Five Reasons Why Sensational Sherri Martel is Underrated and Should be Considered One of the Best Ever
1. She was such a good wrestler.
Many people know Sherri the manager. They know her as the charismatic over the top always in love manager of Shawn Michaels, Macho Man, Ted DiBiase, the list goes on and on. However, few people know Sherri the wrestler. Sherri was a wrestler in WWE and when the women's division died her charisma allowed her to cross over into the management role. That speaks volumes to Sherri's skill. But, never forget that Sherri initially was a wrestler. First of all...Sherri was a southern girl born in Alabama. Sherri began her career in 1974 and eventually enrolled in the Fabulous Moolah's wrestling school and began wrestling in Japan in 1981. She then went to the American Wrestling Federation from 1985-1987 before landing in the World Wrestling Federation on July 24, 1987. She defeated her mentor The Fabulous Moolah for the WWF Women's Championship ending Moolah's 380 day reign. This is when her moniker "Sensational" was adopted and she carried the women's division for 441 days. She even led her own team at Survivor Series 1987 against The Fabulous Moolah's team. Sherri was really a trailblazer in the women's division.
2. While she was the Women's Champion she also played the Honky Tonk Man's Girlfriend Peggy Sue
This speaks volumes to her dedication and ability to run the show. Sherri was Peggy Sue! I actually did not know this until I began my research for writing this article. Sherri was a master story teller and knew how to make her presence known. It is amazing how she could play ANY character and get a reaction out of the fans. This is a testament to her wrestling ability. Although when she was women's champion the division was not flourishing, her run as Peggy Sue and subsequent roles demonstrates that the division's failure was not at all due to her lack of talent.
3. After the WWE Deactivated it's Women's Division Sherri stayed on the roster and began managing wrestlers.
Yes, everyone knows Sherri was Shawn Michael's over the top manager. Okay, she wasn't that over the top, because I take pictures of my boyfriend 100 times a day so that he can get the perfect picture on Instagram. So, I guess she was just a girl down for her man.
Anyway, very few people remember that Sherri managed Randy Savage full time right after WWE's women's division ended. Yes, she did dual duty with the Honky Tonk man, however, it was not until her transition to full time manager that she got her first full time management role with Savage. After Savage and Miss Elizabeth parted ways, Sherri gave Savage that mean nasty edge that he needed. Savage had always been a baby face and regarded as the company's second "face that runs the place" behind Hulk Hogan. But after being tired of living in Hogan's shadow, Savage decided to take matters in his own hands; switched up his character and his manager. This was some of Savage's best years as him and Sherri were DYNAMITE on the microphone together. Don't believe me? Check out this video.
After Savage reunited with Miss Elizabeth, Sherri's managerial skills would turn to Ted DiBiase before of course, managing the Heart Break Kid. This was Sherri's most famous pairing as it just seemed like the two worked so well together. This pair was famous and I sometimes go on the WWE Network to watch their entrances especially that time at WrestleMania IX when she held the mirror for Shawn as he walked down the aisle.
4. She had a lengthy run in WCW.
After departing from WWE in 1993 Sherri spent some time in Smoky Mountain Wrestling then Extreme Championship Wrestling before joining WCW. Sherri debuted on the April 23, 1994 edition of WCW Saturday Night. Her ring name was no longer "Sensational" it was no "Sensuous". She managed Harlem Heat, Ric Flair and Sting. The year 1994 marked Sherri's 20th year in professional wrestling, and she was still on television...being relevant and managing some of the greatest professional wrestlers professional wrestling had to offer. WCW and WWE both had very little interest in their women's division. Even though Sherri was a astounding wrestler, she got little push as at the time, women's wrestling was shunned and not supported by management. However, Sherri developed her character, her signature, and her sensational style to stay relevant and stay on our televisions every single week.
5. Her Championships and Accomplishments
Sherri has held many championships in professional wrestling, a fact that is often over looked by fans. She held the AWA World Women's Championship four times, International Wrestling Championship one time, and the WWE Women's Championship one time. All during a period when women's wrestling was taboo.
Additionally, she was named Manager of the Year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1991, She was Indicted in Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994, the Kingsport Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, the WSU Hall of Fame in 2009 and finally, the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sherri is one of the most decorated women's wrestlers, managers, etc. of all time....however this is especially true in her most active years of the 1980s and 1990s. This is a fact that many wrestling fans over looked. She was always a heel and never garnered a significant fan following but that proves why she is so good. She is one of the few heels that fans actually genuinely hated, but at the same time thought she was super hot. Because she was...did you see those outfits she wore with Shawn Michaels?
In closing, Sherri was a trailblazer and she defied odds and stayed relevant when women wrestlers were a dying breed. Sherri is one of the all time greats and she is my personal favorite women's wrestler/manager of all time.
Honestly, Vince should have listened to Chris Jericho and named the WrestleMania Battle Royal after Sensational Sherri.
