| Ethel Johnson | |
| Names: | Ethel Johnson Rita Valdez |
| Birth Name: | Ethel Blanche Wingo |
| Height: | [1] |
| Weight: | 115lb |
| Birth Date: | May 14, 1935 |
| Birth Place: | Decatur, Georgia, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Death Cause: | Heart disease |
| Spouse: | Leon Hairston (–2010) |
| Children: | 3 |
| Trainer: | Mildred Burke[2] |
| Debut: | 1952 |
| Retired: | 1976 |
Ethel Blanche Hairston (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]