Gone, But Not Forgotten: Sherri Martel

Sherri Martel as WWF Women's Champ
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Five years ago today I was on vacation in Mexico.  This was long before my smart phone, but because I knew our resort had Internet hookup, I packed our laptop to stay current on things in the news and of course wrestling.  I wasn't on Facebook or Twitter at the time, so I relied on regular ol' websites for information.

On the afternoon of June 15th, I logged in to WWE.com and read a headline that caught me off guard.  Legendary diva Sensational Sherri had died.  She was only 49 years old.

I remember very well watching Sherri Martel in the AWA.  It was the mid 80's and not only did she wrestle, she served as a valet for the tag team champions, "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers and "Playboy" Paul Rose.  This was the mid 80's, around the same time that Wendi Ritcher was lighting things up in the world of women's wrestling in the WWF.  The two never crossed paths and I think that's unfortunate.

Sherri did get to wrestle an aging Fabulous Moolah and beat her for the WWF Women's title when she arrived on the scene in 1987.  By then though women's wrestling was treated even worse than it is today, despite the fact that there were plenty of talented ladies.  Sherri dropped the women's title to Rockin' Robin in 1988 and I think that's pretty much the last we saw of the belt for a number of years.  Sherri stayed active in the WWF, most notably pairing up with the "Macho Man" Randy Savage when he and Elizabeth "broke up."

The King, the Queen, and Zeus
Photo courtesy: WWE

Sherri of course was the exact opposite of Liz.  As an active wrestler, she wasn't afraid to mix it up with the guys.  I can remember her getting involved in matches Savage had against Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Hulk Hogan, and The Ultimate Warrior.  I know on more than one occasion Hogan atomic dropped the Sensational Queen.  She wrestled a few times in that period but it was against Sweet Sapphire and no offense to her, she wasn't much competition.  In fact, I think she no showed the one singles match they were to have at SummerSlam 90, only meeting in that mixed tag match with Savage and Dusty Rhodes as their respective partners.

At Wrestlemania 7, Sherri and Savage split as the Macho Man and Liz reunited.  It didn't take long for the Sensational one to find a new mate though.  The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase hired her to replace Virgil.  The two made a good couple, but I liked her pairing with Savage the most I think, even though she got really outrageous with her makeup.  The partnership with DiBiase lasted for about a year, until a newly turned heel Shawn Michaels needed a valet.  Shawn became Sherri's "boy toy" even singing his theme song (which he still uses when he comes back to the ring)

Like all good relationships, the union with Shawn came to an end too after Sherri got hit in the head with one of the Heartbreak Kid's mirrors.  I think she briefly worked with Shawn's opponents, including Marty Jannetty and Tatanka.  She backed him at Wrestlemania 9 and brawled with Shawn's second Luna Vachon.  I know somewhere in her stint in the WWF she also played "Peggy Sue", the Honky Tonk Man's girlfriend, but she wore a wig and sunglasses so it was hard to tell it was her.

"Sister" Sherri & Harlem Heat
Photo courtesy: WWE

Eventually she left the WWF and briefly worked in ECW before heading south to WCW.  Instead of "Sensational" Sherri was "Sensuous" and aided Ric Flair in his feuds with Hogan and Sting.  Flair "retired" and Sherri moved on to Harlem Heat, even picking up the new name "Sister Sherri"  She played the part well, even dressing like Booker T and Stevie Ray.

In 2006 I was lucky enough to see Sherri get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.  At that point, she was only the second woman to receive the honor (Moolah was the first) Unfortunately though, there were some annoying fans in the crowd who continuously did cat calls and shouted while she tried to give her induction speech.  Since then, the WWE has cracked down on fans being obnoxious during the event.  She was so excited that night and seemed so full of life.  It's hard to believe that just over a year later she would be found dead.  I don't want to dwell on how she died, but instead would rather remember how she lived and made a difference in so many lives.

Hall of Fame Happiness
Photo courtesy: WWE

No doubt Sherri Martel influenced a generation of women wrestlers.  I think it's unfortunate she was in the WWF at a time when women's wrestling just didn't seem to matter.  But when she was in that ring, she always put on a great show.  Rest in Peace Sherri.  You are missed.

Black History Month: Booker T

Harlem Heat, Booker T & Stevie Ray

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Booker T is one of those guys I watch in the ring and even listen to on the announce team and think he is legitimately having a good time doing his thing.  This former five time, five time, five time, WCW World champion has had quite the career too.

I first remember reading about Booker T when he and his brother Stevie Ray were the Ebony Experience in Global Wrestling Federation back in the early 1990's.  The pair had a lot of success there and eventually signed on with WCW as Kane and Kole and were known collectively as Harlem Heat.  I don't know exactly when they dropped the those names in exchange for Booker T and Stevie Ray, but I think it was a good decision.

The duo feuded with the top teams of WCW, including the Nasty Boys, the Steiner Brothers, and members of the nWo.  Harlem Heat held the tag team titles an impressive ten times.  And I hate to say it but obviously in this team Booker T was the Shawn Michaels to Stevie Ray's Marty Jannetty.  The brothers split and Book went on to have a successful solo career.  Stevie did commentary briefly and then joined forces with  Ahmed Johnson.  Only now Ahmed was Big T.  Clever right?  This was in the dying days of the company, so don't judge too harshly.

Booker T & Chris Benoit (from WWE)

Anyway, Booker T had an awesome series of matches with Chris Benoit (yes, I said his name) for the WCW TV title.  The two would later have some great matches in WWE for the U.S. title as well.  Booker finally caught a big break in 2000 and won the WCW world title.  He became only the second black man to win the belt (Ron Simmons was the first).   Again this was during the last days of WCW and the title was hot shotted several times.

Book was one of the handful of stars who stayed with WWE after Vince McMahon bought WCW in March 2001.  In fact, he and Buff Bagwell were the first two WCW stars to wrestle on Raw.  And for Bagwell, it was his last match with the company.  Booker went on to enjoy success in those early days too.  He and Test (I don't know why) teamed up and won the tag team titles.  He held those titles with Goldust and Rob Van Dam as well.  Booker feuded with Edge over a shampoo commercial, won the Intercontinental, Hardcore, and U.S. titles, and held the world title on more than one occasion.  He was joined by his wife Sharmell and together the couple became royal as Booker T won the King of the Ring back in 2007.  I'm not sure if it was during his WWE time or while he was in WCW, but his signature Spinaroonee became quite popular with the fans.

His return against Cody Rhodes (from WWE)

Booker and Sharmell left the E and headed to TNA for a brief stint.  Book won the Legends title and the tag titles with Scott Steiner.  In 2011 he was a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble.  After that match though he did little to no wrestling and joined the announce team on SmackDown!  While his commentary sometimes leaves you saying "huh?" I do really find Booker T to be entertaining.  He's wrestled a few times, including a feud with Cody Rhodes, in which he helped put the rising star over.

Booker T is likely done with the full time wrestling, but he's still in great shape and had a great outing with Rhodes.  But I'm glad to see him passing the torch and still having fun while doing it.  Now can you dig that?  Sucka!