Ethel Johnson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ethel Blanche Wingo |
Born | Decatur, Georgia, U.S. | May 14, 1935
Died | September 14, 2018 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 83)
Cause of death | Heart disease |
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 (née Wingo; May 14, 1935 – September 14, 2018) was an American professional wrestler whose ring name was Ethel Johnson.[1][3] She debuted at age 16,[4] becoming the first African-American women's champion.[5][4] She was a fan favorite, billed as "the biggest attraction to hit girl wrestling since girl wrestling began."[5][6]
Johnson started her training after her sister Babs Wingo, the first African-American woman to desegregate professional wrestling, in the 1950s, signing with the promoter Billy Wolfe. Their younger sister Marva Scott would later join professional wrestling as well.[4] In 1952, Johnson, along with her sisters worked three matches including a tag team match in the main event at Baltimore, Maryland, which drew the highest record crowd of 3,611 fans.[4] By 1954, Johnson and Wingo received top billing alongside Gorgeous George, after drawing 9,000 fans at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.[4] While touring Latin America, Johnson worked under the name Rita Valdez.
Johnson was known for her athleticism, being one of the first female wrestlers to perform a standing dropkick in her matches, as well as including a variation of the flying headscissors[1][2]
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]
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 heart disease on September 14, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. She was 83.[1][8]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African American Women in the Ring | Herself | Documentary |