Cherry (American wrestler)

American professional wrestler (born 1975)

Cherry

Cherry in 2008

Birth name| Kara Elizabeth Drew[1]
Born|  (1975-07-15) July 15, 1975 (age 50)[1]
Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.[1][2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)| Cherry[1]
Cherry Pie[1]
Kara
Kara Slice[1]
Billed height| 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1][2]
Billed weight| 130 lb (59 kg)[1][2]
Billed from| "The Other Side of the Tracks"[3]
Trained by| East Coast Pro Wrestling[4]
Ohio Valley Wrestling[4]
Gino Caruso[5]
Debut| January 1999
Retired| November 2008

Kara Elizabeth Drew (born July 15, 1975) is an American retired professional wrestler and valet, better known under the ring name Cherry. She is best known for her tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), as the manager of former Tag Team Champions Deuce 'n Domino.

After becoming interested in wrestling, Drew worked on the independent circuit under the ring names Miss Kara and Kara Slice. She was assigned to WWE's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in Louisville, Kentucky in 2005, to continue her wrestling training. While situated at OVW, she used the name Cherry Pie, and she was the manager of the group known as "The Throw-Backs" and later as "The Untouchables", consisting of Deuce Shade and Dice Domino. Cherry managed them to three reigns as OVW Southern Tag Team Champions.

After signing with WWE, the group were called up to the SmackDown! roster in January 2007, where the team underwent a name change to Deuce 'n Domino. Cherry managed the team to one reign as WWE Tag Team Champions. In April 2008, she made her WWE singles debut and parted ways with Deuce and Domino the following month. She continued working in singles and tag team competition, before being released from her WWE contract in August 2008.

## Professional wrestling career

[edit]

### Early career (1999–2005)

[edit]

Drew grew up in Morristown, New Jersey.[2] She became a fan of professional wrestling after watching the first WrestleMania event in 1985. Her favorite wrestlers included Miss Elizabeth and Macho Man Randy Savage.[2][6] Drew never thought she would get the opportunity to become a professional wrestler, but one of her co-workers was related to the founder and promoter of Stars and Stripes Championship Wrestling based in Nutley, New Jersey,[6] where she debuted under the ring name Miss Kara.

She was invited to attend Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF) shows by Kevin Knight and received an "up close and personal" look from a "behind the scenes" perspective.[6] In January 1999, Drew began working as a manager in IWF.[5] She worked as a manager and an occasional wrestler in various federations on the East Coast,[5] including East Coast Pro Wrestling (ECPW), the National Wrestling Alliance in New Jersey, ISPW, State-Side Championship Wrestling and Northeast Wrestling.[6]

In 2002, she worked for National Wrestling Superstars,[7][8] and later with Phoenix Championship Wrestling, where she feuded with Alexis Laree.[9] By 2003, she was working primarily as a singles competitor.[5][10] She wrestled in various independent promotions until September 2005. The same year, Drew started wrestling for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), the developmental territory for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and relocated to Louisville, Kentucky.[11]

### World Wrestling Entertainment

[edit]

#### Ohio Valley Wrestling (2005–2007)

[edit]

In late 2005, Drew began working for OVW. She eventually signed a developmental contract with WWE in January 2006.[12]

Drew used the ring name "Cherry Pie" and was the manager of the tag team The Throw-Backs, comprising Deuce Shade and Dice Domino, the latter of whom was her storyline brother, in OVW.[1] She became part of their 1950s in-ring persona,[13] wearing poodle skirts and roller skates and chewing gum at all times.[5]

In mid-2006, during their time together, the team underwent an image change, including changing their name to "The Untouchables" and dropping Pie, Dice, and Shade from their respective names.[1] In late 2006, the team of Shawn Spears and Cody Runnels defeated The Untouchables in a tag team match and won the services of Cherry.[1][14] Cherry accompanied Spears and Runnels to ringside, and soon Spears began to have a crush on her, which began interfering in their matches.[1][15][16] Cherry betrayed Spears and Runnels, however, and helped Deuce and Domino win the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.[1][17] In January 2007, Cherry twice challenged Katie Lea for the OVW Women's Championship unsuccessfully.[1]

#### SmackDown! (2007–2008)

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Main article: Deuce 'n Domino

Cherry during a house show in February 2007

For their first match with WWE, where they debuted on the SmackDown! brand, the team underwent a name change to "Deuce 'n Domino". They debuted on the January 19, 2007, episode, where she managed Deuce 'n Domino in a tag team match, which Deuce 'n Domino won.[18] During this time that Cherry was rarely physically involved in their matches. On the April 20 episode of SmackDown!, Cherry was in the corner of Deuce 'n Domino when they won the WWE Tag Team Championship by defeating Paul London and Brian Kendrick.[19][20]

On the October 12 episode of SmackDown!, in a backstage segment, Jamie Noble revealed to Deuce and Domino that he had heard Jimmy Wang Yang making suggestive comments about Cherry. Later that episode, Yang defeated Deuce in a singles match. After the match, however, Deuce 'n Domino double-teamed him, and Cherry slapped Yang.[21] This later developed into a feud between Deuce and Domino, and Yang and his partner, Shannon Moore.[22] At the beginning of 2008, the team suffered a series of losses.[1]

On the March 7, 2008, episode of SmackDown, Cherry competed in a Swimsuit Contest, along Maryse, Victoria, Eve Torres, and Michelle McCool.[23][24] On the March 28 episode of SmackDown, Cherry transformed into a fan favorite by teaming with McCool to defeat Victoria and Maryse.[25] She made her WWE singles match debut defeating Victoria with a roll-up, following a distraction from McCool, on the April 18 episode of SmackDown.[26] On April 27, at the Backlash pay-per-view, Cherry made her pay-per-view debut in a 12-Diva tag team match, which her team lost.[27]

