83 Weeks - Sherri Martel [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Early Life

Sherry (S-H-E-R-R-Y) Lynn Russell was born on February 8, 1958 in Birmingham, AL. This year marks what would have been her 65th birthday.

She was athletic growing up, playing basketball and doing track and field for most of her youth. Sherry’s family moved to Mississippi, and that’s when Sherry’s mother gave her the option to go ice skating or watch wrestling. At first she picked ice skating, but after some fights with her sister, Sherry opted to watch wrestling instead. She fell in love with professional wrestling and ditched college to concentrate on it full-time.

You felt her love for professional wrestling didn’t you Eric?

She would be trained for wrestling and would work with people like Butch Moore, Grizzly Smith - Jake Roberts’ father - and eventually the Fabulous Moolah.

I know we don’t like to talk about ugly topics here on the show, especially when they involve folks like Moolah who are no longer with us. But Sherri’s claims about not being subject to sexual harassment under Moolah’s watch are at odds with controversial claims that the women who trained at Moolah’s school were forced to provide sexual favors in exchange for career advancement. Eric, based on what you know, do you have any thoughts on this controversy?

Moolah would send her to All Japan to get more experience, and would return to work in Memphis where she would work as a manager for the first time. She really could do it all in professional wrestling couldn’t she?

Eventually she would find her way to the AWA from 1985 - 1987.

Eric, when you were living up in Minnesota – before you started working there – and the AWA first hit your radar, what was the presence of women’s wrestling? How much visibility did it get on TV?

Do you remember seeing her in the AWA?

Sherri credits Larry Zbyzko with helping get into the AWA. In a 2004 interview with Title Match Network, Sherri recalled:

“Larry was instrumental in getting me my job with Verne [Gange]. He went in with me to the office. I had worked on a few shows for Verne at the time, so he knew me. I guess [Verne] never thought of me as being someone with the company on a regular basis. I was living in Nashville at the time, and I had flown up to do a show. Larry says we’re going into the office to talk to Verne…Larry helped me work on my interviews. He helped me become more self confident. He said, ‘Sherri, when you get nervous, just look out in that crowd and think “everybody wants me.”’ It was history after that. We went into to talk to Verne. Without [Larry] it never would have happened.”

Eric, did you overlap with Sherri when you came into the AWA in ‘87? On our Rise of Eric Bischoff episode, you talked about how instrumental Larry Zbyzko was in helping you feel settled in the AWA. Did he ever introduce you to Sherri when you first arrived in the AWA in 1987? What was your relationship with Sherri, if any?

At the same time that Sherri is winning the AWA World Women’s Title three times during her tenure, she also starts to manage “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Pretty Boy” Doug Somers to the World Tag Team Championships. Rose and Somers would eventually lose those titles to the Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) in January of ‘87.

This relatively short run is pretty remarkable: winning major titles and managing others to titles at the same time. Eric, who, in your opinion, has had that kind of success as a woman in the history of wrestling?

She would move onto the WWF where she would spend the next 6 years - working with Moolah for the Women’s Title and even wins it an early version of the WWF Women’s Title in Houston and becomes “Sensational” Sherri. It’s crazy to think back how many don’t remember her being a champion let alone a wrestler isn’t it?

Eric, by the time you’re getting established as an on-camera interviewer in the AWA in 1989, what is your impression of how the company is handling women’s wrestling? I know you’re not involved in creative, are you overhearing any discussion about the WWF phasing out women’s wrestling and what that might mean for the sport?

She transitions into a manager as a result of having no one to wrestle. She dresses up as Honky Tonk Man’s girlfriend Peggy Sue, then starts managing Macho Man Randy Savage. As a reminder, this is after the Mega Powers explode and Miss Elizabeth is out of the picture. Once Savage becomes the Macho “King,” Sherri logically changes her name to Sensational “Queen” Sherri and manages him through WrestleMania ‘91. She plays instrumental roles in two major feuds during this time. The first is managing Savage and Zeus as they take on Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake with Savage’s former manager Miss Elizabeth. Then she teams up with Savage to wrestle Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire at WrestleMania VI.

