// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Beverly Shade a tree expert? Because she's a branching authority.

Beverly Shade
Personal information
Born	March 21, 1936; Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	June 2, 2023 (aged 87); Southaven, Mississippi, U.S.
Spouse	Billy Blue River (m. 1969)
Children	2
Professional wrestling career
Ring names	Beverly Blue River; Beverly Shade;
Billed height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Billed weight	145 lb (66 kg)
Trained by	Ella Waldek
Debut	1958
Retired	1989

Beverly Wenhold (March 21, 1936 – June 2, 2023), known by the ring name Beverly Shade, was an American professional wrestler. Her career spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, a fixture in the women's wrestling scene for decades. During her career, she held the NWA Women's Tag Team Championship.^[3]

Professional wrestling career

Shade began her training in 1957 under Ella Waldek, and would later adapt the nickname "The Hammer".^[2] Shade's first match occurred in Lakeland, Florida, where she participated in a battle royal.^[4] In August 1978, Shade alongside her trainee Natasha the Hatchet Lady won the NWA Women's Tag Team Championship.^[2]^[5] Later, she teamed with another trainee, Tracy Richards as The Arm & Hammer Connection.

Over the course of her wrestling career, Shade held titles such as the All-Star Wrestling Women's Championship twice.

Personal life and death

Shade was married to fellow wrestler Billy Blue River.^[2]^[6] They would team together in mixed matches as ‘Beverly Two River’. Billy also launched his outlaw group in Florida with Shade by his side. The couple had two sons.^[2]

Shade died from complications of lung cancer on June 2, 2023, at the age of 87.^[2]

Championships and accomplishments

All-Star Wrestling (Florida)
Title	Times / Year	Partner	Ref
Florida Women’s Championship	2×	—	^[7]
Cauliflower Alley Club
Honor	Year	Partner	Ref
Other honoree	2000	—	^[8]
International Wrestling Alliance (Florida)
Title	Times / Year	Partner	Ref
IWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship	1×	Tracy Richards	^[7]
National Wrestling Alliance
Title	Times / Year	Partner	Ref
NWA Women’s Tag Team Championship	1×	Natasha the Hatchet Lady	^[5]
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Honor	Year	Partner	Ref
Class of 2019	—	—	^[9]
Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame
Honor	Year	Partner	Ref
Class of 2023	—	—	^[6]^[10]

References

1 2 "Beverly Shade". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Casciaro, Joseph (June 2, 2023). "Women's Wrestling Great Beverly Shade Dies". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
↑ "Women's wrestling great Beverly Shade dies - Slam Wrestling". June 3, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
↑ Pollock, John (June 5, 2023). "Beverly Shade dies at 87 following health issues". Post Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
1 2 Schadler, Kyle (January 1, 2012). "Abandoned: The History of the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
1 2 Oliver, Greg (April 25, 2023). "A 'heartbreaking and beautiful' tribute to Beverly Shade". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
1 2 "Beverly Shade". Online World of Wrestling. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
↑ "Honorees". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
↑ Oliver, Greg (November 30, 2018). "Class of 2019 announced by Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
↑ Johnson, Mike (November 14, 2022). "First inductees announced for Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame". PWInsider.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.

External links

Beverly Shade's profile at Cagematch , Wrestlingdata

[OWW-1] 1 2 "Beverly Shade". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2023.

[slam-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Casciaro, Joseph (June 2, 2023). "Women's Wrestling Great Beverly Shade Dies". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.

[3] "Women's wrestling great Beverly Shade dies - Slam Wrestling". June 3, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.

[PostWrestling-4] Pollock, John (June 5, 2023). "Beverly Shade dies at 87 following health issues". Post Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.

[BleacherReport-5] 1 2 Schadler, Kyle (January 1, 2012). "Abandoned: The History of the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2021.

[slam2-6] 1 2 Oliver, Greg (April 25, 2023). "A 'heartbreaking and beautiful' tribute to Beverly Shade". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.

[:0-7] 1 2 "Beverly Shade". Online World of Wrestling. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.

[8] "Honorees". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.

[9] Oliver, Greg (November 30, 2018). "Class of 2019 announced by Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.

[10] Johnson, Mike (November 14, 2022). "First inductees announced for Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame". PWInsider.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.

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v t e NWA World Women's Tag Team Champions
N/A	Ella Waldek and Mae Young
1950s	June Byers and Millie Stafford June Byers and Mary Jane Mull Daisy Mae and Golden Venus Carol Cook and Ruth Boatcallie Lorraine Johnson and Penny Banner Bonnie Watson and Penny Banner June Byers and Mars Bennett Betty Jo Hawkins and Penny Banner Barbara Baker and June Byers June Byers and Ethel Johnson Lorraine Johnson and Millie Stafford Kay Noble and Lolita Martinez
1960s	Adrienne Ames and Pat Lyda The Fabulous Moolah and Patty Nelson
1970s	The Fabulous Moolah and Toni Rose Donna Christanello and Kathy O'Day Donna Christanello and Toni Rose Sandy Parker and Susan Green Joyce Grable and Vicki Williams Beverly Shade and Natasha the Hatchet Lady Judy Martin and Leilani Kai
1980s	Joyce Grable and Wendi Richter Princess Victoria and Sabrina Penny Mitchell and Velvet McIntyre
2020s	The Hex (Allysin Kay and Marti Belle) Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy and Kenzie Paige) Renegade Twins (Charlette Renegade and Robyn Renegade) Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy and Roxy) M95 (Madi Wrenkowski and Missa Kate) Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy and Kylie Paige) The King Bees (Charity King and Danni Bee) The It Girls (Ella Envy and Miss Star) Kenzie Paige and Big Mama TVMA (Tiffany Nieves and Valentina Rossi) Pretty Empowered (Kenzie Paige and Kylie Paige) (current)

v t e Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees
2023	Babs Wingo Beverly Shade Cora Livingston Donna Christanello Ethel Johnson Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Iryna Merleni Jazz Luna Vachon Madusa Marva Scott Mildred Burke Rita Chatterton Sue Green Toni Rose
2024	Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnson Baby Doll Candi Devine Clarissa Chun Debbie Johnson Francine Heidi Lee Morgan Jacqueline Moore Texas Cowgirls (Joyce Grable and Wendi Richter) June Byers Kimona Wanalaya Ladies Professional Wrestling Association Lisa Marie Varon Melissa Coates Mike McGuirk Missy Hyatt Nicole Bass Peggy Lee Leather Priscilla Gagné Rockin' Robin Sherri Martel Suzie Tanner Vivian Vachon
2025	Agnieszka Wieszczek Angelina Love Chyna La Dama Enmascarada Dark Journey Darling Dagmar Dawn Marie Psaltis Debra Marshall Desiree Petersen Hollywood Jumping Bomb Angels (Itsuki Yamazaki and Noriyo Tateno) Kaori Icho Kathleen Wimbley Kristina Laum Mercedes Martinez Misty Blue Simmes Ramona Isabella Risako Kinjo Sandy Parker Saraya Knight Wendi Richter Wingo Sisters (Babs Wingo, Ethel Johnson, and Marva Scott)