Women tend to be overlooked when article writers, historians, or casual fans compile their ‘the best managers in professional wrestling history’ lists. A few will be sprinkled about without much thought, leaving most top spots for the same tried and true individuals. For me, I’ve always leaned more toward favoring the valets of the pro wrestling business, especially the nasty, the dastardly, or the outright mean valets. In my opinion, on-screen ladies almost effortlessly garner special responses that a ringside man simply can’t match. What makes these valets specifically great? Who made my top spots? Find out now!
To preface this article, I want to be clear on which women I did and did not consider for my list below. Essentially, if the performer was known better (or on a wider scale) as an in-ring competitor or an on-screen character not always tied to any person (or team) for a substantial run / amount of time, she won’t be on this list. So, sorry in advance to all the Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, Stacy Keibler, Madusa, Lita, etc. fans reading!
In addition, I tried to stick with ladies that made the biggest splashes as valets… ones that typically at least make male-dominated ‘best of’ lists (albeit usually listed too low). Ones that made or paired best with notable champions, had memorable runs in top spots or angles, and those that were almost bigger personalities than the men they managed are the ladies I aimed for to round out my top ten.
Honorable Mentions (listed in no particular order):
- Sunshine: “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin’s cousin-turned-valet during his first run in World Class Championship Wrestling. She served as a heater and precursor to Jimmy Garvin’s wife and later on-screen valet, Precious. Sunshine was as formidable as she was pretty as WCCW’s resident mean girl. She could also charm the likes of Mike Von Erich, “Gentleman” Chris Adams, The Missing Link, and others in the Dallas territory. Sunshine was an underrated talent no matter how you slice it.
- “The Perfect 10” Baby Doll / Andrea, the Lady Giant / Nickla: Starting out as a valet in World Class Championship Wrestling, it wasn’t long before Baby Doll hit her stride and found her way to Jim Crockett Promotions. As Tully Blanchard’s valet during notable feuds against the likes of Dusty Rhodes and Magnum T.A., Baby Doll instantly became synonymous with the National Wrestling Alliance’s top talent. She’d work programs with and against “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, The Road Warriors, The Warlord, and many more.
- Missy Hyatt: Another lady of wrestling who started out in World Class Championship Wrestling was the fabolous Missy Hyatt. Armed with her famously deadly, ‘loaded Gucci purse’, Hyatt would help her real-life-husband “Hollywood” John Tatum ascend up the cards in Dallas. After Texas, Hyatt would move to the Tennessee territory, where she’d meet and eventually marry “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. She’d valet for Gilbert during his hottest feud against Jerry “The King” Lawler. She’d end up divorcing Eddie and working a stellar run in WCW, spending some time in ECW, and even continues to manage on the independent wrestling scene to this day (as of publishing this article)!
- Vickie Guerrero: Only appearing briefly before her husband Eddie Guerrero’s death in 2006, Vickie Guerrero emerged as a real dark horse of the modern valet scene. Whether it was a complicated relationship with Eddie’s nephew Chavo Guerrero during his chasing of the WWE United States Championship, being the string-puller in La Familia alongside her new on-screen boyfriend, Edge, managing the dynamic Team LayCool, or being Dolph Ziggler’s ticket to championship gold, Vickie always elicited a hot reaction. She continues to stay active in pro wrestling, most recently working for AEW until 2023. She continues to honor her late husband’s memory by giving the business her all when called upon.
- Sable: Now, a bunch of readers will stick their nose up at me not featuring Sable on my main top ten list. Hear me out, before exiting the article, let me turn it on you: was Sable a successful valet, or was Sable a memorable on-screen character? That answer, for me, is clear. Which is why she lands in my honorable mentions. Don’t get me wrong, shortly after debuting in 1996, Sable made quite the stir when she began appearing on screen with her then-husband, Marc Mero. However, similar to others we will cover here, Sable’s popularity quickly out-grew Mero’s. From late 1997 to mid 1998, Sable became the hottest female talent on WWF’s television. She dropped Marc Mero like a bad habit (famously using her Sable Bomb to do so) and thus ended her short-lived career as a valet. Big female character that made a lot of waves? No question. One of the best valets of all time? I don’t think so… she Sable Bombed her only client and never valeted again!
