Sharmell

Last updated
Sharmell
Pat avec Booker T & Sharmel.jpg
Sharmell in 2009
Birth nameSharmell Sullivan
Born (1970-11-02) November 2, 1970 (age 53) [1]
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Alma mater Spelman College
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2005)​
Children2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Paisley
Queen Sharmell [1]
Sharmell
Sister Sharmell
Storm
Billed height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Billed weight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
Billed from Houston, Texas
Trained by WCW Power Plant [2]
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Fit Finlay
Molly Holly [2]
DebutJanuary 1999
Retired2023

Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman (born November 2, 1970) is an American former professional wrestling valet, dancer, beauty queen, and professional wrestler. As the wife of Booker T, she is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Queen Sharmell. She first came to prominence in the wrestling world as Storm, a member of the World Championship Wrestling dance troupe the Nitro Girls and she also played a character called Paisley. Sullivan-Huffman performed for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Sharmell from 2007 until leaving the company in 2009. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Sullivan was valedictorian of Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana, in 1988, and graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1997 with a degree in mathematics. [3]

Miss Black America

At age 20, Sullivan won the 1991 Miss Black America pageant (she was Miss Black Indiana), [1] which was marred by accusations of rape by Miss Black Rhode Island, Desiree Washington, against pageant judge Mike Tyson. [4] After winning the title, Sullivan began a career in professional dance, [1] touring with several hip hop artists and R&B bands, including a 3½ year stint with James Brown. [2]

Professional wrestling career

World Championship Wrestling (1999–2001)

Sullivan joined World Championship Wrestling's Nitro Girl dance troupe in December, 1998 under the name Storm. [1] [5] When the Nitro Girls began becoming more involved in WCW storylines, she was made the valet for The Artist, re-dubbing herself Paisley. [1] As Paisley, she made her in-ring singles debut against Tammy Lynn Sytch on the April 26, 2000, episode of WCW Thunder , winning with a DDT. [6] Following The Artist's release from WCW, Sullivan began valeting for Kwee Wee. [7] She also formed an alliance with fellow former Nitro Girl Tygress, and the two ladies frequently double-teamed the Misfits In Action's valet Major Gunns. [8] [9]

While in WCW, Sullivan was also a part of the pop music group Diversity 5 with other Nitro Girls Fyre, Spice, Chae, and Tygress. [5] In 2001, when she signed with the WWF, she was replaced in the group by Chiquita Anderson (also a Nitro Girl).

WWE (2001–2007, 2013, 2022-2023)

In 2001, just before WCW was bought by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Sullivan was released from WCW and signed a developmental contract with WWF with the intent of becoming a full-time in-ring performer and backstage interviewer. [1] She was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling to continue her training, [5] and was made the valet for The Suicide Blondes, wearing a blonde wig and using the name Sister Sharmell. [10] Her training, however, was cut short by an injury, forcing her to retire from in-ring work. [1] In November 2001, Sullivan was called up and put in a backstage interview position on SmackDown! , which lasted until sometime in early 2002 before the company was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment. [11] She retired from wrestling afterwards to run a clothing store in Houston, Texas. [11]

Sullivan was re-hired by the (now renamed) World Wrestling Entertainment in the spring of 2005, debuting as a face valet for her real-life husband Booker T. [1] Together they took part in a feud with Kurt Angle, during which Angle continually sexually harassed Sharmell. [12] [13] Sharmell began turning heel in October when she started interfering in Booker's matches, presumably without his knowledge. [14] Her heel turn was cemented she helped Booker win the United States Championship from Chris Benoit on the October 21 episode of SmackDown!, [15] which preceded a heel turn by Booker the following week when he revealed he knew of her involvement in his matches the entire time. [16]

Sharmell and Booker T then began a feud with The Boogeyman, and during a handicap match at WrestleMania 22 The Boogeyman managed to kiss Sharmell while he had a mouth full of worms before winning the match. [17]

