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00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:07,591
You want a piece
of me, little girl?
2
00:00:07,591 --> 00:00:09,968
Well, come and get it,
because you're looking at a
3
00:00:09,968 --> 00:00:12,262
woman that invented mean!
4
00:00:12,262 --> 00:00:14,848
[narrator] Sherri Martel
was a chameleon,
5
00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:17,017
a performer who broke
new ground for women
6
00:00:17,017 --> 00:00:18,393
in the wrestling
business...
7
00:00:18,393 --> 00:00:22,022
an in-ring natural that
made it all look effortless.
8
00:00:22,022 --> 00:00:23,440
She was an ace.
9
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,277
Sensational Sherri
was a top-line ringer.
10
00:00:27,277 --> 00:00:28,570
You look at the 80s,
11
00:00:28,570 --> 00:00:29,738
and you look at
Sherri's role and
12
00:00:29,738 --> 00:00:31,949
some of the biggest story
lines, the biggest moments,
13
00:00:31,949 --> 00:00:33,617
the biggest
Pay Per Views...
14
00:00:33,617 --> 00:00:36,036
my god,
she was a huge star.
15
00:00:36,036 --> 00:00:37,996
Inside the ring and
outside the ring,
16
00:00:37,996 --> 00:00:40,415
and on the microphone,
and on camera,
17
00:00:40,415 --> 00:00:41,750
she was perfect.
18
00:00:41,750 --> 00:00:45,420
She was really the only
great female manager
19
00:00:45,420 --> 00:00:47,005
of modern times.
20
00:00:47,005 --> 00:00:48,924
You, Hulk Hogan,
are the one
21
00:00:48,924 --> 00:00:51,385
that has a failing career!
22
00:00:51,385 --> 00:00:53,011
Whatever the gimmick,
23
00:00:53,011 --> 00:00:55,013
she would do
whatever it needed.
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00:00:55,013 --> 00:00:56,848
Everybody in the
business knew that.
25
00:00:56,848 --> 00:00:58,308
[Cheering]
26
00:00:58,308 --> 00:01:01,061
But few knew of the
sacrifices that Sherri's
27
00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:04,273
total commitment to
becoming a star demanded...
28
00:01:04,273 --> 00:01:05,983
Her demons took over.
29
00:01:05,983 --> 00:01:09,861
She said she didn't
want to be a caged bird.
30
00:01:09,861 --> 00:01:13,282
...And the high costs of
her trailblazing success.
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She worked hard, man.
She paid a price, too.
32
00:01:16,785 --> 00:01:18,954
I knew she was in pain.
But, you don't work,
33
00:01:18,954 --> 00:01:20,706
you don't get paid.
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00:01:20,706 --> 00:01:22,082
It pushed her
the wrong way.
35
00:01:22,082 --> 00:01:25,085
No punches pulled!
No nothing!
36
00:01:25,085 --> 00:01:27,754
It became more obvious
that she was having issues.
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00:01:27,754 --> 00:01:29,798
If you can't get
your act together,
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00:01:29,798 --> 00:01:31,925
you need to step off
team Harlem Heat.
39
00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:34,720
There were skeletons
throughout her whole life.
40
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,931
Some people can get over it,
and some people can't.
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00:01:37,931 --> 00:01:42,853
♪
42
00:01:45,981 --> 00:01:48,358
♪
43
00:01:48,358 --> 00:01:51,278
Luna Vachon!
Picking Sherri up!
44
00:01:51,278 --> 00:01:53,739
And she planted
Sensational Sherri,
45
00:01:53,739 --> 00:01:55,157
right out here
on the outside!
46
00:02:22,059 --> 00:02:23,727
Sherri was tough physically,
47
00:02:23,727 --> 00:02:26,188
but also she was tough
somewhat mentally.
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00:02:26,188 --> 00:02:28,732
She could take some of the
abuses she got from the fans
49
00:02:28,732 --> 00:02:31,651
or from the other wrestlers,
and that's why the guys
50
00:02:31,651 --> 00:02:35,280
liked working with her-
she was all in.
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00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:36,657
I'm Jim Cornette.
52
00:02:36,657 --> 00:02:38,450
For almost 40 years,
I've done everything in
53
00:02:38,450 --> 00:02:40,744
pro wrestling,
especially managing.
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00:02:40,744 --> 00:02:44,039
And Sherri Martel was the
first person I ever managed.
55
00:02:44,039 --> 00:02:46,375
That I have signed up, and
I would like to introduce,
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00:02:46,375 --> 00:02:48,251
Miss Sherri Martel.
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00:02:48,251 --> 00:02:50,587
I've had people ask me,
"How did you decide to take
58
00:02:50,587 --> 00:02:53,423
Sherri Martel as a client?"
Well, I didn't.
59
00:02:53,423 --> 00:02:55,926
Can I make an investment,
or can I make an investment?
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00:02:55,926 --> 00:02:59,137
In 1982, both of us were
just getting started.
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00:02:59,137 --> 00:03:01,056
Sherri was just a
rookie wrestler,
62
00:03:01,056 --> 00:03:03,475
and we were kind of thrown
together just because the
63
00:03:03,475 --> 00:03:06,311
promoter knew that I needed
some kind of practice.
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00:03:06,311 --> 00:03:07,688
So, we looked at
each other and said,
65
00:03:07,688 --> 00:03:09,940
"You're greener than goose
shit and I'm even worse,
66
00:03:09,940 --> 00:03:12,275
how can this
possibly go wrong?"
67
00:03:12,275 --> 00:03:14,111
We bonded from
that moment.
68
00:03:14,111 --> 00:03:16,822
Money talks and you
know what walks.
69
00:03:16,822 --> 00:03:20,075
She wasn't the over-the-top
personality that you would
70
00:03:20,075 --> 00:03:22,994
see from Sherri Martel 5 years
later or 10 years later,
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00:03:22,994 --> 00:03:25,288
but at that point,
nobody knew she was
72
00:03:25,288 --> 00:03:27,624
gonna be not only
one of the...
73
00:03:27,624 --> 00:03:30,377
great female wrestlers
of the next generation,
74
00:03:30,377 --> 00:03:34,089
but also one of the most high
profile managers in wrestling.
75
00:03:34,089 --> 00:03:36,091
She was just a girl who
wanted to be a wrestler
76
00:03:36,091 --> 00:03:37,175
at that point.
77
00:03:37,175 --> 00:03:39,719
You didn't know how
far she was gonna go.
78
00:03:39,719 --> 00:03:44,933
I know you all want me,
but you can't have me.
79
00:03:44,933 --> 00:03:48,937
Sherri was a diva before
the divas were divas.
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00:03:48,937 --> 00:03:52,566
Once she got in that ring,
different person.
81
00:03:52,566 --> 00:03:54,484
Minute she got out
of that ring...
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00:03:54,484 --> 00:03:57,696
A sweetheart.
83
00:03:57,696 --> 00:03:59,030
I'm Kathy Fitzpatrick,
84
00:03:59,030 --> 00:04:01,616
and Sherri Martel was
my best friend.
85
00:04:01,616 --> 00:04:03,618
We kind of had the
same kind of childhood.
86
00:04:03,618 --> 00:04:05,370
She didn't know her dad.
87
00:04:05,370 --> 00:04:07,456
Her mom would take her
to wrestling shows,
88
00:04:07,456 --> 00:04:08,748
and she liked it.
89
00:04:26,391 --> 00:04:31,354
I met Sherri Martel
in 1974.
90
00:04:31,354 --> 00:04:34,691
I'd say at the time
she was probably 17,
91
00:04:34,691 --> 00:04:36,985
and I was 18,
92
00:04:36,985 --> 00:04:39,988
and I was a referee for
Mid-South Wrestling.
93
00:04:39,988 --> 00:04:43,158
And, she was a fan.
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00:04:43,158 --> 00:04:44,951
I remember Sherri being
in the front row
95
00:04:44,951 --> 00:04:46,912
watching the shows.
96
00:04:46,912 --> 00:04:49,664
One night in
Lafayette, Louisiana,
97
00:04:49,664 --> 00:04:52,209
we met, we talked...
98
00:04:52,209 --> 00:04:55,420
and, it moved
forward very fast.
