PWInsider and Wrestlingobserver.com have reported that Sherri Martel passed away today.
Sherri first rose to fame in the AWA, becoming a three time AWA women’s champion. She vacated the belt when she jumped to the WWF and soon added the WWF women’s title to her collection.
Sherri’s greatest fame, however, came as a manager. In 1989, Sherri (now known as Sensational Sherri) began managing the Macho Man Randy Savage after his split with Miss Elizabeth. When Savage crowned himself the Macho King, Sherri was right there as Queen Sherri.
After Savage lost a retirement match to the Ultimate Warrior in 1991, Sherri began managing the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. In 1992, Sherri split with DiBiase to start managing her new love, Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels.
In 1994, after brief stops in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and ECW, Sherri made her way to WCW. She managed Ric Flair until he lost a retirement match to Hulk Hogan, and then Sister Sherri began managing Harlem Heat. Sherri left WCW in 1997.
Sherri remained active on the independent scene. She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in the Class of 2006. Sherri’s final major wrestling appearance was on the September 21, 2006 Impact, where she joined others who were vying to becoming Bobby Roode’s new manager.
Jim Ross has written a nice piece on her here, Tom Prichard here and SLAM! Wrestling here.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Sherri’s friends and family at this time.
