One of the most successful female managers of all-time, "Sensational" Sherri drew big time heat at ringside and was one of the few females who could get physically involved in a match and have the fans actually believe it. She immediately elevated anyone she managed into someone important and her effect on the careers of her clients cannot be understated. Sherri Martel trained under the Fabulous Moolah before being booked by Verne Gagne in the AWA in 1985. Serving as a manager and a wrestler, she won the AWA Women's title on three separate occasions before the WWF came calling in 1987. Martel defeated her mentor the Fabulous Moolah for the WWF Women's title and competed as part of the WWF's female division until it was phased out in the early 1990s. However, Sherri was still retained as a manager and played a huge role in the Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage feud. She managed Savage through most of her heel run until turning on him in a memorable moment at Wrestlemania VII and allowing Elizabeth to return. Sherri moved on to manage Shawn Michaels who had just broken away from the Rockers and needed help getting over with the fans. Since Sherri had only been associated with top guys like Savage and Ted DiBiase, Michaels was instantly elevated in the crowd's eyes and moved up the card. Martel moved on to WCW where she managed Ric Flair in his feud with Hulk Hogan and then became Sister Sherri as the managed of Harlem Heat. Sherri still remained popular with fans but ECW phased her out in favor of new, younger female managers and Sherri was forced in semi-retirement. Her accomplishments were finally recognized in 2006 when she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ted DiBiase. Unfortunately, she didn't get to enjoy it for long as Sherri as found dead of a drug overdose in June 2007 at only 49 years old. Sherri made a big impact on professional wrestling as both a wrestler and a manager but her substance abuse problems were something she couldn't overcome.