After Booker T's victory in the 2006 King of the Ring tournament, Booker T began referring to himself as "King Booker" and Sharmell as "Queen Sharmell". [1] As part of their new on-screen personas, the duo began speaking in faux British accents and acting pompous. On the April 6, 2007, episode of SmackDown! Sharmell turned on King Booker, claiming his failure to defeat Matt Hardy that night—after Hardy had nearly attacked her during WrestleMania 23—meant Booker did not care about her honor. [18] Later that night, as part of the storyline, Booker tried to impress Sharmell by attacking World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker which ended in Booker being hit with a Tombstone Piledriver on the announce table and sprained Booker's neck, which put him out of action. On the June 11 episode of Raw , Sharmell and King Booker were drafted from SmackDown! to Raw as part of the WWE Draft. [19] Due to conflicts with storyline and overall character direction, in October 2007, Sharmell, along with Booker, requested and were granted their releases from their contracts by WWE. She then made an appearance at the 2013 WWE Hall Of Fame to watch her husband get inducted. [1] In 2021, WWE Network listed Queen Sharmell as one of the women who made an impact in WWE outside the ring. [20] The following year, it was announced that she would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Sharmell appeared on the May 1 episode of Raw, alongside her husband to announce the draft picks for the 2023 WWE Draft.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007–2009)

Booker T and Sharmell (left) in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Booker T & Sharmell Chicago IL 101208.jpg
Booker T and Sharmell (left) in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

At the Genesis pay per view on November 11, 2007, Sharmell debuted in TNA during the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match attacking Karen Angle. [21]

At Final Resolution on January 6, 2008, Sharmell and Booker T were booked into a mixed tag team match against Robert Roode and Ms. Brooks and won after she rolled-up Ms. Brooks. After the match, Roode was arguing with Ms. Brooks when Sharmell came back to stop Roode only to get hit in the face and kayfabe breaking her jaw. She made her return at Destination X, after the Booker T and Roode match, whipping Payton Banks and Roode. On April 13 at Lockdown, she and husband, Booker T defeated Robert Roode and Payton Banks.

Sharmell was inactive following Booker's heel turn, but returned at Victory Road during the main event between Samoa Joe and her husband. She established herself as a heel during the match by making the three-count, allowing her husband to "win" the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. When Booker joined The Main Event Mafia in October 2008, Sharmell followed suit. On the November 20 edition of Impact! , Sharmell was challenged to a match with ODB at Final Resolution, which she accepted. Along with The Beautiful People, Sharmell fell to the team of ODB, Taylor Wilde, and Roxxi at Final Resolution. Sharmell was regularly seen bickering with fellow Mafia valet Jenna Morasca, leading to a catfight backstage on the May 28 edition of Impact! which led to Sharmell challenging Morasca to a match at Victory Road. She lost the match at Victory Road after Kong knocked her out then Morasca pinned her. She then competed in the TNA Knockout Tag Title tournament teaming with Traci Brooks to represent The Main Event Mafia, but they lost in the first round of the tournament to Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed. At Bound for Glory Booker and Sharmell made their final appearance for TNA, before leaving the company. [22]

Other media

During the week of November 5, 2007, she appeared on five episodes of Family Feud with Batista, Candice Michelle, Booker T, Mr. Kennedy, Layla El, Michelle McCool, Maria, Ric Flair, and Jonathan Coachman. [23]

Personal life

Sullivan has a stepson Brandon, from a relationship Huffman had in highschool. She and Huffman began dating while they both worked for WCW. [1] The couple were married in February 2005. [24] Sullivan gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, Kendrick and Kennedy, on August 5, 2010. [25]

Championships and accomplishments

Beauty pageant

Professional wrestling

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Bischoff</span> American wrestler and television producer (born 1955)

Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American television producer, professional wrestling booker, promoter, and performer. He is best known for serving as Executive Producer and later Senior Vice President of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and subsequently, the on-screen General Manager of WWE's Raw brand. During his time in WCW, Bischoff was known as “Easy-E.” Notwithstanding the standing of that moniker, in other circles he is best known as nothing more than “B-Dawg”. Bischoff has also worked with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) where he served as Executive Producer of Impact Wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chavo Guerrero Jr.</span> American professional wrestler

Salvador Guerrero IV better known by his ring names Chavo Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero Jr., is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenures in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/WWE), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Lucha Underground (LU), Ring of Honor (ROH) and Nación Lucha Libre (NLL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacy Keibler</span> American professional wrestler, dancer, and model (born 1979)

