One thing I regret about not getting into wrestling earlier is the amount of talent I missed seeing in their prime. Be it Shawn Michaels v Bret Hart, Randy Savage v Ricky Steamboat or Alundra Blayze v Bull Nakano, I missed the boat on a large portion of incredible people having incredible matches. One person that particularly stands out is "Sensational" Sherri Martel, also known as Queen Sherri and Sister Sherri.
Sherri Martel was a pioneer for women in wrestling. Not only was she great in the ring (she was the American Wrestling Association World Women's Champion three times; International Wrestling Association Women's Champion once; and World Wrestling Federation Women's Champion once), but she was one of the best managers in the business, aiding the careers of people from Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels to Ric Flair and Booker T and Stevie Ray (Harlem Heat). She could do it all, wrestle, manage, speak, act - her impact is undeniable. Women nowadays cite her as a direct influence on their careers, most notably Sassy Stephanie who frequently has the initials "SS" on her cheek, something that Sherri herself used to do.
When I started digging for information and clips on her online, I fell in love with her. Her raspy, borderline-demonic voice instantly caught your attention. She never hesitate to inject herself into a match to help out her charge. Personally, I felt she was better suited for Randy Savage than Elizabeth, as I found Liz too demure and uninvolved. I also loved her pairing with Shawn Michaels, he has credited her for helping to elevate his career. When I went back even further, her matches in WWF and AWA were amazing. This lady was so well rounded in her career it astonished me.
In 2006, Sherri was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The induction speech was given by one of the men she had managed, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. She spoke from the heart that night and you could tell from her voice and the look on her face how much it meant to be recognised for her achievements. She looked so happy it made me cry. It was a lovely moment.
Who knew that a year later this great woman would be taken from us? At only 49 years of age, on June 15th, Sherri Martel passed away after what was said later to be an accidental overdose. We all have our demons and I'm not going to condemn or judge her for hers. Instead, I choose to remember a woman who was a trailblazer for females in wrestling. She made her mark in the AWA, WWF, ECW, WCW, IWA. She elevated everyone that worked with her. She helped break down walls and prove that women could be as fearless, as outspoken and as ferocious as men in the wrestling business. Brash, bold, classy and dedicated. Sensational Sherri is a legend and she will live on in history as one of the all time greats.
Over at Ringbellesonline.com, the newest Women of Wrestling podcast features a loving tribute to Sherri featuring a handful of people that worked with her: wrestling journalist Bill Apter; friend and rival Candi Divine; personal friend Marianne Ryan; veteran wrestler Lexie Fyfe; and one of her most famous charges "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase himself. Further down the page are links to various moments in Sherri's career, but there are a ton online. Her work is definitely worth seeking out. Here is the link to the podcast: http://ringbellesonline.com/2012/06/15/wow-podcast-41-remembering-sensational-sherri/
I wish I had gotten into wrestling early enough to experience Sherri live, but at least her work will live on as a permanent tribute to this trailblazing woman. I can only say as a grateful fan: thank you Sherri. I pray you are at peace now. You will always be Sensational.
*EDIT* I completely forgot to mention Sherri's time in Japan! It wasn't long by any means, but to make up for it, here's a tag team match featuring her teaming with Judy Martin to take on Mimi Hagiwara and Yukari Ohmori (it's in 3 parts) (Honestly YouTube is filled with matches and segments from every part of her career. Well worth browsing!):
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