The woman who mastered the art of the wrestling double-cross
In short: Before she was a household name, Sherri Martel was a 16-year-old girl asking a wrestler for a chance. She would eventually become one of the most recognizable managers in history, navigating a career defined by high-stakes betrayals, trademark disputes, and the complex machinery of sports entertainment.
Sherri Martel's path to the ring was unconventional. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, she was first introduced to wrestling as a child. By 16, she sought advice from Grizzly Smith, who told her to wait until adulthood. After a brief stint as an exotic dancer and a marriage to Leroy Gonzalez, she left her family to pursue wrestling full-time. She trained under Butch Moore before being sent to the legendary Fabulous Moolah, who gave her the name Sherri Martel and sent her to Japan in 1981.
Martel became a champion in multiple promotions, notably holding the AWA World Women's Championship three times starting in 1985. Her transition to the WWF in 1987 saw her debut as 'Sensational Sherri,' where she held the WWF Women's Championship for fifteen months. However, her career became defined by her managerial roles. She managed icons like Randy Savage—where she became 'Sensational Queen Sherri'—and Ted DiBiase, often orchestrating elaborate storylines involving high-profile feuds and dramatic 'double-crosses.'
The business side of her career highlights the complexities of the industry. When she moved to WCW in 1994, she had to change her name to 'Sensuous Sherri' because 'Sensational Sherri' was trademarked by the WWF. Her career was marked by both immense success and public setbacks, including a notable 'dress-pulling' incident in a steel cage match and a departure from the WWF in the summer of 1993 following a failed drug test and her enrollment in cosmetology school.
Martel's legacy is one of versatility. She moved seamlessly between being a decorated champion and a manipulative manager, appearing in ECW, WCW, and TNA. Her ability to command the screen—whether by singing theme songs for Shawn Michaels or engaging in heated confrontations with Hulk Hogan—solidified her place as a pivotal figure in the evolution of modern professional wrestling.
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