99
00:04:55,420 --> 00:04:57,923
♪
100
00:04:57,923 --> 00:05:00,634
Aurelian Smith
is my legal name.
101
00:05:00,634 --> 00:05:03,887
Jake "The Snake" Roberts is
how most people might know me.
102
00:05:03,887 --> 00:05:06,473
What's going through
that evil mind?
103
00:05:06,473 --> 00:05:08,308
[Indistinct shouting]
He did it!
104
00:05:08,308 --> 00:05:11,770
Sherri and I spent
some raw time together.
105
00:05:11,770 --> 00:05:15,607
We were on-again, off-again
for about 4 or 5 years.
106
00:05:15,607 --> 00:05:18,568
Just her walking into
a room, she was a star.
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00:05:18,568 --> 00:05:20,820
I mean, that's just how
captivating she was,
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00:05:20,820 --> 00:05:23,740
and she was beautiful, but
she wasn't your typical,
109
00:05:23,740 --> 00:05:26,034
oh, dainty, pretty girl.
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00:05:26,034 --> 00:05:28,036
She was, "I'll kick
your ----ing ass
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00:05:28,036 --> 00:05:31,122
in your face girl."
[Laughing]
112
00:05:31,122 --> 00:05:33,917
Was I in love with her?
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00:05:33,917 --> 00:05:36,294
I was in love with something.
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00:05:36,294 --> 00:05:37,754
There was that connection.
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00:05:37,754 --> 00:05:39,297
Both of us wanting
something that seemed
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00:05:39,297 --> 00:05:42,259
so far out of reality.
117
00:05:42,259 --> 00:05:44,636
It seemed like we would
never get to the big show
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00:05:44,636 --> 00:05:49,182
or to the, to the WWE,
or even Mid-South.
119
00:05:49,182 --> 00:05:52,852
He's out for blood,
he's not out to wrestle!
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00:05:52,852 --> 00:05:56,231
Sherri Martel wanted
to be a wrestling star,
121
00:05:56,231 --> 00:05:58,483
from the get-go.
122
00:05:58,483 --> 00:06:00,986
In those days, there were
no training programs
123
00:06:00,986 --> 00:06:02,320
that were advertised.
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00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,615
You had to just hang around
until somebody was willing to
125
00:06:05,615 --> 00:06:07,492
take a chance on you if
you wanted to be
126
00:06:07,492 --> 00:06:09,286
involved in wrestling.
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00:06:09,286 --> 00:06:12,372
Grizzly Smith at the time
was a road agent and
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00:06:12,372 --> 00:06:15,375
a matchmaker for
Mid-South Wrestling.
129
00:06:15,375 --> 00:06:19,004
And, if he would see
prospective talent,
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00:06:19,004 --> 00:06:20,589
he would take an
interest in 'em.
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00:06:31,558 --> 00:06:33,560
Dreaming of being
a wrestling star,
132
00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,397
but with no avenue to begin
her training, by 1976,
133
00:06:37,397 --> 00:06:40,609
Sherri is living and
working in New Orleans.
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00:06:40,609 --> 00:06:42,110
She was gorgeous,
135
00:06:42,110 --> 00:06:44,654
had a good sense of
humour, and...
136
00:06:44,654 --> 00:06:48,575
Just, we got along.
137
00:06:48,575 --> 00:06:49,909
I'm Leroy Gonzales,
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00:06:49,909 --> 00:06:54,414
and I'm the ex-husband
of Sherri Martel.
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00:06:54,414 --> 00:06:57,667
June of 1976.
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00:06:57,667 --> 00:06:59,836
I was in training
at a restaurant,
141
00:06:59,836 --> 00:07:03,798
and she was sitting in a
booth and complained about
142
00:07:03,798 --> 00:07:07,010
a roach in the booth.
143
00:07:07,010 --> 00:07:09,888
I just looked up at her,
and said, "Wow,
144
00:07:09,888 --> 00:07:11,931
wish I'd 'a been
that roach."
145
00:07:11,931 --> 00:07:13,975
So, she says,
later on,
146
00:07:13,975 --> 00:07:16,311
she says, "Why don't you
come and meet me and
147
00:07:16,311 --> 00:07:17,646
have a drink?"
148
00:07:17,646 --> 00:07:19,814
She was working
across the street.
149
00:07:19,814 --> 00:07:22,317
I didn't know where
I was going, really,
150
00:07:22,317 --> 00:07:24,903
and so when I walked in,
I realized
151
00:07:24,903 --> 00:07:27,489
it was a... club.
152
00:07:27,489 --> 00:07:30,075
♪
153
00:07:30,075 --> 00:07:33,411
And,
she was on stage.
154
00:07:33,411 --> 00:07:35,580
After her dance was over,
she came and sat down,
155
00:07:35,580 --> 00:07:38,083
we got to talking,
and she just...
156
00:07:38,083 --> 00:07:41,670
swept me off my feet.
157
00:07:41,670 --> 00:07:44,839
She was wanting to get
out of that business.
158
00:07:44,839 --> 00:07:47,676
And, I bought a
trailer and...
159
00:07:47,676 --> 00:07:50,470
she moved in with me.
160
00:07:50,470 --> 00:07:52,389
One day I come in
from work,
161
00:07:52,389 --> 00:07:54,974
got on a knee and
asked her to marry me.
162
00:07:54,974 --> 00:07:57,936
But she'd go out
with her girlfriends.
163
00:07:57,936 --> 00:08:00,480
And, party, yes.
164
00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,692
Just about any drug.
165
00:08:03,692 --> 00:08:06,945
Marijuana, uppers, Mollies.
166
00:08:06,945 --> 00:08:10,365
Downers, Quaaludes, cocaine.
167
00:08:10,365 --> 00:08:12,283
We got into some
168
00:08:12,283 --> 00:08:15,995
pretty heated discussions
about it, and...
169
00:08:15,995 --> 00:08:18,456
Yeah, it just never stopped.
170
00:08:18,456 --> 00:08:20,125
♪
171
00:08:20,125 --> 00:08:24,462
At that time, she wanted
to have a family.
172
00:08:24,462 --> 00:08:27,549
And, we had
Jarred in
173
00:08:27,549 --> 00:08:31,886
July of 1978.
174
00:08:31,886 --> 00:08:34,973
You wanted a child,
now we have one.
175
00:08:34,973 --> 00:08:37,142
Time to put your big girl
pants on and
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00:08:37,142 --> 00:08:40,019
take care of the child.
177
00:08:40,019 --> 00:08:42,355
Couldn't take it.
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00:08:42,355 --> 00:08:44,941
When she told me she was
going to pursue a career
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00:08:44,941 --> 00:08:47,277
in wrestling,
I laughed at her.
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00:08:47,277 --> 00:08:49,904
♪
181
00:08:49,904 --> 00:08:52,991
I had no idea.
182
00:08:52,991 --> 00:08:56,703
She left when the baby
was like 3 months old.
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00:08:56,703 --> 00:08:59,330
♪
184
00:08:59,330 --> 00:09:01,833
And I know it hurt,
it bothered her.
185
00:09:01,833 --> 00:09:06,087
But, sometimes you have
to do what you have to do.
186
00:09:06,087 --> 00:09:09,007
Sherri moves to Memphis where
she again finds work as
187
00:09:09,007 --> 00:09:11,843
an exotic dancer while
continuing her search for
188
00:09:11,843 --> 00:09:14,554
a way to break into the
wrestling business.
189
00:09:14,554 --> 00:09:17,640
In those days, there was
always some independent,
190
00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,434
or what we call
"outlaw wrestlers"
191
00:09:19,434 --> 00:09:21,603
around a major
wrestling city.
192
00:09:46,336 --> 00:09:48,755
There you go,
outlaw wrestler.
193
00:09:48,755 --> 00:09:51,132
Here, let me slap you and
see if you're tough-
194
00:09:51,132 --> 00:09:52,967
and what the
---- is that?
195
00:09:52,967 --> 00:09:54,636
I would've been interested to
see if she slapped him back
196
00:09:54,636 --> 00:09:56,012
if he could handle it.
197
00:10:35,802 --> 00:10:38,555
Great.
Ask my sister...
198
00:10:38,555 --> 00:10:40,890
Rockin' Robin.