- Catrina / Maxine / Liviana: I wanted to throw in a curve ball here and include a comparatively newer talent to be considered as a honorable mention. Catrina, then known as Maxine, spent her formative years in Florida Championship Wrestling and the NXT brands under the World Wrestling Entertainment banner. However, with no real breakout moment occuring for her in the ring, she decided to step out of it and change her approach. Leaving WWE in 2012 gave her time to reconsider her roles in professional wrestling. So, when an opportunity came in 2014, Maxine transformed into Catrina for the new and revolutionary Lucha Underground promotion. Catrina was the sultry on-screen girlfriend and valet of the feared, Mil Muertes, one of the promotion’s top stars. Since her run with dynamic and memorable run with Mil Muertes in the mid 2010’s, Catrina hasn’t been around pro wrestling much. She left on a high note, having been an intrical part of the huge Lucha Underground storm that trampled the pro wrestling scene for a solid couple of years.
Now, with the honorable mentions through and without any further grandstanding or hotdogging, let’s get to the ten best valets to ever grace professional wrestling:
10.) Precious / Sunshine II
Accompanied: Jimmy Garvin, Ron Garvin, Michael Hayes, The Fabulous Freebirds
Precious was ushered into the “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin’s on-screen world in 1983. She debuted for World Class Championship Wrestling as ‘Sunshine II’, behind Garvin’s then-valet, Sunshine. As Sunshine II, Precious would play second fiddle to the original, until Garvin accused Sunshine of costing him the World Class Championship Wrestling Television Championship during a match in October of that year. With Sunshine out of the picture, Sunshine II was renamed to Precious and the rest, as they say, is history! In 1984, Precious would fight alongside her man against Sunshine and “Gentleman” Chris Adams for a program and even headed to Japan for All Japan Pro Wrestling with Jimmy for a quick tour. Later in 1984, the couple would shift their focus to the American Wrestling Association promotion, where Precious led Garvin in fueds for the AWA World Heavyweight and AWA Tag Team Championships. With success as a top act for WCCW and AWA, Jimmy Garvin and Precious moved on to work for Jim Crockett Promotions and later World Championship Wrestling. During this time, Precious would most-famously be courted by “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, who tried all he could to steal Precious away from Garvin. Eventually, Ric Flair would win a night with her but paying the price after finding Jimmy’s storyline brother-in-law, Ron Garvin, dressed in drag instead. After Jimmy Garvin had a run with Michael Hayes as the WCW United State Tag Team Championship in World Championship Wrestling, Precious would retire in 1992. Precious undoubtably completed Jimmy Garvin’s “Gorgeous” presentation, with the two becoming a top duo and draw for every promotion they worked for. Precious as a valet was an essential part of the package, helping top-shelf angles develop for Garvin, both during his singles and tag runs.
9.) Beulah McGillicutty
Accompanied: Tommy Dreamer, Raven
There aren’t many one-man-women in professional wrestling, but Beulah McGillicutty was as close to that as there has ever been. Starting with Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1995, Beulah would be brought in as an old fling of Raven’s. Famously according to storyline, while teenage friends, Tommy Dreamer and Raven attended the same summer camp where they met Beulah. Supposedly, as a teen, Beulah was overweight and had a crush on Tommy Dreamer. Due to her appearance, Dreamer turned her down, so she instead ended up with Raven for the summer. Fast-forward, a decade and one Penthouse spread later, and Beulah was a bombshell and back for her revenge on the shallow Tommy Dreamer. She would stick by Raven’s side, taking many sitout piledrivers complements of Dreamer, for a few months. However, it would all come crashing down for Raven, when his friend Stevie Richards would reveal that Beulah was pregnant… with Tommy Dreamer’s child! So, from 1996 onward, it would be Beulah McGillicutty and Tommy Dreamer against the world. She would prove to be a valuable tool for Dreamer at ringside during his feuds with Raven, “The Franchise” Shane Douglas, The Dudley Boyz, Justin Credible, and more. She wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty for her man if the situation called for it, or throwdown with other women as the uncrowned queen of the catfight. In one of the bloodiest brawls in all of Extreme Championship Wrestling, Beulah was able to take referee Bill Alfonso to his limit at 1997’s As Good As It Gets event! Whether it was busting out a picturesque moonsault or taking a huge spear from the “Rated-R Superstar” Edge, Beulah would go to any length to make sure “The Innovator of Violence” came out on top. For her underlying toughness, undying loyalty, and uncanny ability of always stay true to herself, the stunningly pretty and criminally underrated Beulah McGillicutty makes my list.
