Ethel Johnson (wrestler)
American professional wrestler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
.jpeg)
May 14, 1935
| |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ethel Blanche Wingo May 14, 1935 Decatur, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | September 14, 2018 (aged 83) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
Cause of death | Heart disease |
| Spouse | 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] |
Professional wrestling career
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]
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 heart disease on September 14, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. She was 83.[1][8]
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
- Colored Women's World Championship (3 times)[9]
- Ohio Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Marva Scott[10]
- Texas Colored Women's Championship (2 times)[11]
- 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