Sharmell Sullivan

Infobox Wrestler
name=Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman


img_capt=Sharmell Sullivan (left) with her husband, Booker Huffman.
names=Storm
Paisley
Sister Sharmell
Sharmell
Queen Sharmellcite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/10/16/4580811.html|title=Booker and Sharmell released by WWE|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2008-04-17|date=October 16, 2007]
height=height|ft=5|in=7
weight=convert|125|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = birth date and age|1974|11|2|mf=y
death_date =
birth_place =Gary, Indiana
resides=Houston, Texas
billed=
trainer=WCW Power Plant
OVW Staff
Dave Finlay
Nora Greenwald
debut=1999

Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman (born November 2 1974) is an American professional wrestling valet currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. She is best known for her work with World Wrestling Entertainment until her release in 2007. She first came to prominence in the wrestling world as a member of the World Championship Wrestling dance troupe the Nitro Girls.

Miss Black America

Sullivan won the Miss Black America pageant in 1991. The same year the pageant was overshadowed by accusations of rape by another competitor, Desiree Washington, against pageant judge Mike Tyson. [cite web |url=http://pageantcenter.com/pageant_history.html |title=The History of Pageants |accessdate=2007-04-12 |format= |quote=After appearing as a celebrity guest at the Miss Black America Pageant, world heavy weight 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.] After winning the title, Sullivan began a career in professional dance, touring with several hip hop artists and R&B bands, including a 3½ year stint with James Brown.cite web |url=http://www.yourmvp.net/sharmell.html|title=A Chat with WCW's "Paisley"|accessdate=2007-04-12]

Professional wrestling

World Championship Wrestling (1998-2001)

Sullivan joined World Championship Wrestling's Nitro Girl dance troupe in December 1998 under the name Storm. When the Nitro Girls began becoming more involved in WCW storylines, she was made the valet for The Artist, re dubbing herself Paisley. As Paisley, she made her in-ring singles debut against Tammy Lynn Sytch on the April 26 2000 edition of "WCW Thunder", winning with a DDT. [cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2000044t.htm |title=Thunder results - April 26, 2000 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=DDTDigest] Following The Artist's release from WCW, Sullivan began valeting for Kwee Wee. [cite web|url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/2000083m.htm |title=Monday Nitro results - August 21, 2000 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=DDTDigest] 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. [cite web |url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/2000084m.htm |title=Worldwide results - September 9, 2000 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=DDTDigest] [cite web |url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/2000092w.htm |title=Nitro results - August 28, 2000 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=DDTDigest ]

While in WCW, Sullivan was also a part of the pop music group "Diversity 5" with other Nitro Girls Fyre, Spice, Chae, and Tygress.cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/sharmell.html |title=Sharmell Sullivan profile |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling] In 2001, when she signed with the WWF, she was replaced in the group by Chiquita Anderson (also a Nitro Girl).

World Wrestling Federation (2001)

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. She was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling to continue her training, and was made the valet for The Suicide Blondes - wearing a blonde wig and using the name Sister Sharmell. [cite video | date= 2003 | title= WWE Divas - Tropical Pleasure |medium= DVD | publisher= World Wrestling Entertainment | accessdate = 2007-04-12] Her training, however, was cut short by an injury, forcing her to retire from in ring work.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005-2007)

Sullivan was re-hired by the (now renamed) World Wrestling Entertainment in 2005, debuting as a face valet for her real-life husband Booker T. Together they took part in a feud with Kurt Angle, during which he continually sexually harassed her. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05122005/ |title=SmackDown! results - May 12, 2005 |accessdate=2007-04-12] [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/345382/ |title=SmackDown! results - May 19, 2005 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=WWE.com] She eventually turned heel when she started interfering in Booker's matches, presumably without his knowledge. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/10142005/ |title=SmackDown! results - October 14, 2005 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=WWE.com] Her involvement escalated until she helped Booker win the United States Championship from Chris Benoit, [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/10212005/ |title=SmackDown! results - October 12, 2005 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=WWE.com] which preceded a heel turn by Booker when he revealed he knew of her involvement in his matches the entire time. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/10282005/ |title=SmackDown! results - October 28, 2005 |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=WWE.com]

Sullivan and Booker T then began a feud with The Boogeyman, and during a match at WrestleMania 22 he managed to kiss Sullivan while he had a mouth full of worms. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/22593201/results/ |title=WrestleMania 22 results |accessdate=2007-04-12 |publisher=WWE.com]

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". 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!" Sullivan turned on her husband, claiming his failure to defeat Matt Hardy that night -- after he'd nearly attacked her during WrestleMania 23 -- meant he didn't care about her honor. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/04062007/ |title=SmackDown! results - April 6, 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-22 |publisher=WWE.com] 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 edition of "RAW", Sharmell (with King Booker) was drafted from "SmackDown!" to "RAW" as part of the WWE Draft. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/articles/4413908/wwedraft|title=Draft brings surprises, switches ECW champion to Raw |author=Corey Clayton |accessdate=2007-06-13 |date=June 11, 2007 |publisher=WWE.com] In October 2007, Sharmell, along with Booker, was released from their contracts.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007-present)

At the Genesis pay per view on November 11 2007, Sharmell debuted in TNA during the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match attacking Karen Angle. [cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=21297|title=TNA Genesis Results| publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter]

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 square 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 3-count, allowing her husband to "win" the TNA World Championship

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**Spinning delayed scoop slam [ [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/sharmell.html Online World of Wrestling ] ] - WCW
**DDT - WCW
**"Sharmell-bow" (Handspring back elbow smash) [ [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/sharmell.html Online World of Wrestling ] ] - WCW and OVW
**Schoolgirl

*Signature object
**Leather strap

*Wrestlers managed
**Booker T
**Kwee Wee
**The Artist
**Derrick King
**Jason Lee

*Theme music
**"If Ya Think'" (WWF/E Production)
**"Rapsheet" (WWE) - With Booker T
**"All Hail The King" (WWE) - During Her "Royalty" Gimmick along with King Booker
**She is currently using Booker T's remixed theme song of "Rapsheet" in TNA

Championships and accomplishments

*Miss Black America
**Miss Black America (1991)

Personal life

Sullivan has a stepson Brandon, from Huffman's first marriage. [Stated in the March 2005 issue of WWE RAW Magazine and in the book WWE Unscripted.] She and Huffman began dating while they both worked for WCW. The two married in March 2005.

Sullivan was valedictorian of her High School and graduated from Spelman College.cite web |url=http://www.mikemooneyham.com/pages/viewfull.cfm?ObjectID=0E203A67-3048-52EA-1E77F30EAFCB4B7F |title=The Next Big Lawsuit |accessdate=2007-04-12 |last=Mooneyham |first=Mike |quote=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, Ind. 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.]

On November 5, 2007, she appeared on an episode of "Family Feud" with Batista, Candice Michelle, King Booker, Mr. Kennedy, Layla El, Michelle McCool, Maria, Ric Flair, and Jonathan Coachman. [cite web | url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/news/familyfeudpreview |first=Kara A. |last=Medalis |publisher=WWE |title=Tune in to WWE week on 'Family Feud' |accessdate=2007-11-04 |date=October 30 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.bookertonline.com/ BookerT Online (Booker T's Official Site)]
*imdb|0838341