8.) Terri Runnels / Marlena / Alexandra York
Accompanied: Michael Wallstreet, The York Foundation, Goldust, Brian Pillman, Meat, The Hardy Boyz, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn, Raven
It seems this list is growing a trend, as I’ve come to another ‘wife-in-real-life’ to cover next. Terri Runnels first appeared as an on-air talent in World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the York Foundation stable. As the business-minded Miss Alexandra York, Runnels would analyze enemies of the York Foundation at ringside with her trustly laptop, often leading her men to victory. However, it wasn’t until the debut of her Marlena character in the World Wrestling Federation that Runnels really made her permanent mark. As a second to her then-husband, the “Bizarre One”, Goldust, she would start to develop a real on-screen identity. Soaked in gold dresses or gowns, smoking a large cigar, and sitting in a director’s chair at ringside became part of her signature. Whether it was blowing smoke clouds in those that stood in Goldust’s way or helping him re-focus on the ‘big final scene’ in the ring, Marlena became an invaluable addition to the entire Goldust package. The fact was, Goldust was at his character peak while Marlena was by his side. The duo’s most important challenge came in 1997, when the “Loose Cannon” Brian Pillman famously tried to illicit, and would eventually win, Marlena’s services in and out of the ring! Later, Terri Runnels would become one half of the Pretty Mean Sisters (P.M.S. for short) with Jacqueline, managing the likes of Val Venis, Mark Henry, D’Lo Brown, and even P.M.S.’s ‘Love Slave’, Meat (AKA Shawn Stasiak). Another highlight of Runnels’ valet run in the WWF, would have to be her organization of the Terri Invitational Tournament. The tournament was a series of matches that pitted Edge and Christian against The Hardy Boyz (brothers Matt and Jeff) that would culminate in a ladder match at 1999’s No Mercy pay-per-view. The Hardy Boyz would win Runnels’ managerial services, with her credibility helping Matt and Jeff reach new heights as a team following the event. Terri Runnels would go on to briefly manage other wrestling stars during a final run, most notably, Dean Malenko, Raven, and Perry Saturn, before her career came to a close in 2004. Simply put, Terri Runnels always sweetened any deal as a golden-haired, beautiful cherry on top.
7.) Stephanie McMahon / Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley
Accompanied: Test, Triple H, Kurt Angle, The Alliance, Chris Jericho
In a somewhat controversial pick, I felt my top ten list would be incomplete without Stephanie McMahon. With her most prominent run occurring through the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Stephanie was the voice in the ear of one of, if not THE, top star in the World Wrestling Federation. Early on, Stephanie’s character was portrayed as a sweet, simple, innocent daughter to her evil father Mr. McMahon. This wouldn’t last though, with Stephanie hitting her stride as a manipulative mastermind powered by greed and personal gain. Along her storyline-turned-real-life husband Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Triple H), Stephanie became a staple on weekly television. She would guide Hunter to the top, pulling as many story strings behind the scenes to keep her man in a position of power. Eventually, the McMahon-Helmsley Era would erode, with Stephanie taking up for the new WWF Undisputed Champion and sworn rival of Triple H, Chris Jericho. Jericho and McMahon would have a brief reign of terror before he was finally quelled by a vengeful Triple H, casting Stephanie into the background for some time. She would shift her focus to on-screen General Manager duties on WWF Smackdown!, while continuing to butt heads with her father over ultimate control. This would culminate in a the first ever, father-versus-daughter “I Quit” match. For the later half of the 2000’s and early 2010’s, Stephanie would have sporadic roles on camera, most-notably as part of “The Authority” with Triple H and others. There is no disputing Stephanie’s staying power in professional wrestling. Whether it’s in front of or behind the cameras, Stephanie’s role as a powerful woman who rose up through a man’s world cannot be overstated.