Stacy Ann-Marie Keibler is an American actress and retired professional wrestler, cheerleader, dancer, and model. She is best known for her tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Angle</span> American professional wrestler

Kurt Steven Angle is an American retired professional wrestler and collegiate wrestler. He became a gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Olympic Games. He is currently signed to WWE, on a Legends contract. He is also known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Benoit</span> Canadian professional wrestler (1967–2007)

Christopher Michael Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler. He worked for various pro-wrestling promotions during his 22-year career, including most notably the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF/WWE), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in the United States of America, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in Japan, and Stampede Wrestling in his native Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Russo</span> American professional wrestling writer

Vincent James Russo is an American professional wrestling writer, booker and pundit. He is notable for his tenures with the World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in creative roles. He also occasionally made appearances as an on-screen authority figure, and professional wrestler, in WCW and TNA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sting (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

Steve Borden, better known by the ring name Sting, is an American retired professional wrestler. Borden is known for his time spent as the face of two American professional wrestling promotions: World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1988 to 2001 and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2006 to 2014. Although the World Wrestling Federation purchased WCW in 2001, Borden did not sign with them at the time. Prior to WCW, he wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP)—which became WCW in 1988—the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), and the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA). He last performed in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) from 2020 to 2024 before retiring. Borden wore face-paint throughout his career, and in 1996, changed from the multi-colored paint of his "Surfer" persona to the monochromatic paint of the "Crow" gimmick; he also incorporated elements of The Joker in the later part of his time in TNA.

An "I quit" match is a type of professional wrestling submission match in which the only way to win is to make the opponent verbally concede to the referee. It is a variation of the submission match as it can only be won by submission, but it is special in that the submission has to take the form of the forfeiting opponent conceding verbally. Generally, whenever a wrestler knocks down their opponent with a move or inflicts a submission move, the opponent will be asked—either by the referee or the opponent—to say the concession into a microphone. "I quit" matches are commonly used to settle (kayfabe) grudges and embarrass rivals since saying "I quit" is usually a sign of admitted inferiority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Dallas Page</span> American professional wrestler and actor

Dallas Page, better known by his ring name Diamond Dallas Page, is an American yoga instructor, retired professional wrestler and actor. In the course of his wrestling career Page has wrestled for mainstream wrestling promotions World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the World Wrestling Federation, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

Jonathan Hugger is an American professional wrestler and author. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Johnny the Bull, for World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Johnny Stamboli, and for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Lucha Libre AAA World Wide and Lucha Libre USA under the ring name Rellik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacqueline Moore</span> American professional wrestler

Jacqueline DeLois Moore is an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. She is best known for her time in WWE from 1998 to 2004, where she became the first African American WWE Cruiserweight champion as well as being one of three women to hold the championship. She also worked for World Championship Wrestling in 1997–98 and later Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a wrestler, manager, and road agent.

Kimberly Lynne Bacon is an American former professional wrestling personality. Known by her World Championship Wrestling ring name Kimberly Page, she was the leader of The Nitro Girls and the valet for her then-husband wrestler Diamond Dallas Page. She appeared in Playboy newsstand pictorials from 1994 to 1999, and has been featured in Iron Man magazine for her fitness workouts.

The Nitro Girls were a dance team in World Championship Wrestling introduced in July 1997. Centered around Kimberly Page, the group generally consisted of a roster of seven members, all of whom had some degree of professional dance experience. Their initial function was to dance and entertain the live crowds during commercial breaks of WCW Monday Nitro as well as engage in promotional work for the company, however, beginning in late 1999, many of the members began to become involved in wrestling storylines and acted as valets and managers to the wrestlers. The group was de facto disbanded by early 2000, with a number of the former members having adopted entirely new personas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daffney</span> American professional wrestler and actress (1975–2021)

Shannon Claire Spruill was an American professional wrestler, wrestling manager and actress better known by her ring name Daffney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Roode</span> Canadian professional wrestler

Robert Francis Roode Jr. is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he is a producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristal Marshall</span> American model and professional wrestler

Kristal Melisa Marshall is an American model, beauty queen and retired professional wrestler who is best known for her time in World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown brand and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Tessmacher</span> American professional wrestler

