No one ever expects their heroes to die. You just assume that they will go on living forever, doing all of the things that have rendered such awe in us all. Then again, almost by its very definition, a hero still lives on through all of the inspiring things they have done, echoing in immortality so long as we remember.
Logging onto the computer this past weekend, I learned that one of my heroes, "Sensational" Sherri Martel passed away at the age of 49. Like so many other wrestling fans, I was in utter shock and felt an unbelievable sadness. Maybe it seems silly to some to feel sad about the passing of someone you've never met before. Then again, if you really admire this person, it's just a natural part of acknowledging all of the great moments and memories they've given you over the years.
As a tomboy that loved wrestling -- especially the "bad guys" and "bad girls" -- "Sensational" Sherri was one of my favorite wrestlers and managers. Trapped in that age between being "one of the guys" and fighting with sticks and rocks, and a burgeoning interest in clothes and makeup (much to the chagrin of my Mom and her bucket of cosmetics that I would pillage), Sherri was my logical choice of as a role model during those formative years. To this day, I put her in the distinctive category of women whom I looked up to along with my Mom and Mae West. And that's some distinguished company right there.
Sure, there was Miss Elizabeth who was lovely, demure, and stood by her man. By contrast, Sherri not only "stood" by her man, she took a few shots at whomever confronted her man, too, not to mention that she looked equally gorgeous doing it. While Elizabeth was sweet, for a lot of little girls who watched wrestling in the '80s, the loud, fierce, and tough "Sensational" Sherri was probably the one who we could feel more of a kinship with, even though most of us weren't allowed to paint our faces with makeup for another five years or so.
As a kid, I didn't fully appreciate just how important of a facet of her character this makeup was, helping to define "Scary" Sherri's character and just how important the visual aspect of characterization was in creating such memorable match-ups, enhancing the stylistic element of whomever she was managing. On top of all that, she knew when to pull back from the kicking, screaming, and hurling of brick-loaded purses to make sure that it was the wrestler who got the lion's share of the spotlight and not Sherri in a managerial capacity outshining them.
While the character of Macho Man's valet, Miss Elizabeth was the consummate heroine, she didn't look as if she was having as much fun as the woman who would become "Sensational Queen" Sherri. While Elizabeth backed away from Macho Man's opponents, fearing for her safety as well as that of her man's, Sherri was engaging in verbal and physical warfare right along with her charge. In a male-dominated sport, it was a rarity to see a woman out there, much less one who looked like she was having fun, let alone getting in there and grappling with the guys. Even as a villainess, "Scary" Sherri was a lot of fun and oddly likeable.
Yes, likeable even as Peggy Sue, the ring-side companion of Intercontinental Champion, the Honky Tonk Man. Oddly enough, as a kid, I had no clue that it was actually "Sensational" Sherri under the blonde wig and sunglasses, but had always found Peggy Sue -- in her original incarnation -- to be fun to watch, teaming with ol' Honky himself and his manager, Jimmy Hart, "The Mouth of the South."
It wasn't until years later that I had realized who this character really was. Another woman eventually took over the role of Peggy Sue (offering a different, significantly more quiet version of the bobby-socker than Sherri's interpretation) before Sherri went back into the identity of the loud, colorful, confrontational, and occasionally risqué "Sensational One" who managed the likes of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, and Shawn Michaels in WWE, and later on, such wrestling luminaries such as Shane Douglas in ECW, Harlem Heat in WCW, and also the beyond-legendary Ric Flair.
As I got older and logged more hours of professional wrestling television and knowledge, Sherri Martel still remained one of my favorites. During my high school years, I remembered watching her manage Harlem Heat's Stevie Ray and Booker T as "Sister" Sherri. Although her makeup was toned down a bit, it was still the same Sherri Martel whose ring antics I had loved watching growing up. In fact, it seemed that she was even more of a physical presence, involved in Harlem Heat's brawls with the Nasty Boys and alternately being romanced by and beating the crap out of Col. Robert Parker.
What made her so unique was that she both took and dished out beatings usually reserved for 250 lb. men. The fact that a very feminine woman could convincingly beat up men twice her size and not make fans think twice was part of what made her such a legend. "Sister" Sherri could clobber one of the Nasty Boys with a chair, garbage can, or her fists, yielding devastating results. Very few fans would question her ringside effectiveness as an asset to her charges. To hell with the Spice Girls in the '90s! That was real girl power!
While the physical aspect of Sherri's ring and ringside work was impressive, so were her promos. Not being a traitor to my gender here, but there are very few women who can give compelling promos. "Sensational" Sherri didn't use any standard catchphrases in her promos, however, yet they were both articulate and intense, and occasionally laced with humor.