6.) Francine
Accompanied: Shane Douglas, Stevie Richards, The Pitbulls, Chris Candido, Bam Bam Bigelow, Justin Credible, Michael Shane, Balls Mahoney
Breaking into the business with Extreme Championship Wrestling, Francine got her first break playing the on-screen girlfriend of Stevie Richards in the summer of 1995. Richards’ partner Raven and his then-valet, the aforementioned Beulah McGillicutty, grew jealous of the relationship. This would cause Richards to turn on Francine, thus ending their relationship. Francine would recover quickly in upwards momentum, as she then managed the dangerous-yet-popular Pitbulls tag team. In September of that same year, Francine would push The Pitbulls to championship gold when they captured the ECW Tag Team Championship from Raven and Richards. Francine would stick with The Pitbulls for nearly a year, before turning on them for a bigger opportunity. She would align herself with Pitbull #2’s rival, “The Franchise” Shane Douglas. Between 1996 and 1999, Francine would be the “Head Cheerleader” for Douglas and the rest of his Triple Threat stablemates. Francine was a team player, often being ringside for both Chris Candido and Bam Bam Bigelow in addition to Douglas. Despite that, her main focus never faded. Francine led Shane Douglas to two wildly successful reigns as the ECW World Heavyweight Champion. During the peak of her career, the Queen of Extreme never shied away from putting herself in the line of fire for Douglas, taking belly-to-belly suplexes, Super Bombs through tables, and even a press slam from Bam Bam Bigelow that legitimately shattered her pelvis! Francine was a top-shelf act with Shane Douglas, arguably being considered the next generation of what an iconic top star / top valet combo could be. It was Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Miss Elizabeth taken to the extreme… for a new, hardcore decade. From managing several big acts and having a timeless run with the top star in ECW, to having quick cups of coffee with World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Francine has put in the blood, sweat, and tears to be considered one of the greatest to ever do it (and look really good doing so).
5.) Sunny / Tammy Lynn Sytch / Tammy Fytch
Accompanied: Chris Candido, Brian Lee, The Bodydonnas, The Godwinns, The Smoking Gunns, Faarooq, Savio Vega, The Legion of Doom, Lex Luger
Where does one even being with Tammy? For better or worse, over three decades worth of professional wrestling fans know of Sunny AKA Tammy Lynn Sytch (/Fytch). At one point in 1996, she was the most downloaded celebrity on the internet. World Wrestling Entertainment considered her their very first ‘Diva Superstar’, marking our first and one of the only WWE Hall of Famers on this list. For the better part of the 1990’s, Tammy was the envy of all women and the fantasy of every husband, father, brother, and boyfriend. Starting out in Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion under the name Tammy Fytch in 1993, she played a despised on-screen villain who overly pushed the ‘woman’s agenda’ onto anybody who’d listen. With her heat with the fans fanning quickly, Tammy became attached to Brian Lee, the promotion’s Heavyweight Champion. By 1994, she was accompanying her real-life-boyfriend Chris Candido to matches as well, leading to her two stars defeating the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Express to become the Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions. Both Candido and Tammy would get a call from the big time and by 1995, both were working for the World Wrestling Federation. Renamed Sunny, Tammy’s stardom would outshine Chris’, so she would move on to managing stars more heavily featured on the cards. She’d valet for Faarooq Asaad (Ron Simmons), The Smoking Gunns (Bart and Billy Gunn), Savio Vega, and a returning Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal). Widely considered as the first major, female crossover stars for the WWF, Sunny would become an icon within the company. After her peak years of popularity, Sunny would have stints in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and the independent wrestling scene during the early to mid 2000’s. Where Chris Candido went, his longtime sweetheart would be soon to follow. Despite numerous setbacks, drug-related issues, rumored infidelity, and legal trouble, Tammy was able to cement herself as one of the most popular-yet-polarizing valets in professional wrestling history.
4.) Luna Vachon / Trudy Herd
Accompanied: Kevin Sullivan, The Blackhearts, Shawn Michaels, Bam Bam Bigelow, Tommy Dreamer, The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust, Gangrel
Born into a legendary bunch of professional wrestling savages, Luna Vachon was always destined to be somebody. Breaking out in Florida Championship Wrestling in 1985, Luna first worked as Trudy Herd, an unassuming reported who was there to present an award to Kendall Windham. Well, all hell broke loose when the evil, antichrist character known as Kevin Sullivan crashed the segment and slapped Trudy Herd around. She would come under his evil spell and eventually would make a metamorphosis into Luna Vachon. Donning half of a shaved head, terrible face paint, and a raspy voice, Luna quickly became as recognizable as she was feared. After her wildly successful and iconic jaunt with the Sullivan’s Army stable, Luna would tour Florida, Memphis, Japan, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It would be during her time spent in Canada for Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling were she’d meet a team she’d manage for several years, known as The Blackhearts. Destruction (played by Tom Nash) and Apocalypse (played by David Heath, her future husband) were masked men that ran roughshod over Stampede, Tri-State Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, and even All-Japan Pro Wrestling. He peak as a valet and on-screen character came with a shot in the World Wrestling Federation. While with the WWF, she would manage featured talent and fellow future WWE Hall of Famers like “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, “The Beast from the East” Bam Bam Bigelow, “The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust”, and Gangrel. Luna worked for all ‘big three’ promotions during their peaks (WWF, WCW, and ECW) and thrived as a valet that could and would beat anybody’s ass, including men if need be. After her main run in the WWF, Luna stayed active in wrestling all the way up to her tragic death in 2010. Luna Vachon doesn’t nearly get the flowers she deserved for her contributions to professional wrestling. Her look and temperament matched with leather and chains made her stand out in a world of very colorful characters. With her mind, blood, and spirit so intertwined within the wrestling business, Luna Vachon and her work across multiple continents and top promotions as a valet rightfully scores her a spot as one of the very greats.
