Eddie Sharkey

Background

His father, Tom Shyman, was a first-generation immigrant from Poland who worked in the liquor-display business.

Career

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, and Austin Aries. Growing up in south Minneapolis, Eddie Sharkey was a huge wrestling fan. Eddie Shyman didn"t become "Eddie Sharkey" until he began his professional wrestling career.

Eddie 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.

Aging with Attitude years

Eddie 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 Aging with Attitude over a disagreement with promoter Verne Gagne.

Pro Wrestling America

While working at Gramma B"s, Eddie 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 & The Lightning Kid (Sean Waltman), and The Hater & 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.

Finishing moves

Small package

Cauliflower Alley Club

National Wrestling Alliance

NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Central States version) (1 time).

Achievements

• In June 2006, Sharkey was presented with the Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cauliflower Alley Club Convention. Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award (2006).