199
00:10:40,890 --> 00:10:42,600
The first time I met
Sherri was,
200
00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,310
when she would come in town,
often she would stay
201
00:10:44,310 --> 00:10:46,479
actually at my
father's house.
202
00:10:46,479 --> 00:10:48,857
♪
203
00:10:48,857 --> 00:10:52,443
I'm Rockin' Robin, and I
defeated Sherri Martel
204
00:10:52,443 --> 00:10:55,738
from the WWF
Women's World Title.
205
00:10:55,738 --> 00:10:58,324
History made here,
new ladies' champion!
206
00:10:58,324 --> 00:11:00,410
Rockin' Robin!
207
00:11:00,410 --> 00:11:02,829
Like a lot of the other girls,
if they were in town,
208
00:11:02,829 --> 00:11:04,789
I would go and
hang out with 'em.
209
00:11:04,789 --> 00:11:07,792
I guess try to make 'em
more comfortable.
210
00:11:07,792 --> 00:11:12,046
My father, Grizz,
he had a...
211
00:11:12,046 --> 00:11:16,342
liking, you know, very much
for younger girls.
212
00:11:16,342 --> 00:11:19,721
I mean, he was a no-good
son of a bitch, man.
213
00:11:19,721 --> 00:11:21,681
♪
214
00:11:21,681 --> 00:11:26,144
Actually, she was a little
old for his wheelhouse.
215
00:11:26,144 --> 00:11:28,897
I would go to the matches
and watch her wrestle.
216
00:11:28,897 --> 00:11:31,441
Sherri could be
strictly business,
217
00:11:31,441 --> 00:11:34,569
even at that
young of an age.
218
00:11:34,569 --> 00:11:36,946
She had those rough ages,
219
00:11:36,946 --> 00:11:39,824
but that's what
made her Sherri.
220
00:11:39,824 --> 00:11:42,577
After Grizzly saw, "Well,
we've given her the basics,
221
00:11:42,577 --> 00:11:44,787
she needs to go to
work with Moolah
222
00:11:44,787 --> 00:11:46,289
to continue her career."
223
00:11:46,289 --> 00:11:49,584
The Fabulous Moolah!
224
00:11:49,584 --> 00:11:52,337
The Fabulous Moolah was
not only the world women's
225
00:11:52,337 --> 00:11:56,216
champion wrestler for 30-
something years, but also,
226
00:11:56,216 --> 00:11:58,927
she booked all the women
wrestlers to the various
227
00:11:58,927 --> 00:12:00,637
territories around
the United States,
228
00:12:00,637 --> 00:12:03,389
so if you were an
aspiring female wrestler,
229
00:12:03,389 --> 00:12:06,351
you almost had to- not only
be trained by Moolah,
230
00:12:06,351 --> 00:12:09,812
but then stick with Moolah
and work as part of her troupe.
231
00:12:09,812 --> 00:12:12,941
And, one of the most adhered
to rules was that you
232
00:12:12,941 --> 00:12:16,027
have to give Moolah her
booking kickback...
233
00:12:16,027 --> 00:12:18,863
or else wise you're
in serious trouble.
234
00:12:18,863 --> 00:12:21,616
It was almost like a
military school type of
235
00:12:21,616 --> 00:12:23,785
operation for
lady wrestlers.
236
00:12:33,378 --> 00:12:35,880
Moolah had a lot of rules-
there were curfews.
237
00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,049
The girls had to be in
at certain times and,
238
00:12:38,049 --> 00:12:40,635
Moolah said at the time,
"She was just into that night
239
00:12:40,635 --> 00:12:44,555
clubbing, and darlin', that
was just too much for me."
240
00:12:44,555 --> 00:12:48,685
And Moolah asked her
to depart the compound.
241
00:12:48,685 --> 00:12:50,103
[Match bell chimes]
242
00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:52,438
Once Sherri got
away from Moolah,
243
00:12:52,438 --> 00:12:55,775
she was able to create more
of her own personality and
244
00:12:55,775 --> 00:12:58,361
get over on her own merits
rather than somebody else
245
00:12:58,361 --> 00:13:01,990
telling the promoter
how to use her.
246
00:13:01,990 --> 00:13:04,492
In the months after Sherri
leaves her husband and
247
00:13:04,492 --> 00:13:07,120
infant son behind to
pursue wrestling,
248
00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,623
Leroy struggles to put
their family back together.
249
00:13:10,623 --> 00:13:13,292
I was trying to get
her to come back home.
250
00:13:13,292 --> 00:13:16,754
I hired a private
investigator to follow her,
251
00:13:16,754 --> 00:13:19,757
and I found out
where she was at, and...
252
00:13:19,757 --> 00:13:23,845
some of the things
that she was up to.
253
00:13:23,845 --> 00:13:27,265
I was making a night
deposit at the bank and,
254
00:13:27,265 --> 00:13:30,268
three big guys
walked up to me.
255
00:13:30,268 --> 00:13:34,480
And, point blank told me,
"Hey, leave Sherri alone.
256
00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,524
She belongs to us."
257
00:13:36,524 --> 00:13:40,153
Had no idea if they were
just friends of Sherri,
258
00:13:40,153 --> 00:13:43,573
if it had anything with the
wrestling association.
259
00:13:43,573 --> 00:13:45,616
When they said,
"She belongs to us,"
260
00:13:45,616 --> 00:13:47,869
well, I- she belongs
to wrestling.
261
00:13:47,869 --> 00:13:49,996
I left her alone after that.
262
00:13:57,670 --> 00:14:00,757
After stints in Japan
and Mid-South Wrestling,
263
00:14:00,757 --> 00:14:03,426
by the mid 1980s,
Sherri Martel is working
264
00:14:03,426 --> 00:14:06,179
as a wrestler and
manager in the AWA,
265
00:14:06,179 --> 00:14:09,307
a regional promotion
based in Minneapolis.
266
00:14:09,307 --> 00:14:10,558
No!
267
00:14:10,558 --> 00:14:13,603
Verne Gagne and the AWA,
that's one guy that had never
268
00:14:13,603 --> 00:14:17,315
had a relationship with
The Fabulous Moolah.
269
00:14:17,315 --> 00:14:19,776
That was good for Sherri
because he could book
270
00:14:19,776 --> 00:14:22,570
any girl or anybody else
he wanted to book.
271
00:14:22,570 --> 00:14:24,197
Now we know who's
a better woman!
272
00:14:24,197 --> 00:14:26,199
I told you
she was crazy!
273
00:14:26,199 --> 00:14:29,660
There were never a lot of
lady wrestlers in the AWA,
274
00:14:29,660 --> 00:14:32,997
but the ones that they
picked and that they did use
275
00:14:32,997 --> 00:14:34,916
were very accomplished.
276
00:14:34,916 --> 00:14:37,418
And Sherri was physical,
and she could dish it out.
277
00:14:37,418 --> 00:14:39,629
Beating her over the
head with that belt!
278
00:14:39,629 --> 00:14:41,339
Sherri knew the business.
279
00:14:41,339 --> 00:14:45,385
And, her psychology
was on point.
280
00:14:45,385 --> 00:14:46,594
Agh!
281
00:14:46,594 --> 00:14:49,597
Her timing was incredible.
282
00:14:49,597 --> 00:14:51,766
Hey guys,
WWE Hall of Famer,
283
00:14:51,766 --> 00:14:55,144
known as Alundra Blayze
and Madusa.
284
00:14:55,144 --> 00:14:59,649
From Robbinsdale,
Minnesota, Madusa Miceli!
285
00:14:59,649 --> 00:15:03,694
I looked up to her a lot,
and kind of trying to emulate
286
00:15:03,694 --> 00:15:05,863
what she did and
how strong she was,
287
00:15:05,863 --> 00:15:09,492
even though she was caving
inside in so many ways.
288
00:15:09,492 --> 00:15:12,286
I went over to her house,
and I remember her
289
00:15:12,286 --> 00:15:16,499
saying that her
son was away.
290
00:15:16,499 --> 00:15:18,042
Having a child in
this business was
291
00:15:18,042 --> 00:15:20,670
frowned upon
for women.
292
00:15:20,670 --> 00:15:22,713
So, her son, I felt,
293
00:15:22,713 --> 00:15:26,467
was purposely not to
the forefront...
294
00:15:26,467 --> 00:15:29,762
for she was really trying to
do something with her career.