3.) Miss Elizabeth
Accompanied: Randy Savage, The Mega Powers, Ric Flair, The New World Order, Lex Luger
Listing Elizabeth Hulette anywhere other than first was a hard, hard choice. After meeting and marrying Savage in late 1984, the two would finish up with International Championship Wrestling and head for New York. Savage burst onto the World Wrestling Federation scene in the summer of 1985, originally without Elizabeth. After about a month of making shockwaves and blazing through singles competition, several high-level managers vied for Savage as a client. He would sidestep them all though, finally introducing the lovely Miss Elizabeth as his valet and manager (another real-life-wife on the list, I know). By early 1986, Savage with Elizabeth at his side, jumped up a level, and captured the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Tito Santana in the Boston Garden. Savage would keep the championship for over a year before losing it at Wrestlemania III, to Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. This match is still highly regarded as one of the greatest ‘Mania matches of all time. This would send Elizabeth and the “Macho Man” onto a trajectory straight to the top. Elizabeth was able to match the opulence that someone accompanying Randy Savage to the ring would absolutely need. Her styled evening gowns, well-stated dresses, tasteful jewelry, and perfect hair levelled out her man’s hot-headed temper and intense demeanor. Savage’s success needed Elizabeth as much as Elizabeth’s success needed him. Whether Savage was acting morally right, or teetering on the side of wrong, Elizabeth stuck by his side. Whether he was in fluorescent pinks and oranges in the WWF, or the black and white of the New World Order in WCW, Elizabeth would be there. She was by Savage’s side for legendary feuds against WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Diamond Dallas Page, Kevin Nash, and so many more. Though the two would divorce by 1992, they stayed the best of friends and more importantly, truly looked out for one another. Elizabeth’s dedication was the not-so-secret ingredient to the success of one of the greatest professional wrestling stars of all time. Her innocence, likeability, and warmth on screen is absolutely timeless. She would finish her run in World Championship Wrestling, alongside the “Total Package” Lex Luger, whom she’d end up dating until her death in 1999. Miss Elizabeth’s iconic valet work continues to be borrowed from to this day.
2.) Woman / Fallen Angel / Nancy Benoit
Accompanied: Kevin Sullivan, Doom, Ric Flair, The Four Horsemen, The Sandman, 2 Cold Scorpio, Chris Benoit
With trying to stay as unbiased as possible (impossible), I am a huge Woman fan. If you were paired with Woman on television, you were somebody. Either you were the top guy, or the promotion had a whole bunch of faith in your future if Woman or The Fallen Angel was heading to the ring with you. Her first break occurred in Florida in 1984, alongside her soon-to-be husband, Kevin Sullivan. As part of Sullivan’s Army of Satanist-like misfits, The Fallen Angel stood out for being as brutal as she was beautiful. The Fallen Angel and Sullivan would tour the independents until they reached World Championship Wrestling in 1989, where she was renamed Woman, and shifted her focus on tag team success. Doom (Ron Simmons & Butch Reed) would be Woman’s first project, but as the wheels for the team quickly fell off, she switched from Doom’s manager to the valet for The Four Horsemen. By 1993, Woman and Sullivan landed in Extreme Championship Wrestling. Sullivan and The Tazmaniac would win the ECW Tag Team Championship with Woman by their side. Following Sullivan’s quick departure from ECW, Woman would famously align herself with the cane-swinging, beer swigging, cigarette smoking, Sandman. In what would become one of her most famous valet roles, Woman would open his beers, light his cigarettes, and hold his Singapore cane on the way to the ring. Helping him trick opponents and capture the ECW Heavyweight Championship on two separate occasions decorated her run in ECW nicely. Simultaneously, she attempted to help 2 Cold Scorpio who was a partner of Sandman’s, rise through the ranks. Her final run occured on familiar soil, with WCW in early 1996. She’d again join up with the ranks of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen as Woman. It wouldn’t be long before Woman began taking a special interest in Horseman member, Chris Benoit. In an angle that blurred the lines of real and storyline, Woman began dating Chris Benoit on screen, causing a rift between her and her husband, Kevin Sullivan. In what started as a story in front of the cameras, the relationship would end up as a legitimate issue behind the scenes. Nancy would divorce Sullivan by 1997, start officially dating Benoit, and ended her run on screen with WCW. Nancy would marry Benoit by the year 2000. Considering her individual accomplishments, Nancy is undoubtedly Hall of Fame worthy. Barring a few exceptions, she managed champions, had an on-screen scowl could stop a man cold, and was respected by her peers. She wasn’t just a woman, she WAS Woman.
