11. Sherri Martel (Harlem Heat Vs Gary Jackson & Alan Horne - WCW Saturday Night 17/12/1994)

Video: Harlem Heat Vs Gary Jackson & Alan Horne

Sherri confidently leads the Heat to the ring

During Sherri Martel's tenure as manager of the Harlem Heat in the mid-1990s, Sister Sherri as she was known then certainly left her mark on many an opponent. This match would be no different against vastly over-matched opposition as the sensuous valet delivered an innovative attack in this easy win.

Stevie Ray draws applause from Sister Sherri

Exuding confidence as she leads the Heat to the ring, Sherri takes her place ringside as her men swiftly take charge against their hapless opponents. A slam to the mat from Stevie Ray on Jackson at 2:20 in draws applause from the sensuous valet, before a choke and further slam at 2:45 leaves Sherri ecstatic and Jackson in huge pain.

Horne vulnerable as Martel looks on

With Booker T now tagged in, Alan Horne is next to feel the wrath of the Harlem Heat, and the pain that their valet is capable of inflicting. At 3:35 in, Horne is choked on the middle rope within easy reach of Sherri. With Horne temporarily incapacitated, and the referee's back turned as he berates Booker T, Ms. Martel senses her opportunity.

A rake to the face from Sherri

With hands behind her back, she calmly approaches Horne and at 3:45 in reaches up to his face as he lies prone and executes a vicious scratch to his face. The technique used is textbook and leaves the opponent clutching his face in agony. A shocked Tony Schiavone exclaims "Oh look at that! Clawing the man in the eyes!" before it is suggested that Horne may have made an obscene gesture to Sherri to provoke the attack.

Horne in pain after feeling Sherri's claws

Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Martel simply took the opportunity to launch a vicious, unprovoked attack on a vulnerable opponent when the opportunity arose and the referee's back was turned. Shortly afterwards, the Heatseeker is landed to give Harlem Heat the win, and leave Sherri screaming into the camera to hurl abuse at the Nasty Boys.

Celebrating the win

Another example of Sherri's ruthlessness, her intervention was calculated, sneaky, and delivered out of view of the referee. Whilst she wore gloves during many of the Heat's matches, Sherri instead was gloveless during this match, allowing her rake to the face to have maximum impact. While Horne and Jackson were never going to trouble her men, Sherri's attack which came so close to the match-winning Heatseeker move nevertheless helped to soften up Horne. It certainly gave a new meaning to 'clawing your way to victory'!