295
00:15:29,762 --> 00:15:34,725
♪
296
00:15:38,479 --> 00:15:40,940
I'm Jarred Gonzales.
297
00:15:56,664 --> 00:15:58,916
I think he has cancer.
298
00:15:58,916 --> 00:16:01,711
Even though he's never
said it straight out to me.
299
00:16:01,711 --> 00:16:03,546
From what I understand,
he lost part of his tongue,
300
00:16:03,546 --> 00:16:05,047
due to cancer.
301
00:16:26,194 --> 00:16:30,323
Sherri had him,
but Pat raised him.
302
00:16:30,323 --> 00:16:32,909
Jarred was
3 years old when
303
00:16:32,909 --> 00:16:35,286
we told him who
his mother is.
304
00:16:44,629 --> 00:16:46,839
We started making
arrangements
305
00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:50,968
for Jarred to fly
out and meet her.
306
00:16:50,968 --> 00:16:52,470
Supposed to be
for a week,
307
00:16:52,470 --> 00:16:55,348
and he ended up
maybe two days.
308
00:16:55,348 --> 00:16:56,766
She'd send him back.
309
00:17:05,316 --> 00:17:07,276
It was very difficult
for women to even
310
00:17:07,276 --> 00:17:10,529
have a relationship,
let alone have a child.
311
00:17:10,529 --> 00:17:13,574
And, I feel that it really
took a toll on women,
312
00:17:13,574 --> 00:17:17,620
mentally, because
we were trying to...
313
00:17:17,620 --> 00:17:20,248
push the envelope
harder than we...
314
00:17:20,248 --> 00:17:24,627
needed to, to prove a point,
to take us seriously.
315
00:17:24,627 --> 00:17:26,754
Basically, it's a whole thing
in the business, you just,
316
00:17:26,754 --> 00:17:29,465
you know, do what you're
told and do your job.
317
00:17:29,465 --> 00:17:31,133
And hopefully,
maybe...
318
00:17:31,133 --> 00:17:32,802
you got escalated.
319
00:17:32,802 --> 00:17:34,720
And Sherri Martel!
320
00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,723
She shows me a lot
of confidence. I like that.
321
00:17:37,723 --> 00:17:40,393
Two of the biggest stars
that had worked in the AWA
322
00:17:40,393 --> 00:17:43,729
that had since gone to the
WWF working for Vince McMahon
323
00:17:43,729 --> 00:17:46,107
were Jesse Ventura
and Curt Hennig.
324
00:17:46,107 --> 00:17:48,609
That's right, McMahon,
for once in your life
325
00:17:48,609 --> 00:17:51,404
you're right, and I just
might let you keep your job.
326
00:17:51,404 --> 00:17:53,823
Their word carried a lot
of weight with Vince,
327
00:17:53,823 --> 00:17:56,784
and they both put good
words in for Sherri.
328
00:17:56,784 --> 00:17:59,787
As soon as Sherri
arrives in the WWF,
329
00:17:59,787 --> 00:18:02,248
she is pitted against
her former mentor.
330
00:18:02,248 --> 00:18:05,543
Fabulous Moolah, reigning
women's champion
331
00:18:05,543 --> 00:18:08,337
for quite some time,
I might add.
332
00:18:08,337 --> 00:18:11,841
About 1987, Moolah has had
the women's world title for
333
00:18:11,841 --> 00:18:15,970
most of 30 years, and
she's in her mid-50s.
334
00:18:15,970 --> 00:18:19,140
And at that point, a change
had to be made,
335
00:18:19,140 --> 00:18:21,267
and Vince McMahon was
the one to be able to
336
00:18:21,267 --> 00:18:24,812
pay Moolah what
she required to do that,
337
00:18:24,812 --> 00:18:27,106
and they put the belt
on Sherri Martel.
338
00:18:27,106 --> 00:18:28,858
Moolah well in
control of this one.
339
00:18:28,858 --> 00:18:30,026
Slams her back in...
340
00:18:30,026 --> 00:18:31,193
Oh, look at that!
341
00:18:31,193 --> 00:18:33,279
Sherri hooked her,
takes her over...
342
00:18:33,279 --> 00:18:35,239
-Oh, it's unreal!
-[Cheering]
343
00:18:35,239 --> 00:18:37,241
History's been made here!
344
00:18:37,241 --> 00:18:40,536
As a wrestler, that was the
peak of Sherri's career.
345
00:18:40,536 --> 00:18:42,413
I alone-
me, myself, and I-
346
00:18:42,413 --> 00:18:44,457
beat The Fabulous Moolah.
347
00:18:44,457 --> 00:18:47,209
I pinned her-
1, 2, 3. Right?
348
00:18:47,209 --> 00:18:50,171
-That says a lot, the best-
-Okay, I'm not finished yet.
349
00:18:50,171 --> 00:18:53,299
Rockin' Robin, you can rock
and rock and rock around the
350
00:18:53,299 --> 00:18:55,509
block all night long, but
there'll never come a day
351
00:18:55,509 --> 00:18:59,347
in your life to where
you can defeat me.
352
00:18:59,347 --> 00:19:01,974
They put me on a dark
match with Sherri,
353
00:19:01,974 --> 00:19:06,687
and then the next thing I know,
I'm working in the WWF.
354
00:19:06,687 --> 00:19:08,648
Oh, drove her down
into the canvas.
355
00:19:08,648 --> 00:19:10,566
What a display of
strength there.
356
00:19:10,566 --> 00:19:12,526
We were wrestling, we were
working every night.
357
00:19:12,526 --> 00:19:16,572
And, we were on the road
with Hulk Hogan and Jake.
358
00:19:16,572 --> 00:19:19,158
Randy Savage, and we were
at a different arena
359
00:19:19,158 --> 00:19:21,911
every single night, on a
plane every single day.
360
00:19:21,911 --> 00:19:24,914
In those days, we were
doing 7 days a week...
361
00:19:24,914 --> 00:19:26,332
every week.
362
00:19:26,332 --> 00:19:30,378
There were no days off.
Are you kidding me?
363
00:19:30,378 --> 00:19:33,506
The women were out there
working their tails off.
364
00:19:33,506 --> 00:19:37,593
But Sherri probably worked
harder than she needed to.
365
00:19:37,593 --> 00:19:40,221
She wanted to be a
part of the show.
366
00:19:40,221 --> 00:19:42,473
A big part.
367
00:19:42,473 --> 00:19:44,642
Pat and I,
which was my ex-wife,
368
00:19:44,642 --> 00:19:48,187
would turn it on
and watch wrestling.
369
00:19:48,187 --> 00:19:50,106
Jarred was jumping
up and down,
370
00:19:50,106 --> 00:19:52,316
his mom was on TV.
371
00:19:52,316 --> 00:19:54,902
I never even liked it.
372
00:19:54,902 --> 00:19:56,987
Took her away.
373
00:19:56,987 --> 00:19:58,531
But then again,
that was her choice.
374
00:20:11,335 --> 00:20:13,796
Sherri was emotionally...
375
00:20:13,796 --> 00:20:15,631
wrecked.
376
00:20:15,631 --> 00:20:18,092
There was a lot of
pain and anger there,
377
00:20:18,092 --> 00:20:20,761
probably from her leaving
the people behind.
378
00:20:20,761 --> 00:20:23,097
But she was close
-lipped about all that.
379
00:20:23,097 --> 00:20:27,560
And she knew how to keep her
nose to the ground and grind.
380
00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,313
In those days, the female
wrestlers were an attraction.
381
00:20:31,313 --> 00:20:34,608
They were a special thing
to put on the card so,
382
00:20:34,608 --> 00:20:38,779
if any of the female wrestlers
wanted to be taken seriously,
383
00:20:38,779 --> 00:20:41,449
they had to be accepted
in the locker room,
384
00:20:41,449 --> 00:20:44,994
and then the guys would
have greater appreciation
385
00:20:44,994 --> 00:20:47,621
for their work in the ring.
386
00:20:47,621 --> 00:20:49,165
And, all the guys
liked Sherri.
387
00:20:49,165 --> 00:20:50,499
She was one of the boys.