1.) Sherri Martel / Sensational Sherri / Queen Sherri / Sister Sherri / “Peggy Sue”
Accompanied: Buddy Rose, Doug Somers, The Honky Tonk Man, Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Harlem Heat
I think Sherri Martel’s work pretty much speaks for itself. Sherri wasn’t paired with champions, she made them. If you were with Sherri, you were either the now or the next. Whether it was serving her “Macho King” Randy Savage during an incredible heel run, or helping Shawn Michaels break through the midcard to the main event, Sherri was the only one to do the job. She was unapologetically her; more than willing to throw a kick to the gut while a guy is down, or spike him in the head with the tip of a shoe heel instead. Sherri was tough, dangerous, and outspoken. More times than not, she would do all her client’s talking for them, giving the opposition a tongue-lashing they wouldn’t soon forget. Sherri’s big break would come in 1985, for Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association. It was there where Sherri would first cut her teeth managing “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Pretty Boy” Doug Somers. With Sherri in their corner, they would quickly capture the AWA World Tag Team Championship. The World Wrestling Federation would come knocking in 1987, to begin Sherri’s longest and most memorable run. After a run with the WWF Women’s Championship, Sherri would assume the character “Peggy Sue” to accompany The Honky Tonk Man as his on-screen girlfriend. She would annoy opponents and interfere in matches regularly, leading to valeting for bigger and better clients just down the road. “Macho King” Randy Savage was in desperate need of a leading lady, as Elizabeth had been fired and cast aside. Thus, Queen Sherri emerged and together, the King and Queen steamrolled the WWF as its top heel act. Famously, the storyline would culminate in 1991, with Savage losing a retirement match to Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII. Sherri would turn on Savage after his loss and be tossed out of the ring by a returning Elizabeth for her troubles. Sherri would move on to a true heel client in “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase for a short stint, until in 1992, her next iconic pairing would begin. Shawn Michaels was quickly outgrowing his current position as a ‘tag guy’ in the company. Dubbing him the “Sexy Boy” and singing his theme music, Sherri made her sights clear; she was going to help Shawn up the card. The two would be an item for about a year before Sherri’s time with the WWF would come to an end. She would go on to have an angle managing Tracy Smothers in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and Shane Douglas in Eastern Championship Wrestling, until finding her was to World Championship Wrestling in 1994. She would be immediately inserted into the the WCW World Heavyweight Championship picture, claiming to side with Sting in a match against “Nature Boy” Ric Flair at Clash of the Champions XXVII. Sherri would go on to double-cross Sting and align herself with Flair and the top prize of the company. She would continue on with Flair for a bit until she shifted her focus to a new, exciting team that was gaining traction, Harlem Heat. As Sister Sherri, she would lead Harlem Heat (brothers Booker T and Stevie Ray) to seven separate reigns as the WCW World Tag Team Champions until 1997! Sherri would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 and sadly pass away a year later. Without Queen Sherri, the “Macho King” would’ve fell short of the mark. Without Sensational Sherri, Shawn Michaels would’ve never been the “Sexy Boy”. Without Sherri Martel extending the twilight of his career, “The Million Dollar Man” may have gone television-time-bankrupt a lot sooner. There’s just so much of professional wrestling history Sherri had a least a hand, if not her nails, in. In my estimation, as far as a female valet, none have surpassed her before or since. As far as a professional wrestling manager, she is among a short list of the very best. Sherri could talk-the-talk with best and walk-the-walk even better. She was a Sister, a Queen, a Hall of Famer… and above all else, she was Sensational.