Ethel Johnson (wrestler)

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]

Ethel Johnson
Birth name	Ethel Blanche Wingo
Born	(1935-05-14)May 14, 1935 Decatur, Georgia, U.S.
Died	September 14, 2018(2018-09-14) (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
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2021)