrestler) Kevin Sullivan (World Championship Wrestling WCW) *Jeff Tankersley (Iron Ring Wrestling, Southern States Wrestling) *Chris Chavis Tatanka (World Wrestling Entertainment WWF)

Managers
* Jim Cornette

Championships and Accomplishments
*'''Wrestling Observer Newsletter''' :*1991 Manager of the Year {{start box}} | colspan = 3 align = center | '''AWA Women's Championship''' |- | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
'''Candi Devine''' | width = 30% align = center | First | width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
'''Candi Devine''' |- | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
'''Candi Devine''' | width = 30% align = center | Second | width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
'''Candi Devine''' |- | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
'''Candi Devine''' | width = 30% align = center | Third | width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
'''Vacated''' |- | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
'''Title Retired''' | width = 30% align = center | Fourth | width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
'''Current''' |- |- | colspan = 3 align = center | '''WWE Women's Championship WWF Women's Championship''' |- | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
'''The Fabulous Moolah''' | width = 30% align = center | First | width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
'''Robin Smith Rockin' Robin''' |- {{end box}}

Personal Life
As a child, Martel dreamed of becoming a clown with Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus. She wasn't really a wrestling fan growing up. She explained it was either going to the wrestling matches or taking her sister Vicki roller skating. She didn't like baby-sitting and neither her sister or her were enjoying it so they started going with their mother to the matches in Hattiesburg, MS. She ran away from home to join the circus, but was told that the people were born into working there. She divorced her second husband when she was 20, and started wrestling school in Memphis, Tennessee in 1978. In the latter part of 1979, she went to The The Fabulous Moolah's school. In January and February of 1980, she went to Japan. Larry Zbyszko helped get her in the AWA. He felt she had a little bit of potential and thought she just needed to learn how to do wrestling interviews. She credits Vince McMahon for being the one who molded her in the WWF. Martel says she liked "Macho Man" Randy Savage a lot, and she says above all else, she knows Miss Elizabeth was her friend ("I miss her. I miss her so very much."). She says Ted DiBiase was exceptional, and a gentleman through and through. She feels Shawn Michaels is the total package, and says working with Ric Flair was an honor (she considers him a friend and says she learned a lot from him). Martel loved her time in ECW working with Shane Douglas. She feels ECW was more lenient with what they would let the women do and she liked that. She calls Harlem Heat her "two big brothers", and she is still friends with Stevie Ray and Booker T. The reason she left WCW in 1997 is because she was fired ("I pissed Eric Bischoff off and he pissed me off and that was just it."). She has a son, Jared. She currently lives in Kingsport, Tennessee Kingsport, TN. In 2005, she was married, and was on her honeymoon in Japan when World Wrestling Entertainment WWE contacted her and asked her to take part in an angle (professional wrestling) angle with Kurt Angle shortly before WrestleMania 21. Excerts from a 1997 interview with Kathy Fitzpatrick: *'''Randy Savage "Macho Man" Randy Savage''' (''"A perfectionist then, and he still is. It was the best two years of my career, and I wouldn't trade anything for it. He treated me as an equal partner. I was expected to do my part, and if I didn't, I got my ass chewed out."'') *'''Ted DiBiase''' (''""Teddy Bear"....I was his "Millon Dollar Woman". It was fun being a Millon Dollar Woman. Another one of the famous legends in the business that's still going. If the younger guys want to know what it takes to put people in the seats at the arenas; watch some of Randy and Ted's past matches. They both come from wrestling families, and even Ted's mom was a wrestler."'') *'''Shawn Michaels''' (''"My "boy toy", my first boy toy.... You know it's realy strange to watch Shawn go from teaming with Marty Jannetty in the AWA and now watching him in the WWF. Not for a minute did I think I would ever work with him, and there we were. I have the utmost respect for him. He has evolved with time, and is just like a fine wine. He just gets better with age. He's one of the finest men I know, and I would give anything to work with him one more time."'') *'''Shane Douglas''' (''"Can you imagine being in an operating room, with his wrestling boots, that big grin, those eyes, and that blond hair? His wife is a lucky lady, and I felt privileged to work with him the time I did. I'm sorry that it wasn't longer."'') *'''Ric Flair''' (''"That was phenomenal. How many women get the pleasure of working with one of the greatest legends in wrestling history? "To be the man, you have to beat the man..." He's every bit as flamboyant in his personal life as he is in the ring. A sweetheart, very thoughtful, a family loving man, and he loves this business like he loves his children. It was a real pleasure, and an honor that I had the opportunity to work with him."'') *'''Harlem Heat''' (''"I have 2 brothers that I never had before... Color has no place in my eyes. I've placed my life in these guys hands literally, and they saved me. I had a really bad problem with pills over the last 18 years, and Harlem Heat stuck by me when I went into rehab, and when I came out if it wasn't for Booker T. and Stevie Ray, I wouldn't have gotten my job back. In December I was the maid of honor at Booker's wedding. What an honor for me..."'') *'''Drug Abuse''' (''"In any entertainment business when one is living on the road and out of a suitcase, your best friend is your toothbrush, your plane ticket, and your booking sheet. Hotel rooms tend to make you a little claustrophobic. It makes you yearn to get out and be around people, and then being around people comes peer pressure. I'm not blaming the things I did on anyone. No one twisted my arm to do anything. I did them of my own free will. I got to the point where I couldn't do anything without pills. I was robbing not only myself, but everyone around me, and didn't care. Pills and alcohol isn't something new in the world. Thankfully the business is putting their foot down, and letting kids out here know how bad all that stuff is for you. I don't mind talking about it with kids. I have a 19 year old son...I don't want him or anyone else's child to wind up how I did. I am learning to live life on life's terms without pills, and I see things now that I couldn't before. I got another chance, and now I know there are many things God has for me to do, not that I know what they are yet. My life is looking up so much today, and the future looks even brighter."'')

References

- Sherri Martel at Gerweck.net
- Sherri Martel at LethalWOW.com
- Sherri Martel at ObsessedWithWrestling.com
- Sherri Martel at OWOW.com
- Sherri Martel Online Interview
- Sherri Martel Radio Interview Transcript

External Links

- WWE Profile
- WWE Summary of Sherri's Title Reign
- Sherri Martel at IMDB.com Category:1958 births Martel, Sherri Category:American professional wrestlers Martel, Sherri Category:AWA alumni Martel, Sherri Category:ECW alumni Martel, Sherri Category:Female professional wrestlers Martel, Sherri Category:Living people Martel, Sherri Category:New Orleanians Martel, Sherri Category:People from Tennessee Martel, Sherri Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets Martel, Sherri Category:SMW alumni Martel, Sherri de:Sherri Martel

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