By Brittnee’ Jones
Growing up as a wrestling fan, there was a very small amount of Women in the ring who looked like me. I remember Jacqueline, Sapphire and Queen Sharmelle (Booker T’s wife) and I honestly thought they were the legit first black women in the ring. However, when I got older, I discovered that I was completely wrong. Not only were black women wrestling before them, they date back to the early 1950s!! When I discovered this, I immediately did my research! Three women, biological Sisters who grew up during the Jim Crow era where it was hard for black people to make it, sought out on a journey to become professional wrestlers. Ethel Johnson, Marva Scott and Babs Wing along with their best friend Kathleen Wimbley began training at the YMCA in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio. While training, they caught the attention of a local wrestling promoter Billy Wolfe. Through his guide, Babs was the first to go pro followed by Kathleen, Ethel and then Marva,
In 1952, WIngo, Wimbley and Johnson worked a tag match in Baltimore, Maryland (the main event) in which it drew over 3,000 fans. Two years later, Johnson and Wingo competed in a singles’ match in Kansas City, Missouri. This event drew a record breaking 9,000 fans. To receive these numbers during a time of segregation is beyond astonishing! While all of the Sisters including Wimbley gained much success as wrestlers, Ethel Johnson was the most successful of the four. She was deemed “The Biggest Attraction to hit Pro Wrestling”. She was also billed the first Negro Women’s Champion in 1957. Their success altogether made them four of the highest earning women’s wrestlers at that time. Despite racism, sexism, segregation locally and internationally along with many other obstacles, they fought through it all to remain pro wrestlers. Without them, there would be no Alicia Fox, Sasha Banks, Naomi, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Their story is one for the ages and this story is one that needs to be told.
That being said, I had the extreme honor of interviewing Chris Bournea. Writer and Director of Lady Wrestler: The Amazing Untold Story of African American Women in the Ring. In this documentary, Bournea tells the story of Wing, Johnson and Scott and their journey toward their success as Pro Wrestlers in the 1950s! During the interview Bournea states his motivation to branch out on a journey to make sure their story is heard! A portion of his documentary was also highlighted on the A&E network!
The link to the interview is located on The Culture Cast’s Spotify (IG: @culturecastpod) the link is posted below.
You can also rent or purchase “Lady Wrestler” on Amazon!!
Cover art for Lady Wrestler (credit: Chris Bournea)
Ethel Johnson
Marva Scott
Babs Wingo
News Article featuring Ethel Johnson (far left) and Kathleen Wimbley (middle)