Brooke Nichole Adams is an American model and professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Brooke Tessmacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judgment Day (2006)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2006 Judgment Day was the eighth Judgment Day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on May 21, 2006, at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the final Judgment Day to be brand-exclusive as following WrestleMania 23 the following year, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued. The event also featured the finals of the 2006 King of the Ring tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booker T (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler (born 1965)

Booker T. Huffman Jr., better known by his ring name Booker T, is an American retired professional wrestler and commentator. He is currently signed to WWE, where he serves as a color commentator on the NXT brand, and is also the owner and founder of the independent promotion Reality of Wrestling (ROW) in Texas City, Texas. Booker has been frequently named by peers and industry commentators as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time; he was voted WWE's greatest World Heavyweight Champion in a 2013 viewer poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory Road (2009)</span> 2009 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view event

The 2009 Victory Road was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), which took place on July 19, 2009, at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida. It was the fifth event under the Victory Road chronology.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Booker and Sharmell released by WWE". SLAM! Wrestling. October 16, 2007. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved 2008-04-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. 1 2 3 "A Chat with WCW's "Paisley"" . Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  3. ↑ Mooneyham, Mike. "The Next Big Lawsuit". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-12. Last weekend Booker T (Booker Huffman) married longtime girlfriend Sharmell Sullivan (formerly valet Paisley and Nitro Girl Storm in WCW) in the bride's hometown of Gary, Indiana. Former Nitro Girl Chae was on hand as a bridesmaid. Sullivan, 33, graduated valedictorian from Gary's Roosevelt High School in 1988, is a graduate of Spelman College and was crowned Miss Black America in 1991.
  4. ↑ "The History of Pageants" . Retrieved 2007-04-12. After appearing as a celebrity guest at the Miss Black America Pageant, world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is arrested for raping a contestant, Desiree Washington, during pageant week. After the national winner and other contestants claim he groped them, the pageant's director labels the boxer a "serial buttocks fondler " and sues for damages. The case creates a media frenzy and Tyson is later convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison.
  5. 1 2 3 "Sharmell Sullivan profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  6. ↑ "Thunder results – April 26, 2000". DDTDigest. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  7. ↑ "Monday Nitro results – August 21, 2000". DDTDigest. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  8. ↑ "Worldwide results – September 9, 2000". DDTDigest. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  9. ↑ "Nitro results – August 28, 2000". DDTDigest. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  10. ↑ WWE Divas – Tropical Pleasure (DVD). World Wrestling Entertainment. 2003.
  11. 1 2 "Sharmell - Online World of Wrestling". Archived from the original on 2012-08-28.
  12. ↑ "SmackDown! results – May 12, 2005". WWE . Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  13. ↑ "SmackDown! results – May 19, 2005". WWE . Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  14. ↑ "SmackDown! results – October 14, 2005". WWE . Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  15. ↑ "SmackDown! results – October 21, 2005". WWE . Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  16. ↑ "SmackDown! results – October 28, 2005". WWE . Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  17. ↑ "WrestleMania 22 results". WWE . Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  18. ↑ "SmackDown! results – April 6, 2007". WWE . Retrieved 2007-04-22.
  19. ↑ Corey Clayton (June 11, 2007). "Draft brings surprises, switches ECW champion to Raw". WWE. Archived from the original on 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  20. ↑ Gupta, Rohit (April 2, 2021). "WWE Top 50 Female Superstars: WWE releases the list of all time top 50 Greatest female superstars". Insider Sport. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  21. ↑ "TNA Genesis Results". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 26 June 2023.
  22. ↑ Martin, Adam (2009-10-22). "Another update on Booker T and TNA". WrestleView. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  23. ↑ Medalis, Kara A. (October 30, 2007). "Tune in to WWE week on 'Family Feud'". WWE . Retrieved 2007-11-04.
  24. ↑ "Booker T and Sharmell's Wedding: Wrestling's Favorite Power Couple". ESSENCE.com. 2009-03-19. Archived from the original on 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  25. ↑ "BOOKER T AND SHARMELL WELCOME THEIR PRINCE AND PRINCESS". BLACKCELEBKIDS.com. 2010-08-18. Archived from the original on 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  26. ↑ "Queen Sharmell to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.