388
00:20:50,499 --> 00:20:53,210
And that was the ultimate
compliment in those days that
389
00:20:53,210 --> 00:20:55,671
any of the male wrestlers
could give one of the girls
390
00:20:55,671 --> 00:20:57,214
is, "You're just like us.
391
00:20:57,214 --> 00:20:59,258
You're tough,
you're a partier,
392
00:20:59,258 --> 00:21:03,679
you're stiff in the ring.
We accept you."
393
00:21:03,679 --> 00:21:07,141
I think she probably could
have drank or, you know,
394
00:21:07,141 --> 00:21:09,351
snorted them under the table.
395
00:21:09,351 --> 00:21:10,603
Absolutely.
396
00:21:10,603 --> 00:21:14,982
Whatever Sherri did,
she did to the max.
397
00:21:14,982 --> 00:21:17,776
Sherri loved her pot.
398
00:21:17,776 --> 00:21:21,697
And so, when you get the mix
of cocaine, and marijuana,
399
00:21:21,697 --> 00:21:24,533
and then drinking, I mean,
I don't know how they
400
00:21:24,533 --> 00:21:26,535
kept going for two
or three nights.
401
00:21:26,535 --> 00:21:28,370
There were nights I
wrestled Sherri and
402
00:21:28,370 --> 00:21:30,748
she was going
on 48 hours.
403
00:21:30,748 --> 00:21:33,209
She was never late
for a match though.
404
00:21:33,209 --> 00:21:35,377
She always showed up.
405
00:21:35,377 --> 00:21:38,088
I think it was like
an outdoor show.
406
00:21:38,088 --> 00:21:40,216
I keep looking at her and,
you know how when
407
00:21:40,216 --> 00:21:42,259
somebody just kind of
looks right past you?
408
00:21:42,259 --> 00:21:46,680
And, I'm like, I don't know
if she even sees me.
409
00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,933
I was down on all
fours on the mat.
410
00:21:48,933 --> 00:21:51,894
And, she threw a kick and
411
00:21:51,894 --> 00:21:55,689
it caught me right
on the throat.
412
00:21:55,689 --> 00:21:57,691
It was full force.
413
00:21:57,691 --> 00:21:59,652
I couldn't breathe.
414
00:21:59,652 --> 00:22:02,738
I just remember thinking,
oh, my god, this is it.
415
00:22:02,738 --> 00:22:05,115
I'm gonna die at
a state fair
416
00:22:05,115 --> 00:22:07,201
in the middle of a
wrestling ring.
417
00:22:15,417 --> 00:22:18,254
Intoxicated but still
performing in the ring,
418
00:22:18,254 --> 00:22:21,590
Sherri Martel has kicked
Rockin' Robin in the throat,
419
00:22:21,590 --> 00:22:24,301
leaving her
struggling for breath.
420
00:22:24,301 --> 00:22:27,346
Finally, I was able to
get that big breath.
421
00:22:27,346 --> 00:22:29,765
♪
422
00:22:29,765 --> 00:22:33,394
Then we got back to
the dressing room.
423
00:22:33,394 --> 00:22:36,939
And, she just grabbed me and
gave me the biggest hug,
424
00:22:36,939 --> 00:22:39,984
and she knew
that it was bad.
425
00:22:39,984 --> 00:22:42,736
She did like pot,
it was no big deal.
426
00:22:42,736 --> 00:22:45,990
But, if there was anything
else that really impaired you
427
00:22:45,990 --> 00:22:48,659
to do your job
in the ring...
428
00:22:48,659 --> 00:22:51,370
you know, that's when
it becomes a problem.
429
00:22:51,370 --> 00:22:52,788
♪
430
00:22:52,788 --> 00:22:54,873
They don't call me the
Sensational Sherri
431
00:22:54,873 --> 00:22:56,709
for nothing,
and in a moment,
432
00:22:56,709 --> 00:23:01,922
I'm gonna show you exactly
how sensational I am.
433
00:23:01,922 --> 00:23:05,968
By 1990, Sherri Martel is a
dominant force in the WWF
434
00:23:05,968 --> 00:23:08,387
as one of its premier
female wrestlers,
435
00:23:08,387 --> 00:23:11,348
but that is
about to change.
436
00:23:11,348 --> 00:23:15,686
Vince McMahon was never
fully sold on the idea of-
437
00:23:15,686 --> 00:23:18,814
back in those days- of an
entire women's division.
438
00:23:18,814 --> 00:23:21,692
I think he just
decided to wrap it up.
439
00:23:21,692 --> 00:23:24,612
He still had
Sherri Martel there and,
440
00:23:24,612 --> 00:23:28,115
Sherri was able to exhibit
the fact that she could do a
441
00:23:28,115 --> 00:23:32,494
promo and she was this wild,
over-the-top personality...
442
00:23:32,494 --> 00:23:35,497
and Vince figured, "Heck
with women's wrestling.
443
00:23:35,497 --> 00:23:38,626
I'm gonna put her in the
corner of one of my
444
00:23:38,626 --> 00:23:41,754
main event male stars,
and make her
445
00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:43,547
more money than
she's ever made."
446
00:23:43,547 --> 00:23:44,882
Because that's the thing-
you could be the
447
00:23:44,882 --> 00:23:48,636
world women's champion
wrestler and make 'enh',
448
00:23:48,636 --> 00:23:52,848
or you could be the manager
for a main event male star
449
00:23:52,848 --> 00:23:55,684
in the WWF and
make a fortune!
450
00:23:55,684 --> 00:23:57,269
I think Vince McMahon
probably saw the
451
00:23:57,269 --> 00:23:59,521
same thing everybody
else saw, which is...
452
00:23:59,521 --> 00:24:03,525
a very gifted, athletic,
physical woman that was
453
00:24:03,525 --> 00:24:05,903
very attractive,
the camera loved her,
454
00:24:05,903 --> 00:24:08,822
and there's not a microphone
she couldn't own.
455
00:24:08,822 --> 00:24:10,741
My name's Eric Bischoff,
former president of
456
00:24:10,741 --> 00:24:12,576
World Championship
Wrestling.
457
00:24:12,576 --> 00:24:14,119
Hello, everybody!
458
00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,455
Grew up as a young man,
a fan of Sherri Martel,
459
00:24:16,455 --> 00:24:19,416
and had the opportunity to
work with her in the 90s.
460
00:24:19,416 --> 00:24:20,834
He likes what he sees...
461
00:24:20,834 --> 00:24:23,420
Back when Sherri was at
her peak and managing,
462
00:24:23,420 --> 00:24:24,463
the producer would
say to you,
463
00:24:24,463 --> 00:24:26,215
"Okay, you're gonna be
doing this and this,
464
00:24:26,215 --> 00:24:27,383
you're gonna be doing
it on this night,
465
00:24:27,383 --> 00:24:29,093
you're gonna be in the ring
with these two."
466
00:24:29,093 --> 00:24:32,471
That's it! Boom.
Ready, set, go!
467
00:24:32,471 --> 00:24:34,598
I look in there,
what do I see?
468
00:24:34,598 --> 00:24:37,893
I see Hulk Hogan laying
flat on his back!
469
00:24:37,893 --> 00:24:41,647
She would figure out a way
to tweak her personality,
470
00:24:41,647 --> 00:24:43,732
and her appearance,
and the way she dressed,
471
00:24:43,732 --> 00:24:46,443
the way she acted, to kind
of more closely fit the guy
472
00:24:46,443 --> 00:24:50,864
she was with while still being,
at the root of it, herself.
473
00:24:50,864 --> 00:24:54,201
And indeed, we have a new
Macho king, Randy Savage,
474
00:24:54,201 --> 00:24:57,246
accompanied of course
by Queen Sherri!
475
00:24:57,246 --> 00:24:59,581
If you go back and you look
at the wrestling world and
476
00:24:59,581 --> 00:25:03,377
what the product was during
the peak of Sherri's career,
477
00:25:03,377 --> 00:25:06,088
I think she had a
ridiculously powerful
478
00:25:06,088 --> 00:25:07,589
impact on it.
479
00:25:07,589 --> 00:25:12,052
I had no idea that she was
really gonna do it that well.
480
00:25:12,052 --> 00:25:13,846
Oh, yeah!
481
00:25:13,846 --> 00:25:17,182
As time went on,
she just became...
482
00:25:17,182 --> 00:25:18,475
very famous.
