Eddie Sharkey
Eddie Sharkey (born February 4, 1936) is an American professional wrestling trainer. He is often called "The Trainer of Champions".[2] He has been instrumental in training some of the biggest names in the sport. He was also the owner of Pro Wrestling America.
Eddie Sharkey | |
---|---|
Born | [1] | February 4, 1936
Spouse(s) | Dixie Jordan (divorced) Mary Beth Rivera (m. 2006) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Debut | 1950s |
Professional wrestling career
American Wrestling Association
In the late 1950s, he joined the carnival circuit as a wrestler. Sharkey was trained by Boris Malenko, Bob Geigel, and Joe Scarpello. Sharkey made his American Wrestling Association (AWA) debut in Fargo, North Dakota in 1961 where he was a babyface. He had feuds with Danny Hodge, Bob Boyer, and Jack Donovan. Sharkey left the AWA over a disagreement with promoter Verne Gagne.
In September 1968, he won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship from Jack Donovan in Central States Wrestling.[3][4] The title was later retired.[3][4]
Pro Wrestling America
While working at Gramma B's, Sharkey recognized the future that four of the bouncers (Hawk, Animal, Rick Rude, and Barry Darsow) could have in wrestling. Sharkey opened his own professional wrestling promotion, Pro Wrestling America, in 1982 and trained the men himself.
He also partnered with Terry Fox to open another professional wrestling school in Minnesota.[5]
He defeated his student Lenny Lane for the FLWA South Haven Title in South Haven, Minnesota on July 24, 2004 at 68 years old.
Personal life
Growing up in south Minneapolis, Sharkey was a huge wrestling fan. His father, Tom Shyman, was a first-generation immigrant from Poland who worked in the liquor-display business. Sharkey took up boxing in his teens.
Sharkey married Maryland professional wrestler Princess Little Cloud (Dixie Jordan). When Jordan gave birth to their children, he left the wrestling profession for eight years to spend more time at home. He took a job as a bartender at Gramma B's in the Twin Cities. Sharkey and Jordan later divorced. He married Mary Beth Rivera on April 20, 2006.
Wrestlers trained
- Austin Aries[5]
- Bam Neely
- Bob Backlund[6]
- Larry Cameron
- Shawn Daivari[2]
- Barry Darsow[7]
- Derrick Dukes
- Paul Ellering
- Mike Enos
- Josie
- Tommy Jammer
- Nikita Koloff
- Lacey[8]
- Lenny Lane
- John Nord
- Johnny Love
- Charlie Norris
- ODB
- Rain
- Ricky Rice
- Road Warrior Animal[7]
- Road Warrior Hawk[7]
- Rick Rude[7]
- Erick Rowan
- Rick Steiner[9]
- Teijo Kahn
- Jesse Ventura
- Sean Waltman[10]
- The Warlord
- Tom Zenk
- Wayne Bloom
- Jerry Lynn
- Madusa[11]
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- National Wrestling Alliance
- FLWA
- FLWA South Haven Title (1 time)
References
- "Eddie Sharkey OWW Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- "Staff: Shawn Daivari". The Academy School of Professional Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Central States: NWA United States Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 255–256. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Central States version)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- Clevett, Jason (January 4, 2005). "Signs point to success for Aries". SLAM Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Murphy, Ryan (June 29, 2009). "Where Are They Now? Bob Backlund". WWE. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- "Wrestling Legends to visit with fans at Dave and Busters". Military News. November 21, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Xamin, Mark. "Bios: Lacey". SLAM Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Melok, Bobby (April 15, 2013). "Where Are They Now? Rick Steiner". WWE. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- "Bios: Sean Waltman". SLAM Wrestling. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
- Eck, Kevin. "Madusa's Bio". Madusa.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
- "List of CAC Award Winners". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
External links
- Official Website at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)