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Ethel Johnson (wrestler)
Bagumba: ←Created page with ''''Ethel Blanche Hairston''' ( '''Wingo'''; May 14, 1935 – Sept. 14, 2018) was an American professional wrestler whose ring name was '''Ethel Jo...'
'''Ethel Blanche Hairston''' ( '''Wingo'''; May 14, 1935 – Sept. 14, 2018) was an American [[professional wrestler]] whose [[ring name]] was '''Ethel Johnson'''.<ref name=genzilenger></ref><ref></ref> She debuted at age 16,<ref name=erdman></ref> becoming the first African-American [[Women's professional wrestling|women's wrestler]].<ref name=jet></ref> She was a fan favorite, billed as "the biggest attraction to hit girl wrestling since girl wrestling began."<ref name=jet/><ref name=laprade></ref>
Johnson was born Ethel Blanche Wingo in [[Decatur, Georgia]], to Gladys Chase and Clifford Wingo. 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.<ref name=genzilenger/> 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.<ref name=erdman/> She retired in 1977 without ever performing there.<ref name=laprade/>
Johnson died of [[heart disease]] on September 14, 2018, in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. She was 83.<ref name=genzilenger/>
==References==
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:African-American female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:People from Decatur, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from DeKalb County, Georgia]]
Johnson was born Ethel Blanche Wingo in [[Decatur, Georgia]], to Gladys Chase and Clifford Wingo. 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.<ref name=genzilenger/> 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.<ref name=erdman/> She retired in 1977 without ever performing there.<ref name=laprade/>
Johnson died of [[heart disease]] on September 14, 2018, in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. She was 83.<ref name=genzilenger/>
==References==
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:African-American female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:People from Decatur, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from DeKalb County, Georgia]]
November 26, 2019 at 10:04PM