Many people know Sherri the manager. They know her as the charismatic over the top always in love manager of Shawn Michaels, Macho Man, Ted DiBiase, the list goes on and on. However, few people know Sherri the wrestler. Sherri was a wrestler in WWE and when the women's division died her charisma allowed her to cross over into the management role. That speaks volumes to Sherri's skill. But, never forget that Sherri initially was a wrestler. First of all...Sherri was a southern girl born in Alabama. Sherri began her career in 1974 and eventually enrolled in the Fabulous Moolah's wrestling school and began wrestling in Japan in 1981. She then went to the American Wrestling Federation from 1985-1987 before landing in the World Wrestling Federation on July 24, 1987. She defeated her mentor The Fabulous Moolah for the WWF Women's Championship ending Moolah's 380 day reign. This is when her moniker "Sensational" was adopted and she carried the women's division for 441 days. She even led her own team at Survivor Series 1987 against The Fabulous Moolah's team. Sherri was really a trailblazer in the women's division.
2. While she was the Women's Champion she also played the Honky Tonk Man's Girlfriend Peggy Sue
This speaks volumes to her dedication and ability to run the show. Sherri was Peggy Sue! I actually did not know this until I began my research for writing this article. Sherri was a master story teller and knew how to make her presence known. It is amazing how she could play ANY character and get a reaction out of the fans. This is a testament to her wrestling ability. Although when she was women's champion the division was not flourishing, her run as Peggy Sue and subsequent roles demonstrates that the division's failure was not at all due to her lack of talent.
3. After the WWE Deactivated it's Women's Division Sherri stayed on the roster and began managing wrestlers.
Yes, everyone knows Sherri was Shawn Michael's over the top manager. Okay, she wasn't that over the top, because I take pictures of my boyfriend 100 times a day so that he can get the perfect picture on Instagram. So, I guess she was just a girl down for her man.
Anyway, very few people remember that Sherri managed Randy Savage full time right after WWE's women's division ended. Yes, she did dual duty with the Honky Tonk man, however, it was not until her transition to full time manager that she got her first full time management role with Savage. After Savage and Miss Elizabeth parted ways, Sherri gave Savage that mean nasty edge that he needed. Savage had always been a baby face and regarded as the company's second "face that runs the place" behind Hulk Hogan. But after being tired of living in Hogan's shadow, Savage decided to take matters in his own hands; switched up his character and his manager. This was some of Savage's best years as him and Sherri were DYNAMITE on the microphone together. Don't believe me? Check out this video.
After Savage reunited with Miss Elizabeth, Sherri's managerial skills would turn to Ted DiBiase before of course, managing the Heart Break Kid. This was Sherri's most famous pairing as it just seemed like the two worked so well together. This pair was famous and I sometimes go on the WWE Network to watch their entrances especially that time at WrestleMania IX when she held the mirror for Shawn as he walked down the aisle.
4. She had a lengthy run in WCW.
After departing from WWE in 1993 Sherri spent some time in Smoky Mountain Wrestling then Extreme Championship Wrestling before joining WCW. Sherri debuted on the April 23, 1994 edition of WCW Saturday Night. Her ring name was no longer "Sensational" it was no "Sensuous". She managed Harlem Heat, Ric Flair and Sting. The year 1994 marked Sherri's 20th year in professional wrestling, and she was still on television...being relevant and managing some of the greatest professional wrestlers professional wrestling had to offer. WCW and WWE both had very little interest in their women's division. Even though Sherri was a astounding wrestler, she got little push as at the time, women's wrestling was shunned and not supported by management. However, Sherri developed her character, her signature, and her sensational style to stay relevant and stay on our televisions every single week.
5. Her Championships and Accomplishments
Sherri has held many championships in professional wrestling, a fact that is often over looked by fans. She held the AWA World Women's Championship four times, International Wrestling Championship one time, and the WWE Women's Championship one time. All during a period when women's wrestling was taboo.
Additionally, she was named Manager of the Year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1991, She was Indicted in Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994, the Kingsport Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, the WSU Hall of Fame in 2009 and finally, the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sherri is one of the most decorated women's wrestlers, managers, etc. of all time....however this is especially true in her most active years of the 1980s and 1990s. This is a fact that many wrestling fans over looked. She was always a heel and never garnered a significant fan following but that proves why she is so good. She is one of the few heels that fans actually genuinely hated, but at the same time thought she was super hot. Because she was...did you see those outfits she wore with Shawn Michaels?
In closing, Sherri was a trailblazer and she defied odds and stayed relevant when women wrestlers were a dying breed. Sherri is one of the all time greats and she is my personal favorite women's wrestler/manager of all time.
Honestly, Vince should have listened to Chris Jericho and named the WrestleMania Battle Royal after Sensational Sherri.
Comments
Post a Comment