BEYOND GLOW

The pioneers of Women’s Wrestling Part One: Sensational Sherri

Sherri Russell was a born entertainer and loved professional wrestling from an early age. She would go onto become one of the most iconic female characters in pro wrestling history.

It was whilst attending a show in Mississippi with her sister that she met Grizzly Smith father of Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts. Smith offered Sherri her first advice in the business. “come back in five years when you’re a grown-up” Sherri would continue to dream.

By the time Sherri did train to be a wrestler, she was married for a second time with a child. Her marriage was failing and Sherri still longed for a career in the showbiz. Although still, young Sherri had life experience that would prove valuable in her future career.

Initially trained by Butch Moore, Sherri made her pro debut in 1980, realising that she was still to reach her potential she would seek specialist training from the most infamous woman in the history of the game ‘The Fabulous’ Moolah. At the time Moolah had a figurative stranglehold over woman’s professional wrestling it was alleged that Moolah didn’t provide proper training and took large amounts of money from most of the female talent she came into contact with. Moolah changed Sherri’s name to Sherri Martel and sent her to wrestle in Japan. This wouldn’t be the break Sherri was looking for. Moolah would allege that Sherri enjoyed a party and would not concentrate on her chosen career path. Whatever the real cause Sherri Martel and Moolah parted ways Sherri headed back to Memphis.

Sherri’s first big break came in 1985 when Larry Zbyszko introduced her to Verne Gagne owner of the American Wrestling Association (AWA). Making her debut at SuperClash 85 Sherri feuded with Candi Devine and would go onto lift the AWA World Women’s Championship on three occasions.

By 1987 the AWA was in terminal decline, former AWA star Jesse Ventura recommended Sherri speak to his new employer Vince McMahon, Sherri was about to hit the big time in the WWF.

Ironically her debut in July 87 would come against her former trainer The Fabulous Moolah whom she would defeat to become WWF Women’s Champion. Martell turned heel shortly thereafter christening herself, ’Sensational’ Sherri. Her fifteen-month reign was uneventful in most part because WWF at the time rarely televised women’s matches. She would drop the belt to ’Rockin Robin’ at a house show in Paris in late 1988.

Sherri would also play the role of Peggy Sue during the Honky Tonk Man’s Intercontinental title reign.

By 1989 WWF was starting to phase out Women’s Wrestling realising this Sherri would transition into a fulltime managers role. Sherri had briefly managed in the AWA so did have experience at ringside. Despite being an excellent in-ring performer this would be the role many WWF fans would remember her for.

After being defeated by Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania V ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage was looking for a new heel manager to replace Miss Elizabeth. Sensational Sherri would fit the bill perfectly.

At SummerSlam 89, Savage teamed with Zeus to take on Hogan and Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake. Sherri would interfere for the heels laying out Beefcake with her purse. Elizabeth would make the save attacking Sherri. As a result, the face team would ultimately be victorious. After the match, Beefcake chopped off the villainous Sherri’s hair to a thunderous response. In reality, this had been fake hair extensions added for the show.

Shortly after SummerSlam Savage would defeat Hacksaw Jim Duggan to become. ‘The King’ of the WWF. Sherri would be named ‘Sensation Queen’ Sherri and continue to interfere on Savages behalf.

At WrestleMania VI Sherri would once again have the opportunity to wrestle when she and Savage teamed to take on ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes and Sweet Sapphire in a mixed Tag bout. The heel duo would be defeated when Elizabeth again intervened on behalf of the good guys.

One year later at WrestleMania VII, the Savage and Sherri association would end when Savage lost a ‘career ending’ match to the Ultimate Warrior. After the match, Sherri attacked Savage berating him for the defeat. Elizabeth would attack Sherri. This reunited Savage and Elizabeth turning him face in the process.

Sherri would not be a free agent for long. In the summer of 1991, Sherri started to accompany the ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase to the ring. She would remain with Ted until 1992 when she became the on screen main squeeze of Shawn Michaels.

Sherri seemed to relish this new role. Michaels was the egocentric younger man whilst Sherri played a cougar style character willing to do anything for her “Boy Toy”. Sherri even sang Shawn’s new theme song ‘Sexy Boy’.

In the summer of 1992, Shawn Michaels and ‘The Model’ Rick Martel (no relation) would battle over Sherri’s affections. This would culminate in a bout at SummerSlam 92 resulting in a double count out. This was a Heel vs Heel match which was a rarity at the time.

Later that year Sherri would be involved in a storyline where she was caught in the crossfire between Michaels and his former Tag team partner Marty Jannetty. This lead to Sherri being struck with Michaels mirror. Sherri would take some time off television. It was unclear if she would be by Michael’s side upon her return.

In Part II we will look at Sherri’s final days in WWF and her post-WWF/E career including her days in WCW.

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Cheers

Ian