Ethel Johnson: Black Woman Who Broke Barriers in Wrestling

Ethel Blanche Hairston is known to wrestling fans as Ethel Johnson. When she stepped into the ring as a teenager in the early 1950s, she was not just starting a professional career. She was breaking down barriers of race and gender in one of America’s toughest entertainment sports.

Ethel Blanche Wingo was born on May 14, 1935, in Decatur, Georgia. She redefined what women could achieve in professional wrestling.

A Pioneer in Every Sense

Johnson got into wrestling through her family and circumstances. She trained under the legendary women’s wrestler Mildred Burke and made her professional debut at 16. It is a remarkable achievement in a sport dominated by white athletes and male promoters.

She entered an industry still grappling with segregation and Jim Crow laws. Touring the country often meant sleeping in the car after venues and hotels refused to allow Black wrestlers.

Yet she kept going, bringing skill and charisma to a sport that rarely celebrated women of color. “It wasn’t just about wrestling,” one historical account notes, “It was about being seen. Being respected.”

Breaking Records

Johnson quickly became a star on the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) circuit. By the mid-1950s, alongside her older sister Babs and younger sister Marva Scott, she was among the top attractions in women’s wrestling.

At a 1954 event in Kansas City, the sisters shared the spotlight with Gorgeous George, pulling in a crowd of 9,000 fans. This is a significant turnout for a female match during that time.

Her wrestling style was ahead of its era. Known for her athleticism, Johnson is credited as one of the first female wrestlers to perform a standing dropkick and aerial headscissors. These were moves that went well beyond the basic holds typical in women’s wrestling of her time.

In 1956, she and partner June Byers won the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship, marking her one of the most successful female wrestlers of her generation.

Trailblazer Facing Realities

Despite her success, Johnson’s journey was complex. She is often described as the first African American female champion in wrestling history, though her family clarifies that her sister Babs was actually the first Black woman to compete professionally.

Her family’s response to Johnson’s 2021 induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing highlighted her historical significance and the difficulties in honoring her legacy.

According to reports, Johnson’s granddaughter, Michaiah Goodwin, publicly criticized WWE for using footage of another wrestler during the ceremony. She stated: “If you’re going to represent her, represent her CORRECTLY! Ethel Johnson was the FIRST BLACK CHAMPION EVER!”

Her daughter Shelly Adams emphasized the importance of this distinction: “She needs to be inducted as the first African American female champion.”

Legacy Beyond the Ring

Johnson wrestled professionally for over two decades. Her last match took place in 1976, where she faced her sister Marva Scott in the ring. This brings her nearly 25-year career to a full circle.

She retired during a time when women’s wrestling was still fighting for recognition and opportunities. She never competed at major venues like Madison Square Garden because women’s bouts were banned in her prime.

However, her influence is felt through generations of Black female wrestlers who came after her.

Ethel Johnson died of heart disease on September 14, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio, at age 83. She left behind a legacy of determination, athleticism, and quiet revolution.

Today, as women’s wrestling reaches its highest popularity and Black female stars headline major events, Johnson’s pioneering life is finally receiving recognition. Her story is a testament to the power of persistence. She proved that professional wrestling was a stage on which Black women could shine.