483
00:25:18,475 --> 00:25:21,437
Please welcome
Sensational Sherri.
484
00:25:21,437 --> 00:25:25,149
♪
485
00:25:25,149 --> 00:25:28,527
Jarred would fly out and
go and meet her and...
486
00:25:28,527 --> 00:25:30,070
a bunch of the wrestlers.
487
00:25:54,303 --> 00:25:57,264
Sherri was completely
different than what
488
00:25:57,264 --> 00:26:01,477
any other female had
presented as in the WWF
489
00:26:01,477 --> 00:26:02,895
up 'til that point in time.
490
00:26:02,895 --> 00:26:05,522
Introducing first
the manager...
491
00:26:05,522 --> 00:26:06,982
Elizabeth!
492
00:26:06,982 --> 00:26:10,235
Miss Elizabeth was brought
in with Randy Savage because
493
00:26:10,235 --> 00:26:11,987
she was his real-life wife,
494
00:26:11,987 --> 00:26:14,281
and you had Sable and
you had Sunny.
495
00:26:14,281 --> 00:26:16,492
But they weren't
trained wrestlers.
496
00:26:16,492 --> 00:26:17,868
Sherri was.
497
00:26:17,868 --> 00:26:21,163
Sherri wasn't afraid to
get in there and mix it up,
498
00:26:21,163 --> 00:26:23,290
and do what needed to be
done in the finish to get the
499
00:26:23,290 --> 00:26:25,042
people on the edge
of their seat.
500
00:26:25,042 --> 00:26:27,711
She didn't care if she was
wearing a $5000 ball gown,
501
00:26:27,711 --> 00:26:29,588
she's gonna be
down on the floor,
502
00:26:29,588 --> 00:26:32,966
choking the guy that her
wrestler is opposing.
503
00:26:32,966 --> 00:26:36,345
Ultimate Warrior with
Sensational Queen Sherri!
504
00:26:36,345 --> 00:26:39,223
Down they go!
505
00:26:39,223 --> 00:26:41,558
She was always taking bumps,
crazy bumps, big bumps,
506
00:26:41,558 --> 00:26:44,895
tall bumps,
concrete bumps, right?
507
00:26:44,895 --> 00:26:48,899
In a woman's frame, there's a
little less sometimes, right?
508
00:26:48,899 --> 00:26:53,821
And, she was banged up.
509
00:26:53,821 --> 00:26:56,073
I'm sure she had injuries.
510
00:26:56,073 --> 00:26:57,908
How bad is the question.
511
00:27:00,577 --> 00:27:02,162
I'm sure she took meds.
512
00:27:40,742 --> 00:27:44,580
Somas are a
muscle relaxer...
513
00:27:44,580 --> 00:27:49,501
that many of the wrestlers
began to rely on and,
514
00:27:49,501 --> 00:27:52,796
it began to become a
problem in wrestling
515
00:27:52,796 --> 00:27:55,924
in the late 80s and
into the 90s like...
516
00:27:55,924 --> 00:27:58,135
number of other
substances did.
517
00:27:58,135 --> 00:28:01,305
It was like candy,
it was ready available,
518
00:28:01,305 --> 00:28:04,224
and they took the Somas,
they took the Vicodins,
519
00:28:04,224 --> 00:28:06,768
they took whatever the
hell else they took.
520
00:28:06,768 --> 00:28:07,853
Sometimes you
had doctors that
521
00:28:07,853 --> 00:28:09,813
wrote these
prescriptions out.
522
00:28:09,813 --> 00:28:12,274
It was crazy.
I saw it firsthand!
523
00:28:12,274 --> 00:28:13,942
But you can believe in
the WWF and the
524
00:28:13,942 --> 00:28:16,612
new testing policies
and procedures.
525
00:28:16,612 --> 00:28:19,531
When the WWE first
started drug testing,
526
00:28:19,531 --> 00:28:21,491
it was because of the
steroid scandal that
527
00:28:21,491 --> 00:28:23,660
Vince McMahon
got himself into,
528
00:28:23,660 --> 00:28:25,412
along with Hulk Hogan
and a few of the guys that
529
00:28:25,412 --> 00:28:28,457
were really over-the-top
on the steroids.
530
00:28:28,457 --> 00:28:31,835
But they were testing for
all kinds of street drugs and
531
00:28:31,835 --> 00:28:33,921
illegal drugs as well.
532
00:28:33,921 --> 00:28:38,592
And, Sherri failed a number
of times for marijuana.
533
00:29:01,990 --> 00:29:05,243
In any wrestling promotion
since the dawn of time,
534
00:29:05,243 --> 00:29:06,787
if you showed up high and
screwed something up
535
00:29:06,787 --> 00:29:09,498
you got fired.
Nobody got sent to rehab.
536
00:29:09,498 --> 00:29:11,500
Everybody got
sent packing.
537
00:29:18,882 --> 00:29:22,511
Fired from the
WWF in 1993,
538
00:29:22,511 --> 00:29:24,554
Sherri Martel needs
to figure out her
539
00:29:24,554 --> 00:29:26,640
next move to stay
working in the industry
540
00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:27,975
that she loves.
541
00:29:36,692 --> 00:29:38,819
Of all the things I've ever
been so excited about
542
00:29:38,819 --> 00:29:41,613
in my life, it's coming to
the parade of champions.
543
00:29:41,613 --> 00:29:44,658
It's the same year that she
had been let go from the WWF.
544
00:29:44,658 --> 00:29:46,076
I brought her down
to Knoxville for
545
00:29:46,076 --> 00:29:47,536
Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
546
00:29:47,536 --> 00:29:50,956
Sherri Martel giving it
to Tammy Fitch!
547
00:29:50,956 --> 00:29:53,709
She was the same old Sherri,
and came in and
548
00:29:53,709 --> 00:29:56,753
did a wonderful job for us.
549
00:29:56,753 --> 00:30:00,090
But there was one night
after one of the shows,
550
00:30:00,090 --> 00:30:02,592
I could tell that she was
slowing down a little bit,
551
00:30:02,592 --> 00:30:06,304
and I was like, "Sherri?"
"Oh, I'm okay." I said,
552
00:30:06,304 --> 00:30:10,684
"Ah, having a cruise on
'Lake Have-A-Soma', I see."
553
00:30:10,684 --> 00:30:13,353
If you're
heavily Soma'd,
554
00:30:13,353 --> 00:30:17,149
not only are you
zombified, mentally,
555
00:30:17,149 --> 00:30:20,318
but you're whole
body's out of control.
556
00:30:20,318 --> 00:30:22,571
She always had bad
back pain.
557
00:30:22,571 --> 00:30:26,575
And, she sometimes took
a little too much.
558
00:30:26,575 --> 00:30:28,326
And it was for the pain.
559
00:30:28,326 --> 00:30:29,411
It wasn't for
any other reason,
560
00:30:29,411 --> 00:30:31,455
it was for the pain.
561
00:30:31,455 --> 00:30:34,458
It wasn't just
to pop a pill.
562
00:30:34,458 --> 00:30:36,626
She was medicating
on her own,
563
00:30:36,626 --> 00:30:38,336
which had gotten
out of hand.
564
00:30:38,336 --> 00:30:40,964
That never works out well
in the end, does it?
565
00:30:54,561 --> 00:30:57,564
Despite her ongoing issues
with pain medication,
566
00:30:57,564 --> 00:31:00,067
Sherri returns to the
national spotlight with
567
00:31:00,067 --> 00:31:03,653
WWF rival, World
Championship Wrestling.
568
00:31:03,653 --> 00:31:07,324
I am here for a reason,
and that is to find a man
569
00:31:07,324 --> 00:31:10,243
that can fulfill
all of my needs.
570
00:31:10,243 --> 00:31:13,038
I didn't ask Sherri why she
was let go from WWE-
571
00:31:13,038 --> 00:31:15,582
if she quit,
or was fired.
572
00:31:15,582 --> 00:31:18,126
I didn't know, I didn't ask,
and I didn't care.
573
00:31:18,126 --> 00:31:19,711
I hired her back in '93
because
574
00:31:19,711 --> 00:31:21,505
she was a great talent.
575
00:31:21,505 --> 00:31:24,841
To be led to the ring
by Sister Sherri!
576
00:31:24,841 --> 00:31:26,384
Wow!