With the internet, VHS /DVD trading, and websites devoted to offering shoot interviews, it was possible for fans to relive childhood nostalgia with the wrestlers we grew up marking out for and hear them relate their own stories. As a result, fans gained an insider's perspective on both the industry and the wrestlers we loved to watch.
From these interviews that broke from kayfabe tradition, it was interesting to note how Ms. Martel had affectionately referred to her altar-ego as "Scary Sherri," acknowledging the fun and campy aspect of the over-the-top character she helped to create.
It was later on, learning a lot more about the history of wrestling that I developed an even deeper appreciation for Sherri Martel and all of her accomplishments. First overcoming a socio-economic barrier by coming from a humble upbringing in the South, and then --difficult even in the latter part of the 20th century -- breaking into a male-dominated field and amassing an impressive portfolio of accolades that rank comparatively alongside those of the men in the sport.
While I didn't see her work in the AWA, her role in the federation, particularly for a woman, was revolutionary, managing a championship tag team in "Playboy" Buddy Rose and "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers while holding the federation's Women's Championship belt herself, then bearing the distinction of holding both the AWA title and its (then) WWF Women's counterpart as well before she fully transitioned to working in the promotion that would later become WWE.
I had really hoped to see Sherri Martel years from now, assuming the mantle currently occupied by the Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young, bridging the gap between those who grew up watching her and a new generation of wrestling fans. Wrestling is a sport with a rich and storied past. There exists a lineage of colorful characters and great athletes that paved the way for new ones who are all-but descendants of those who came before them, be it through second- and third-generation talent, or modern-day counterparts to the gimmicks of the past.
From all accounts, Sherri Martel was one of those rare performers who was willing to pass on her knowledge to anyone who asked and did it all with a genuine happiness to do so. In the past week, many younger wrestlers have spoken about advice she had given them, what they had learned from her, or just mentioned what an influence she was on their careers, inspiring them to get into professional wrestling.
Fortunately, Sherri Martel was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame last year, cementing her reputation and contributions to an industry it was obvious that she had loved. On the flipside, not everyone gets to know how well-loved and appreciated they are during their lifetime. Giving one of the most candid and impassioned induction speeches to date at the ceremony, Ms. Martel showed that love for wrestling, the performers, and certainly the fans -- although she notably put several of the more obnoxious ones in their place onstage. At the same time, beyond the gruff exterior, there shone a glimmer of someone who still had an almost childlike enthusiasm for the industry she had been granted legendary status within, taking time out to address her fans, her wrestling family, and her own family, waving "Hi, Mommy!" as she accepted her award.
I was never fortunate enough to have met Sherri Martel, but a friend of mine, indy-wrestler Joey Blackjack, met her at a convention last year and he had this to say:
"What can I say about Sherri that hasn't already been said? She was a trailblazer, a pioneer and always exuded that Southern charm, but at the same time was not afraid to knock someone out that gave her shit. She was a real class act. When I met her at the convention, she was probably one of the most popular choices for photo-ops and she graciously posed and thanked each and every fan that took one with her. Then, later that night at the Cornette/Midnight Express/Heavenly Bodies Q&A session, she took a seat with the rest of the fans and livened up the show. Never had any holier-than-thou attitude, it was like she was just a regular fan of the business. I almost had to miss out on that convention, but given the circumstances I would have been greatly upset if I did. I think how within a year after that convention, two of my favorites (Ernie Ladd and Sherri) passed away after I met them there."
Upon meeting Sherri, my friend had also relayed to her a message that I had said to him before that "Everything I ever needed to know about makeup, I learned from 'Scary' Sherri." He said that she got a big laugh out of it, and in turn, it was a good feeling to know that something I had said had made a person who had given me and so many other fans countless hours of entertainment and inspiration a laugh herself.
As evidenced by the overwhelming amount of recollections, stories, and comments by wrestling fans and wrestlers alike regarding Sherri's remarkable life and tragically early death, she was someone who meant a lot to all of us.
Let's not lose sight of the fact, however that we're only the fans. I can only imagine the loss her family and friends, both inside the wrestling world and out, are feeling right now and I offer my sincere condolences to those who really knew her.
If anything, though, it should be the goal of everyone who ever treads upon this Earth to leave this place a better world than it was before they entered it. To accomplish as much as you possibly can, without stepping on others to do so -- and still not taking any crap, either. Helping as many people as you can along the way, even if it's with a smile or a kind word, because even something small can go a long way. Sherri Martel, in the short time she was here, did all that and more. Thank you for everything, Sherri. For giving myself and a lot of other little girls a role model and even more wrestling fans so many wonderful memories.
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