Sherri Martel was one of the most influential women in professional wrestling history. She had a successful career as both a wrestler and a manager, working with some of the biggest names in the industry. She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, a year before her untimely death. What was the cause of death of Sherri Martel, and how did she lose her life at the age of 49?
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Sherri Martel’s Early Life and Career
Sherri Martel was born on February 8, 1958, in Birmingham, Alabama. She grew up playing basketball and participating in track and field. She was introduced to professional wrestling as a child, when her mother took her and her sister to shows in Mississippi. She was fascinated by the sport and decided to pursue it as a career.
She began training in Memphis in the late 1970s, and then moved to South Carolina to learn from The Fabulous Moolah, one of the greatest women’s wrestlers of all time. Moolah sent her to Japan in 1981, where she gained valuable experience and improved her skills. However, Moolah also kicked her out of her wrestling school due to her excessive partying and rebellious attitude.
Martel returned to the United States and continued to wrestle in various territories, such as the AWA, where she won the women’s title three times. She also married her second husband and gave birth to a son named Jared, but they soon divorced.
Sherri Martel’s WWE Stint and Managerial Success
In 1987, Martel joined the WWE, where she became known as “Sensational” Sherri. She defeated Moolah for the WWE Women’s Championship in her debut match, and held the title for 15 months. She also played the role of Peggy Sue, the girlfriend of The Honky Tonk Man, wearing a blonde wig and a pink dress.
When the WWE disbanded the women’s division in 1989, Martel transitioned to a managerial role, which she excelled at. She became the manager of “Macho Man” Randy Savage, who had split with his wife and valet Miss Elizabeth. Martel and Savage formed a perfect heel duo, as they cheated, lied, and taunted their opponents and fans. Martel also helped Savage win the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 5.
Martel and Savage parted ways in 1991, after Savage lost a retirement match to The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 7. Martel then managed “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase for a brief period, before aligning herself with Shawn Michaels, who had just turned heel and started his singles career. Martel became known as “Sensuous” Sherri, and accompanied Michaels to the ring, singing his entrance theme and interfering in his matches. She also had a brief feud with Luna Vachon, who attacked her on several occasions.
Martel left the WWE in 1993, after she was accidentally hit by a mirror that Michaels was using as a prop. She later claimed that she was fired because she refused to pose for Playboy magazine, which the WWE had offered her.
Sherri Martel’s Later Years and Death
After leaving the WWE, Martel worked for ECW and WCW, where she managed various wrestlers, such as Shane Douglas, Ric Flair, and Harlem Heat. She also briefly returned to the ring, competing in mixed tag team matches and battle royals. She left WCW in 1997, and made sporadic appearances in independent promotions and conventions.
In 2005, Martel was arrested for driving under the influence, and was sentenced to probation and community service. She also struggled with drug addiction, and admitted that she had used cocaine, painkillers, and alcohol. She tried to get help from WWE’s rehabilitation program, but she relapsed several times.
On June 15, 2007, Martel was found dead at her mother’s home in McCalla, Alabama. She was 49 years old. The cause of death was later determined to be an accidental overdose of multiple drugs, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, carisoprodol, alprazolam, meperidine and tramadol, according to ARK Behavioral Health. The toxicology report also revealed that she had high levels of alcohol in her system.
Martel’s death shocked and saddened the wrestling world, as many of her former colleagues and fans paid tribute to her legacy and achievements. She was remembered as a trailblazer, a pioneer, and a legend, who paved the way for many women in the industry. She was also praised for her charisma, talent, and passion, which made her stand out in a male-dominated sport. She was posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010, and the WWE Legacy Wing in 2019.