Sherri Martel’s promos

Sherri Martel working with Miss Elizabeth

Sherri Martel leaving WWF

Eric, what was it that made Sherri such a brilliant foil to characters like Miss Elizabeth and Sapphire, in your opinion? What was so effective about her heel persona?

What did you think of her in this role - if you saw any of it?

Sherri’s last orders of business on TV in the WWF were managing Ted DiBiase and Shawn Michaels at different points from late ‘91 to early ‘93. She even played a major part in the storyline about the Rockers breakup. From May to July of ‘93, she did return to the ring in a series of matches against the newly-arrived Luna Vachon, but only at house shows. Her last match is on July 10; it’s a win over Luna by DQ in Seattle.

Sherri said in a 2004 interview that she left the WWF because the touring schedule made it impossible to hold a relationship. By that point she’d been married three times. She also confessed to drugs playing a role:

“My mind was so focused on wrestling that everything else came second.

Everything. That was including my ex, my family, everyone…I also got busted smoking marijuana and wouldn’t quit…[Drugs] cost me a great job and personal friendships. At the time, I couldn't see how destructive I was. I thought drugs made me perform better. I was stubborn. I didn’t give a damn what anyone else said, even Vince McMahon. If I cared about things as much as I thought I did, I wouldn't have done those things.”

Eric, you become WCW Executive Producer the same year that Sherri exited the WWF. Since she was such a major talent there for so long, is her release something that’s a point of discussion for WCW? Do you have anyone in your ear about her, either gossiping or trying to suggest she would be good for WCW?

If not, when does she first come on your radar as a possible acquisition?

USWA, SMOKY MOUNTAIN, EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING (1993-1994)

Sherri bounced around for the next year or so, having short stints in the USWA, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, and Eastern Championship Wrestling. In the USWA she reunited with Randy Savage in a feud against Jerry Lawler. In Smoky Mountain she managed Tracy Smothers in a feud against Tammy Sytch (the future Sunny) and Brian Lee (the future Chainz and fake Undertaker), even wrestling a Loser Gets Spanked Match against Jim Cornette. Then, in the original ECW, she briefly managed Shane Douglas.

By early ‘94, Sherri was wrapping up on ECW. In an interview, she specifically said that it was Kevin Sullivan and NOT Eric Bischoff that contacted her about coming in to WCW:

“Kevin and Nancy [Sullivan] were in ECW, then they went down to WCW. I get a

call from Gary Juster and he told me they were filming at Universal [Studios] and

they wanted me to come in.”

Eric, what do you remember about the contract negotiations with Sherri? Did Kevin Sullivan and Gary Juster make the calls?

How important was Kevin to bringing talent in back in 1994?

Missy Hyatt Sherri Martel

Gary Juster?

Kevin Sullivan

In that same interview she goes on to say that, “Kevin wanted me to work with Dave [Sullivan]. That didn’t go as well, so then they put me with Flair.”

You’re not yet Executive Vice President, but do you have any creative input in this decision to pair Sherri and Flair?

On her early impressions of you, Eric, Sherri had this to say:

“I thought he was cute. He had that TV face. Of course I remember him from the

AWA, right as I was leaving. The slate between us, at this point, was clean. We

had no problems. My initial thoughts of [Bischoff being in power] were that this could turn out to be something cool. He’s willing to give me a chance. He was always straight up with me.”

We’ll get to how your relationship developed in a bit, but is this how you remember your initial interactions with Sherri?

Sherri openly said that, in addition to managing, there were initial plans considered for her to get back in the ring to feud with Madusa. The latter had just returned to WCW after a run as Alundra Blayze in the WWF. What do you remember about this idea and any plans to reignite the women’s division when you took over in ‘94?

Here’s something interesting I found in my research. Sportster reported that there was also a plan at the beginning of Sherri’s WCW run to have her manage Jean-Paul Levesque, who we know went on to become Triple H. What do you remember about this idea?

Sherri debuted on TV on the April 23 episode of Saturday Night, under the name “Sensuous” Sherri. Mean Gene Okerlund gives her a big welcome to some pumping music. Sherri comes out bathed in billowing smoke, then walks over to Mean Gene and gives him a huge kiss on the lips. She reveals that she’s come to WCW “to find a man that can fulfill all of my needs,” which makes Gene fumble the mic. Sherri continues by saying, “My needs are to take a man and to go to get the World Championship belt.”