577
00:31:26,384 --> 00:31:28,720
From Harlem, New York!
578
00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,848
Sherri and Harlem Heat-
Booker and Stevie Ray-
579
00:31:31,848 --> 00:31:34,559
they looked great together
and, they had not had
580
00:31:34,559 --> 00:31:38,230
a major spot anywhere before
in a big time promotion or
581
00:31:38,230 --> 00:31:41,942
on a major television show
so, she kind of gave them
582
00:31:41,942 --> 00:31:44,027
credibility that they
wouldn't have had because
583
00:31:44,027 --> 00:31:45,862
everybody knew
who Sherri was.
584
00:31:45,862 --> 00:31:47,114
Sherri...
585
00:31:47,114 --> 00:31:48,698
send him headfirst!
586
00:31:48,698 --> 00:31:51,660
Sherri's passion and
dedication to her career
587
00:31:51,660 --> 00:31:54,162
comes at the cost of never
588
00:31:51,660 --> 00:31:54,162
having enough time
589
00:31:54,162 --> 00:31:56,164
for her son, Jarred.
590
00:31:56,164 --> 00:31:58,834
♪
591
00:32:18,812 --> 00:32:23,567
She seemed a little
more lost.
592
00:32:23,567 --> 00:32:26,945
And, uncertain.
593
00:32:38,081 --> 00:32:41,418
She was let go because she
was no longer good on camera.
594
00:32:41,418 --> 00:32:45,297
She would show up under
the influence of something,
595
00:32:45,297 --> 00:32:47,883
I'm guessing it was
prescription drugs.
596
00:32:47,883 --> 00:32:49,718
Didn't matter to me,
she was under something,
597
00:32:49,718 --> 00:32:52,262
and it was affecting
her ability to perform.
598
00:32:52,262 --> 00:32:55,265
You can't fire me
'cause I quit right now!
599
00:32:55,265 --> 00:32:57,350
Whoa! Wait a minute,
is that official?
600
00:32:57,350 --> 00:33:01,146
I don't know what took place
between Sherri and Eric.
601
00:33:01,146 --> 00:33:03,481
Maybe she was taking
too many Somas.
602
00:33:03,481 --> 00:33:06,067
Maybe she wasn't herself.
Maybe she wasn't...
603
00:33:06,067 --> 00:33:09,196
performing in the ring
like she was supposed to.
604
00:33:09,196 --> 00:33:14,326
However, if that was true,
and he acted and said,
605
00:33:14,326 --> 00:33:16,661
"I'm just gonna get rid of
her," then that should've
606
00:33:16,661 --> 00:33:19,706
been done two-fold on a
handful of ----ing-
607
00:33:19,706 --> 00:33:22,292
excuse me-
a handful of men.
608
00:33:22,292 --> 00:33:25,503
♪
609
00:33:25,503 --> 00:33:27,714
But it wasn't.
610
00:33:27,714 --> 00:33:30,383
After WCW, there was
no place to go.
611
00:33:30,383 --> 00:33:33,929
At that point in time,
Sherri was in her 40s.
612
00:33:33,929 --> 00:33:37,390
And, younger girls
had come along,
613
00:33:37,390 --> 00:33:39,851
so I think it probably was
the worst thing to happen
614
00:33:39,851 --> 00:33:44,272
at that point in time that
she lost that spot.
615
00:33:44,272 --> 00:33:45,941
I'd heard it over the
grapevine that
616
00:33:45,941 --> 00:33:48,860
she was deep
into the oxys.
617
00:33:48,860 --> 00:33:51,279
And they were
controlling her life.
618
00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:53,949
You medicate.
619
00:33:53,949 --> 00:33:57,744
"---- it, I lost my job, I'm
just gonna get ----ed up."
620
00:33:57,744 --> 00:34:00,080
It's not like there's
20 wrestling companies
621
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:01,373
that you can go to.
622
00:34:01,373 --> 00:34:06,920
Sherri spent probably
5 years... up there.
623
00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:08,713
And that's a great
accomplishment,
624
00:34:08,713 --> 00:34:11,258
but it's never enough.
625
00:34:11,258 --> 00:34:13,301
It's never enough.
626
00:34:21,434 --> 00:34:23,520
As her wrestling
career nears its end,
627
00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:27,732
Sherri Martel marries her new
boyfriend, Robert Schrull.
628
00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:30,402
She had gotten
married in 1997,
629
00:34:30,402 --> 00:34:33,280
which was during
her WCW run.
630
00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:37,784
And, sometimes, when a
civilian marries a celebrity,
631
00:34:37,784 --> 00:34:39,995
that civilian thinks that
celebrity is always
632
00:34:39,995 --> 00:34:41,496
gonna be a celebrity.
633
00:34:41,496 --> 00:34:44,916
And, unfortunately,
after the WCW run,
634
00:34:44,916 --> 00:34:48,586
Sherri was off television,
out of the business, and...
635
00:34:48,586 --> 00:34:50,588
just a normal person.
636
00:34:50,588 --> 00:34:52,632
Sherri didn't do normal well.
637
00:34:52,632 --> 00:34:55,176
She was still in a
lot of pain.
638
00:34:55,176 --> 00:34:59,097
Sadly, I think if she had
another outlet...
639
00:34:59,097 --> 00:35:00,974
and had gotten whatever
she needed- from what I
640
00:35:00,974 --> 00:35:04,853
understand, it was a surgery,
but she couldn't afford it.
641
00:35:04,853 --> 00:35:07,856
I don't think she would've
ever gotten hooked on pills.
642
00:35:07,856 --> 00:35:11,443
At some point when
you get addicted to
643
00:35:11,443 --> 00:35:13,570
prescription pills or
anything else,
644
00:35:13,570 --> 00:35:14,946
you're taking it
because you have to,
645
00:35:14,946 --> 00:35:16,197
whether you're
injured or not,
646
00:35:16,197 --> 00:35:17,824
'cause you're addicted.
647
00:35:17,824 --> 00:35:20,076
But I don't think that her
husband was any
648
00:35:20,076 --> 00:35:22,787
benefit to her in that
particular situation.
649
00:35:52,984 --> 00:35:55,487
[Cheering & applauding]
650
00:35:55,487 --> 00:35:57,072
In 2006,
651
00:35:57,072 --> 00:35:59,783
after several years away
from the wrestling business,
652
00:35:59,783 --> 00:36:01,659
Sherri becomes the
second woman to be
653
00:36:01,659 --> 00:36:04,537
inducted into the
WWE Hall of Fame.
654
00:36:04,537 --> 00:36:07,165
[Chanting]
Sherri! Sherri!
655
00:36:07,165 --> 00:36:10,043
You know, the amazing thing
about this business is
656
00:36:10,043 --> 00:36:12,921
I had the ability to walk
beside some of the
657
00:36:12,921 --> 00:36:15,590
most wonderful people
in the world.
658
00:36:15,590 --> 00:36:17,675
This was her time to shine.
659
00:36:17,675 --> 00:36:20,929
And, she spoke
from the heart.
660
00:36:20,929 --> 00:36:23,306
And then I met a man
named Eric Bischoff.
661
00:36:23,306 --> 00:36:26,726
[Cheering & booing]
662
00:36:26,726 --> 00:36:31,106
And we all know where
he's at now, right?!
663
00:36:31,106 --> 00:36:33,775
Whoo! Outta here!
664
00:36:33,775 --> 00:36:34,818
Woo!
665
00:36:34,818 --> 00:36:38,279
Oh, no! He's here!
666
00:36:38,279 --> 00:36:40,407
Damn,
I thought you were gone.
667
00:36:40,407 --> 00:36:42,700
[Laughing]
668
00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:43,952
Ha-ha!
669
00:36:57,298 --> 00:36:59,384
My son, Jarred,
my husband, Robert.
670
00:36:59,384 --> 00:37:01,761
My best friend,
Kathy Fitzpatrick.
671
00:37:01,761 --> 00:37:06,224
I love you, baby.
Dreams do come true.
672
00:37:06,224 --> 00:37:09,185
She didn't look at it as a,
as a great occasion
673
00:37:09,185 --> 00:37:12,105
because that meant,
you know, it's all over.
