Q&A with Queen Sharmell
By Kevin Eck

The following was posted on the Baltimore Sun web site 09/26/07.

Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman has described herself as “nerdy” and a “shy bookworm” during her high school days, but she certainly came out of her shell later. She went on to become Miss Black America while at Spelman College in Atlanta (where she earned a degree in mathematics) before embarking on a career as a professional dancer. After touring with artists such as James Brown and Keith Sweat, she made her way into the wrestling industry as a member of the Nitro Girls in WCW.

Now, as Queen Sharmell, she is one half of WWE’s royal couple along with her husband King Booker (Booker Huffman). I spoke with her in a telephone interview yesterday:

Q: It appears that Booker and you are really having a lot of fun playing the King and Queen. What is it like for you?

A: It is so much fun, and when you have fun doing your job, it doesn’t seem like an actual job. It’s an amazing thing because it’s another chance for my husband and I to bond. It’s really delicate because we live and work together. We’re around each other 24/7, so the fact that we are having so much fun just makes it all the better. Otherwise it would be a huge disaster.

Q: You mentioned being around each other all the time. The wrestling business is tough on marriages because guys are on the road and away from home so much, but you alluded to the fact that traveling together has it positives and negatives.

A: Exactly. And sometimes it does get tough. But the thing is, we keep everything in perspective. Our job is our job, but our marriage is our marriage. We put each other first, and we make sure that we totally respect each other. I also have a little hint for all the women out there: Just let the man think that he’s right even though you know that you’re right. That alleviates a lot of arguments right there.

Q: You should talk to my wife.

A: (Laughs).

Q: Does Booker ever slip into character around the house and become King Booker?

A: Oh, my gosh, almost every other second of the day. He’s using this royal voice to talk to our dog and I’m just sitting there shaking my head and slapping my forehead. I’m like, “What are you doing?” But that goes back to he loves it so much. This is his passion and this is a great character. He loves portraying King Booker. We just have a lot of fun with it.

Q: At times, there has been a hint of conflict on-screen between you and Booker. In wrestling, there is a history of couples who break up on screen and then end up breaking up in real life. Is that something that you and Booker ever discuss or have concerns about?

A: Absolutely, it’s definitely something that we talk about. We’ve always said we can’t let this business come in between us; we can’t let this business break us up. Booker and I are partners in every sense of the word: personally, business-wise. I just want to see the best for him. I’m not jealous of his success; he’s not jealous of whatever attention I may get if I’m doing well on my job. But, yes, it is a constant concern because you can probably count on one hand, or a couple of fingers, the number of couples that have made it through in this industry. I’ve always said, though, the family that prays together stays together. And Booker and I pray together all the time, not only before and after all of his matches and the show – we pray for his safety as well as all the other guys and girls who are out there because anything can happen in this business – but we pray together when we’re at home. You’re married, so you know every married couple goes through challenges, especially when you’re together 24/7. So it is difficult, and we realize that marriage is work. But I love and adore my husband, and I can’t imagine my life without him. So I just keep focusing on that, and whatever problems we may have, we just work through them.

Q: The role of a good wrestling manager or valet is to enhance a wrestler and help him get over without overshadowing him. Is that something you take into account when you’re performing?

A: Absolutely. But the thing is, it’s easier for me because my husband has 17 years of experience in this business. He’s already huge, he’s already over, so I know my place. The fact that he can stand alone and he’s such a huge personality in this industry makes it even easier. There’s little chance that I’d ever overshadow him.

Q: There was a period of several years after WCW went down that you were out of wrestling. Was it tough, especially being married to a wrestler, to sit at home watching rather than being in the business performing?

A: You know, you’re the first person that has ever asked me that question. Yes, it was a very difficult transition for me. Even prior to wrestling, when I used to be a professional dancer touring with James Brown and all these other groups, I was still on the road. Sometimes I’d be gone for like three months at a time. Here, we’re maybe gone four days out of the week and home three. It’s a more consistent schedule, but you’re still on the road a lot. So when it came to the point where I was no longer involved and I was just at home, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I gained 10 pounds, I was trying to figure out what to do, so it was a very difficult adjustment period. I ended up going back to school, and once I got adjusted to that particular life, then WWE called me back, and I was like, “great,” because this is really where I want to be anyway.

Q: I remember back in WCW when all of the women were training under Madusa at the Power Plant in Atlanta, and I asked her who she thought was doing well. She said that if she had to single out one woman who could make it as a wrestler, it would be you. Do you have any regrets about not pursuing wrestling, or might you still get in the ring at some point?

A: Let me just tell you a quick little story. I saw Madusa – unfortunately, it was under a bad circumstance – not too long ago at Sherri Martel’s funeral. We got to have a long talk. Madusa was saying how Sherri taught her everything that she knows and kind of broke her into the business. And Madusa was saying how she kind of took to me at the Power Plant and really wanted to pass that on because I really was the one who was excelling and learning very fast. So, we had a long talk and I told her how much I appreciate that coming from her because she was an excellent worker, an excellent personality in the business and somebody great to look up to. She was really tough on me at the Power Plant, but I knew why. It never sent me home crying like some of the other girls. So I really appreciate her for that because it says a lot about her and it says a lot about the training that I put into it. Now having said that, I did have an injury from wrestling. I tore my ACL, my lateral meniscus and my joint capsule. That kind of put a little bit of trepidation in me when it comes to wrestling. I guess I feel more comfortable now doing what I’m doing because I get to stretch my acting chops and I’m more of a personality. That brings me more joy, but trust me, I am not opposed to getting into the ring because I did love that as well.

Q: You got into wrestling by joining the Nitro Girls, and I think you are the only one of the group who is still in wrestling. Do you keep in touch with any of them?

A: I keep in touch with them. Melissa, who was Spice, just recently had a baby boy, so I can’t wait to go see my little nephew. Chae is getting married Oct. 27, so I’m going to that wedding. Vanessa, who was Tygress, is still in Atlanta doing well. Teri, who was Fire, is working at the University of Phoenix – she’s doing great. All the girls, I keep in touch with them, and they’re doing great. Those are my sisters. I love them to death.

Q: How much did you know about wrestling before joining the Nitro Girls? Were you a fan?

A: My brother used to watch wrestling when we were growing up, so I would watch it with him periodically, but I sort of lost touch with it when I got into college. It wasn’t until after college that I got reconnected with it. I kind of wish I was a lifelong fan, but it was just kind of sporadic.

Q: Any thoughts or comments regarding Booker’s match with Triple H at SummerSlam on Sunday?

A: Triple H is coming back off of a very serious injury, so I’m not sure that “The Game” is going to be on top of his game. And even if he is on top of his game, it doesn’t matter, because I have the utmost faith in King Booker. King Booker is going to give Triple H a royal beat-down, and Queen Sharmell said so.