Was the kiss scripted or did Sherri just want to mess with Gene?

It seemed that Sherri and Gene had great chemistry together. Were they friends behind the scenes?

Guys like Mean Gene, Hogan, and others that worked with Sherri prior to this. What were their reactions to Sherri coming into WCW?

Sherri & Ric Flair together…I mean it’s the perfect deal isn’t it?

What did you think of Sherri & Ric together?

Sherri’s is at ringside for Ric Flair’s title defense against Barry Windham at Slamboree ‘94. Windham is a surprise return here. He had been away from WCW since shortly after he lost the WCW Title to Ric Flair in 1993. In storyline, Colonel Rob Parker had been promising a surprise opponent for Flair, which is revealed to be his old stable-mate, Barry. Windham even comes out to the Four Horsemen’s music.

What do you remember about Windham’s comeback? Was this during a period you remember Barry struggling outside the ring?

Ric Flair pins Windham in 13:21 and we don’t see Sherri get involved. Why have her there if she isn’t going to get involved? Is this just an attempt to build anticipation?

It’s not that Ric needed a manager…but it just looked better with him & Sherri together didn’t it?

On June 23, 1994, Ric Flair, the World Champion, and Sting, the International Champion, were set to battle in a title unification match at Clash of the Champions XXVII. Right as the match is about to start, music hits and Sherri comes to the ring, hiding her face behind a mask. When she removes the mask, it’s revealed that she’s painted her face like Sting’s. Later in the match, Sting slingshots himself over the top rope, but Flair pulls Sherri in front of himself. Sherri goes down and Flair scores the roll up pinfall off the distraction. Sherri gets in the ring and embraces Flair, then the two of them attack Sting. Hulk Hogan, who just arrived in WCW that day, makes the save.

This would have felt very familiar for long-time fans, who saw Sherri’s work with Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior in the WWF. Was there any concern that the repetition would alienate fans? Or is it just that Sherri is so talented at what she does, that it would be foolish NOT to have her repeat her classic spots?

Was Sherri excited about doing these physical spots at this point in her career?

Any issue with her getting involved as a woman with the men? It feels like Turner would be not so fast on that…

We see more familiar spots as Sherri aids Flair against Hogan at Bash at the Beach and their big blow off match at Halloween Havoc. She climbed the cage at Havoc to help Flair and, in the process, had her dress pulled off by Jimmy Hart, Hogan's manager. She’s left dangling from the cage in black lingerie. This is a very familiar spot Sherri did in the WWF. She was a badass and a consummate heel. But she was also sexy. Sherri wasn’t bashful about flaunting her body. Was that added sex appeal something she pitched?

Bischoff’s freedom

How much was she able to add to the product - just in facials alone?

“Flaunting” her sexuality

From the latter part of ‘94 to early ‘97, Sherri transitioned to managing Harlem Heat under the name “Sister” Sherri. She develops a tougher, street-wise persona and manages Booker T. and Stevie Ray to 7 tag title reigns. Why was the relationship with Flair put to bed, and who’s idea is it for her to start working with Harlem Heat?

Did you think she was better with Flair or Harlem Heat?

Was there any thought on racial overtones with having a white woman with two black men?

Harlem Heat starts feuding with Dirty Dick Slater and Bunkhouse of the Stud Stable managed by Colonel Robert Parker (Robert Fuller). The rivalry allowed Sherri to get back in the ring in August of ‘95, when she teamed with Harlem Heat to defeat the Stud Stable and Robert Parker at Clash of the Champions XXXI.

Was Sherri excited about getting back in the ring for a match?

Was there any issues during this time with her backstage with drugs, drinking, partying, etc?

Eventually, Sherri and Parker started an on-screen romance that left both teams upset. Parker even abandoned the Stud Stable to act as Harlem Heat’s “promoter.” Finally Sherri and Parker were set to marry, when a returning Madusa attacked Sherri and revealed she was Parker’s wife. This led to a one-off match on the January 29, 1996 episode of Nitro in which Sherri defeated Madusa in 1:48.