674
00:37:12,105 --> 00:37:14,190
That's one of the hardest
things in the world for
675
00:37:14,190 --> 00:37:18,236
a lot of people is to find
your, your place in life,
676
00:37:18,236 --> 00:37:20,905
when all you've ever
known is wrestling and
677
00:37:20,905 --> 00:37:22,824
all that goes with it.
678
00:37:22,824 --> 00:37:25,827
That's where a big part
of the struggle can be.
679
00:37:25,827 --> 00:37:28,163
♪
680
00:37:28,163 --> 00:37:30,457
Although it seems her
career might be over,
681
00:37:30,457 --> 00:37:33,543
Sherri spends the next year
optimistic for her future
682
00:37:33,543 --> 00:37:35,420
in the business.
683
00:37:35,420 --> 00:37:37,755
I was on the
phone with her.
684
00:37:37,755 --> 00:37:41,092
She was in the
best mood ever.
685
00:37:41,092 --> 00:37:44,679
She was sitting on the
front porch with her mom,
686
00:37:44,679 --> 00:37:45,805
drinking sweet tea,
687
00:37:45,805 --> 00:37:48,308
playing with the puppy
they just got.
688
00:37:48,308 --> 00:37:49,684
And said to me,
"I have something-
689
00:37:49,684 --> 00:37:52,604
some news to tell you,
but I don't want to jinx it."
690
00:37:52,604 --> 00:37:53,938
From what I had heard,
691
00:37:53,938 --> 00:37:56,357
they were going to
bring Sherri back.
692
00:37:56,357 --> 00:37:59,486
Get her her operation,
get her back fixed,
693
00:37:59,486 --> 00:38:02,238
and they were gonna have
her train the women.
694
00:38:02,238 --> 00:38:04,991
I know she wanted to
go back to the WWE.
695
00:38:04,991 --> 00:38:08,661
Whether they were receptive
or not to giving it to her,
696
00:38:08,661 --> 00:38:11,039
I don't know, and I guess
we won't ever
697
00:38:11,039 --> 00:38:12,665
find out at this point.
698
00:38:29,724 --> 00:38:32,227
I believe her
699
00:38:32,227 --> 00:38:35,355
sister or somebody
called me.
700
00:38:35,355 --> 00:38:38,650
And that's when I got in
my vehicle and drove
701
00:38:38,650 --> 00:38:41,819
to Alabama, so I
could be there.
702
00:38:44,739 --> 00:38:49,244
[Exhaling sharply]
Empty...
703
00:38:49,244 --> 00:38:51,412
Empty.
704
00:39:04,717 --> 00:39:08,012
Sherri's sudden death at
age 49 causes local
705
00:39:08,012 --> 00:39:11,015
Alabama police to open
an investigation.
706
00:39:20,608 --> 00:39:23,403
It just seemed
so... ironic
707
00:39:23,403 --> 00:39:27,949
that she was so happy,
the night before.
708
00:39:27,949 --> 00:39:32,120
And 10 o'clock the next
morning I get this phone call.
709
00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,414
Following a brief
investigation,
710
00:39:34,414 --> 00:39:38,418
Sherri Martel's death is
ruled an accidental overdose.
711
00:39:38,418 --> 00:39:41,421
I knew she could
go to extremes...
712
00:39:41,421 --> 00:39:45,133
but I guess I did not know
that it was just an ongoing,
713
00:39:45,133 --> 00:39:49,512
life threatening problem.
It floored me.
714
00:39:49,512 --> 00:39:52,307
Regrettably, the addiction
struggles that plagued
715
00:39:52,307 --> 00:39:56,102
Sherri's life are also on
display at the funeral.
716
00:39:56,102 --> 00:39:59,188
I know we had a few people
there that were probably
717
00:39:59,188 --> 00:40:02,525
coked out of their mind and
drugged out and whatnot.
718
00:40:02,525 --> 00:40:06,529
I think Jake was so out
of his frickin' mind...
719
00:40:06,529 --> 00:40:08,448
Oh, my god.
720
00:40:08,448 --> 00:40:11,367
And I think he was
leaning over the casket.
721
00:40:11,367 --> 00:40:14,579
He was just out of it.
722
00:40:14,579 --> 00:40:18,333
I remember Stevie Ray
being there, Booker T.
723
00:40:18,333 --> 00:40:22,253
But other than that, I can't
remember anything about it.
724
00:40:22,253 --> 00:40:24,922
I mean, I was at my
very lowest right then.
725
00:40:24,922 --> 00:40:27,008
♪
726
00:40:27,008 --> 00:40:29,844
They asked me to have
a few words, and I did.
727
00:40:29,844 --> 00:40:31,095
And I remember
looking at her, saying,
728
00:40:31,095 --> 00:40:33,931
"How dare you
leave me behind."
729
00:40:33,931 --> 00:40:35,850
----ing right,
I was angry,
730
00:40:35,850 --> 00:40:39,354
'cause I thought we were
friends for, forever.
731
00:40:39,354 --> 00:40:42,065
Not counting dying.
732
00:40:42,065 --> 00:40:44,150
We were just like...
733
00:40:44,150 --> 00:40:46,235
we both came up hard.
734
00:40:46,235 --> 00:40:48,571
And, we both had
to fight, and scratch,
735
00:40:48,571 --> 00:40:52,450
and claw for everything.
736
00:40:52,450 --> 00:40:54,786
She was one of
my loves, man.
737
00:40:54,786 --> 00:40:57,080
You know, she was somebody
that I identified with,
738
00:40:57,080 --> 00:41:00,625
and somebody
that I cherished.
739
00:41:00,625 --> 00:41:02,919
I honoured our friendship.
740
00:41:02,919 --> 00:41:05,630
I honoured her.
741
00:41:05,630 --> 00:41:08,800
Always will.
742
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:12,970
Sherri was my best friend.
743
00:41:12,970 --> 00:41:15,848
I don't think anybody
could ever take that
744
00:41:15,848 --> 00:41:19,143
friendship away from us.
745
00:41:19,143 --> 00:41:22,438
Even if she's gone,
I know she's with me.
746
00:41:22,438 --> 00:41:24,482
♪
747
00:41:24,482 --> 00:41:27,360
I don't think you can think
about women in wrestling and
748
00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:32,990
not put Sherri Martel at
the very top of your list.
749
00:41:32,990 --> 00:41:35,535
A lot of the fans loved
and respected her.
750
00:41:35,535 --> 00:41:39,122
Maybe some of them didn't
respect her enough because
751
00:41:39,122 --> 00:41:41,999
they didn't know the
work that it took,
752
00:41:41,999 --> 00:41:43,835
and the perseverance
and the dedication
753
00:41:43,835 --> 00:41:46,421
it took for her
to get there.
754
00:41:46,421 --> 00:41:49,674
This is a picture that Sherri
gave to me at a fan fest like
755
00:41:49,674 --> 00:41:52,176
20 years ago or whatever,
she signed to me, it says,
756
00:41:52,176 --> 00:41:56,055
"To Jimmy Cornette, Remember
always I was your first.
757
00:41:56,055 --> 00:41:58,933
Loving you forever,
Sherri Martel."
758
00:41:58,933 --> 00:42:03,187
And boy,
she looked good.
759
00:42:03,187 --> 00:42:05,982
Everybody in the business
had a high opinion of,
760
00:42:05,982 --> 00:42:07,650
of Sherri and her talent.
761
00:42:19,996 --> 00:42:22,248
Never held anything against
her except for the fact that
762
00:42:22,248 --> 00:42:24,542
she left.
763
00:42:24,542 --> 00:42:27,587
Jarred, to me,
he's special.
764
00:42:27,587 --> 00:42:30,715
And I do what I can
to keep him going.
765
00:42:52,570 --> 00:42:53,988
[Off-screen] Sure.
766
00:42:56,574 --> 00:42:58,618
That's my life.
767
00:42:58,618 --> 00:43:00,453
He's my everything.
768
00:43:12,965 --> 00:43:14,842
She used to tell me
all the time,
769
00:43:14,842 --> 00:43:18,137
"I would never find someone
as good as you
770
00:43:18,137 --> 00:43:20,223
to take care of my son."
771
00:43:20,223 --> 00:43:24,268
She was awesome,
she really was.
772
00:43:24,268 --> 00:43:26,562
She, she chose her
career, you know.