Eddie Sharkey
Eddie Sharkey (born October 29, 1936) is an American professional wrestling trainer. He is often called "The Trainer of Champions" or "The Trainer of Legends" , and has been instrumental in training some of the biggest names in the sport, including The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal), "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Tom Zenk, Bob Backlund, Jerry Lynn, Sean Waltman, Nord the Barbarian, Barry "Demolition Smash" Darsow, Rick Steiner, Madusa, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Austin Aries and Erick Rowan.
Early life
Growing up in south Minneapolis, Eddie Sharkey was a huge wrestling fan. His father, Tom Shyman, was a first-generation immigrant from Poland who worked in the liquor-display business. Eddie Shyman didn't become "Eddie Sharkey" until he began his professional wrestling career.
Sharkey took up boxing in his teens.
In the late 1950s, he joined the carnival circuit as a wrestler. Sharkey was trained by Boris Malenko, Bob Geigel, and Joe Scarpello.
Career
AWA years
Sharkey made his American Wrestling Association debut in Fargo, North Dakota in 1961 where he was a fairly successful babyface. He had memorable feuds with Danny Hodge, Bob Boyer, and Jack Donovan. Sharkey left the AWA over a disagreement with promoter Verne Gagne.
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.
After several years of training and showcasing some of the best wrestlers of the 1980s, including epic feuds between Jerry Lynn and The Lightning Kid (Sean Waltman), and The Hater and The Punisher, Sharkey's involvement in the independent scene waned.
He went on to form Midwest Pro Wrestling, as well as joining up with another trainer by the name of Terry Fox to open yet another wrestling school.
In June 2006, Sharkey was presented with the Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cauliflower Alley Club Convention.
Personal life
Eddie 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 Grandma B's in the Twin Cities.
Sharkey and Jordan later divorced. He married Mary Beth Rivera on April 20, 2006.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
Wrestlers trained by Eddie Sharkey
- Austin Aries
- Bam Neely
- Bob Backlund
- "Big Daddy" Brody Hoofer
- Craven Knyte
- Black Stallion
- Shawn Crossen
- Shawn Daivari
- Barry Darsow
- Dr. Darin Davis
- Derrick Dukes
- Paul Ellering
- Mike Enos
- Horace the Psychopath
- Josie
- Tommy Jammer
- Nikita Koloff
- Lacey
- The Opera Man
- Ladyhawk
- Lenny Lane
- John Nord
- Charlie Norris
- ODB
- Mitch Paradise
- The High Rollers
- Vladimir Petrov
- Playboy Pete Huge
- Nate Bash
- Rain(Gringa Loca)
- Ricky Rice
- Road Warrior Animal
- Road Warrior Hawk
- Rick Rude
- Erick Rowan
- Rick Steiner
- Russian Krusher
- Teijo Kahn
- Robbie Thunder
- The Widowmaker Cal Wittner
- Joshua Ulrick
- Jesse Ventura
- JP Wenner (referee)
- Sean Waltman
- The Warlord
- Tom Zenk
- Livewire Johnny Parks
- Blade Michaels
- Wayne Bloom
- Mike Boyette
- Santiago Sangriento (Chile)
- Puajman (Referee and Rock and Wrestling Manager) (Chile)
- Xtra Large (Chile)
- The Mighty Angus
- Manimal
- Jerry Lynn
- Johnny Love
- Madusa
- Christian Moore
- Zaid
- Perfecto Bundy (Chile)
- Mr. Boogie/Come NiƱos (Chile)
- EL RAYO (Chile)
- Rey Armando (Chile)
- Brian Parker/The White Tiger
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award (2006)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Central States version) (1 time)
External links
- Official Website at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)