Ethel Johnson (wrestler)
Ethel Johnson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ethel Blanche Wingo |
Born | Heart disease | May 14, 1935
Spouse(s) | Leon Hairston (–2010)[1] |
Children | 3[1] |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Ethel Johnson Rita Valdez |
Billed height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1] |
Billed weight | 115 lb (52 kg)[1] |
Trained by | Mildred Burke[2] |
Debut | 1952[2] |
Retired | 1976[2] |
Ethel Blanche Hairston (
Professional wrestling career
Johnson started her training after her sister Babs Wingo, the first African-American woman to
Johnson was known for her athleticism, being one of the first female wrestlers to perform a
During her time in wrestling, Johnson faced popular wrestlers at the time such as June Byers and Penny Banner, and even challenging Mildred Burke for her NWA World Women's Championship.[7] Eventually, Johnson caught Stu Hart's eye and began working for his promotion Big Time Wrestling as well as wrestling for the Capitol Wrestling Corporation.[2] In her final years in wrestling, Johnson worked at American Wrestling Association, where her last match was against her sister Marva Scott, in 1976.[2]
Personal life
Johnson was born Ethel Blanche Wingo in Decatur, Georgia, to Gladys Chase and Clifford Wingo on May 14, 1935.[1] Johnson had two other wrestling sisters: her older sister, Betty (ring name: Babs Wingo), and younger sister, Marva (ring name: Marva Scott).
Johnson took her stage name to differentiate her from Betty, who became a professional at about the same time. They often wrestled each other, but many fans would not know that they were related.[1] Johnson said it was every women's wrestlers' dream to perform in Madison Square Garden, but women's wrestling was banned in New York during her prime.[4] She retired in 1977 without ever performing there.[6]
Johnson died of
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African American Women in the Ring | Herself | Documentary |
Championships and accomplishments
- Independent
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with June Byers[12]
- Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2023[13]
- WWE
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Genzlinger, Neil (November 25, 2019). "Ethel Johnson, Early Black Wrestling Star, Is Dead at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Greet, Jamie (February 1, 2018). "The Pioneers: Ethel Johnson: The First African-American Female Wrestler (VIDEO)". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ Gary, Marlan (21 September 2018). "Ethel Blanche Hairston". TheChapelOfPeace.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Erdman, Corey (March 23, 2018). "The Forgotten Story of the First Black Female Wrestlers". Vice. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- ^ ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9781773050140. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- ^ Lindsey, Philip (February 12, 2019). "WWE's bewildering exclusion of first black women wrestlers". Diva Dirt. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ "Ethel Hairston Obituary - Columbus, OH: The Columbus Dispatch". Legacy.com.
- ^ "Colored Women's World Title". wrestling-titles.com.
- ^ "Ohio Women's Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com.
- ^ "Texas Colored Women's Title". wrestling-titles.com.
- ^ Garcia, Raphael (March 20, 2020). "Black History Month In Wrestling Spotlight: Ethel Johnson". Daily DDT.
- ^ "FIRST INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED FOR WOMEN'S WRESTLING HALL OF FAME | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
External links
- Ethel Johnson's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database