Who’s idea is it to put Sherri and Parker together? What did you think of their on-screen chemistry?

Was Sherri excited to work with her old rival Madusa? Why didn’t we see more matches between them?

The story of Sherri & Parker - with the swerve being Madusa - I don’t know - didn’t hit for me - did it for you?

The on again-off again relationship between Sherri and Parker continued throughout the rest of ‘96. After they broke up, Parker started to manage the Amazing French Canadians (Jacques Rougeau and Carl Ouellet). A stipulation was made that, if Harlem Heat defeated the Canadians at World War III that November, Sherri would get 5 minutes alone in the ring with Parker. Harlem Heat won and Sherri decimated Parker, until Rougeau helps Parker to the locker room.

This is one of the longest stories WCW did - and it seemed to revolve around Sherri & Parker. Was this something Sullivan enjoyed booking? Did you find it entertaining?

It took up a lot of TV time - and a lot of it on Nitro. Do you think it drew money or ratings?

Sherri continued managing Harlem Heat, until mid-1997. Stevie Ray gave an interview in which he discussed Harlem Heat’s separation from Sister Sherri:

“I’ll never forget it. I remember we were in Memphis, TN at Nitro [on July 7, 1997]

and they told us Sherri wasn’t with the company any more. Nobody told us

anything, until we got to the building. To this day, I think that was one of the most

disrespectful things I’ve ever been through. Sherri was a big part of Harlem Heat.

They never [told us why.] To do this day, I still don’t know…I was like, ‘If that’s all

the respect we got in this company, I didn’t really give a shit.”

Eric, talk us through why Sherri was let go that day and what happened at Nitro with Stevie Ray and Booker T.

Was this a big issue with Harlem Heat?

Did she need help?

In the same 2004 interview we’ve been referencing throughout this conversation, Sherri remembered her side of the story:

“Eric thought I was doing things – I got back to the drugs again. He pulled me in the office one day – this was right after my mother had threatened to have me committed because I had a drug problem. I go right into Eric’s office, and he says, ‘Sherri, we have the facilities and the means to help you. Do you have a drug problem?’ I looked him right in the face and told him, ‘No.” Regardless of whether I regret that or not, I can’t change it.”

Do you remember this conversation?

What was the process of ending a talent’s contract in that era, when they’re let go for substance issues?

Did you HATE letting people go?

Were you sad to let Sherri go?

She didn’t have great things to say about you - I’m assuming because of the way she was let go. Did you talk with Sherri at all after you let her go?

Sherri continued:

“For so many years I dogged Eric Bischoff. I had so much resentment for him…because, at the point in time I had the drug problem, the very things he was getting on me for, he was allowing others to do…But today, because of what Eric Bischoff did and the actions he took, I might not be here. For that, I’m grateful.”

Did you know she ever said that?

She would work some indies before returning to WCW and made a few appearances on TV and even Souled Out 2000 while you were out of the company.

But do you have any recollection of how Sherri was brought back here?

When you get back in April 2000, is there any conversation about Sherri at all?

Could she had done more in WCW do you think?

Later Career and Death

By 2003, Sherri was living in Tennessee and renovating houses with her husband Robert Shrull.

Then we see her pop up again in WWE for a cup of coffee in 2005 to help fan the flames of the Shawn Michaels-Kurt Angle feud. This is where she sings “Sexy Kurt,” a parody of Shawn Michaels’ theme, “Sexy Boy.” As a reminder, Sherri sang the original vocals on Shawn’s theme back in 1992.

In 2006, she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ted DiBiase.

She was a Hall of Famer was she not?

How special was it for you for her to shout you out during her speech?

She made her last televised appearance that same year for TNA in a vignette that aired on September 21. In the vignette, Sherri tries to convince Bobby Roode that he should take her as a manager.

Did you ever get a chance to speak with Ric, Hulk, Randy about Sherri and what made her so special?

Sherri passed away 9 months later on June 15 at her mother’s home in McCalla, Alabama. She was 49. The toxicology report showed an overdose of multiple drugs. She was cremated

Such an unfortunate way to lose someone so talented. Eric, when did you hear the news and what was your reaction?