In a video posted to WWE's official website, she was dumped by Deuce and Domino for Maryse when they announced that they wanted nothing more to do with her after her unannounced departure from them. Maryse proceeded to provoke Cherry after their announcement, only to get slapped for her troubles.[28] She went on to pick up a singles victory over Maryse.[29] Cherry then went on into a minor feud with Natalya, who debuted with a win over Cherry via the Sharpshooter, a submission move.[30] Over the following weeks, Natalya continued to defeat Cherry, including at Vickie Guerrero's wedding. As a condition of catching Guererro's bouquet, Cherry won a match against Guerrero, but first had to face Natalya, who defeated her with the Sharpshooter.[31] Following this loss, Guererro immediately had a match with Cherry, quickly pinning her for the victory.[31] Cherry was released from her WWE contract on August 15, 2008.[32][33]

### Return to independent circuit (2008–present)

[edit]

After being released from World Wrestling Entertainment, Drew returned to the independent circuit.[1] She began wrestling with Northeast Wrestling under the ring name Cherry Pie.[1] On October 18, 2008, she teamed up with Jerry Lawler and defeated Romeo Roselli and Velvet Sky in a mixed tag team match.[1] Her last match was a victory over Miss April who later became AJ Lee in WWE at Wrestling National Superstars in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Thirteen years after the separation, Drew along with Treiber and Reiher have reformed the Deuce 'n Domino stable and now accept bookings on the independent circuit.[34]

## Championships and accomplishments

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* Jersey Championship Wrestling
* JCW Women's Championship (1 time)
* Women Superstars Uncensored
* WSU/NWS King and Queen Tournament (2005) – with Julio Dinero
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* Ranked No. 27 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2008[35]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Cherry profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
2. ^ a b c d e "Miss Kara Slice". G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
3. ^ "Cherry WWE Alumni Bio". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
4. ^ a b "WWE Superstars — Cherry". Bodyslamming. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
5. ^ a b c d e "Cherry". Carlson316Wrestling.net. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
6. ^ a b c d "Miss Kara — OWOW". Official Women Of Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
7. ^ Murphy, Chad (September 29, 2002). "Indy News: Solo Snuka, Road Warriors, Lawler, Dusty, CZW". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
8. ^ "NWSuperstars in Sayreville: Disco vs. Simon, Malice, Rocco salute". Pro Wrestling Torch. September 30, 2002. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
9. ^ McHugh, Eric (November 3, 2002). "11/2 PCW: Dallas Page, Malice vs. Devon Storm headlines". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
10. ^ Koeller, Jon (June 9, 2003). "Indy News and Results: Tito Santana, Demolition Ax, Tony Atlas". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
11. ^ "WWE Profile — Cherry". Gerweck.net. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
12. ^ Martin, Adam (January 18, 2006). "Torrie/Candice/Maria interview, new developmental talent, Dalip Singh". WrestleView. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
13. ^ "Ohio Valley Wrestling — January 18, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. January 18, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
14. ^ "Ohio Valley Wrestling — November 08, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. November 8, 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
15. ^ "Ohio Valley Wrestling — November 15, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. November 15, 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
16. ^ "Ohio Valley Wrestling — November 22, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. November 22, 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
17. ^ "Ohio Valley Wrestling — December 6, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. December 6, 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
18. ^ McNamara, Andy (January 20, 2007). "Smackdown: The Animal loses control". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
19. ^ DiFino, Lennie (April 20, 2007). "Mayhem in Milan". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
20. ^ "History of the WWE Yag Team Championship: Deuce & Domino". World Wrestling Entertainment. April 20, 2007. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
21. ^ Martin, Adam (October 12, 2007). "Smackdown Results – 10/12/07 – Detroit, MI (Taker & Kane team up)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
22. ^ DiFino, Lennie (October 19, 2007). "Interactive altercations". WrestleView. World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
23. ^ Passero, Mitch (March 7, 2008). "Fired-up for Florida". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
24. ^ Rote, Andrew (March 7, 2008). "Help spice up SmackDown with your vote". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
25. ^ Martin, Adam (March 28, 2008). "Smackdown Results – 3/28/08 – Fayetteville, NC (Mania hype — more)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
26. ^ Passero, Mitch (April 18, 2008). "Anarchy in the U.K." World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
27. ^ "Backlash PPV Results". WrestleView. April 27, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
28. ^ "WWE.com Exclusive: Cherry's night goes from bad to worse". World Wrestling Entertainment. May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
29. ^ Adam, Martin (May 16, 2008). "Smackdown Results – 5/16/08 – Grand Rapids, MI – (6 on 1 Handicap)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
30. ^ Martin, Adam (July 11, 2008). "Smackdown Results – 7/11/08 – Baton Rouge, LA (Edge vs Big Show)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
31. ^ a b Tedesco, Mike (July 18, 2008). "Smackdown Results – 7/18/08 – Charlotte, NC (HHH crashes wedding)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
32. ^ "WWE releases several Superstars, referee Wes Adams". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
33. ^ Martin, Adam (August 20, 2008). "A look at the most recent six WWE cuts, some backstage notes & more". WrestleView. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
34. ^ "Deuce, Domino, and Cherry Now Accepting Worldwide Bookings for the First Time in a Decade | Fightful News". March 12, 2021.
35. ^ "The PWI Female 50 Rankings: Who Is The Top Women's Wrestler In The World?". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. PWPix.net. September 18, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2008.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kara Drew.

* Cherry on WWE.com
* Cherry on Twitter
* Cherry on Instagram
* Cherry's profile at WWE.com , Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database