The world of professional wrestling has seen countless athletes grace its stages, but the contributions of African American women often go unacknowledged. This article aims to shed light on the pioneering Black female pro wrestlers who broke barriers and redefined the sport.
It's important to remember that history, especially within media, can be fragile. The early days of television often saw tapes reused, leading to the loss of countless hours of history. This issue is compounded when considering how infrequently Black people appeared on screen during those times.
Ethel Johnson, one of the first African-American female wrestlers.
The Pioneers of the Mat
Let’s start at the beginning when four black females changed the landscape of black women wrestling forever. These women managed to succeed in the male-dominated world of pro wrestling against all odds. They raised families while blazing a trail for female athletes long before many of the breakthroughs of the civil rights and feminist movements occurred.
To begin, there are Ethel Johnson, Babs Wingo, Kathleen Wimbley, and Marva Scott, all of whom came to prominence during the heyday of women’s wrestling in the early twentieth century. Johnson is often regarded as the world’s first black female wrestler, with the other three women following closely after. In spite of the fact that all four of the ladies were great athletes, Johnson was the most naturally athletic and the most popular with the audience. Aside from that, she was a trailblazer in the application of the standing dropkick.
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They were drawing 9,000 people to the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City by 1954, when they shared the stage with Gorgeous George, one of the most renowned wrestlers of all time. Both Johnson and Wingo would go on to challenge Burke for the NWA women’s title once. Scott was rated third in the world by Ring Magazine in December 1968, ahead of then-NWA champion Moolah, who was placed fourteenth in the same issue. When it came to the women’s ring skills, even on a night that featured Hall of Famer Dory Funk Sr., the spotlight was always on the ladies.
Even though they achieved great success and prosperity at a period when Jim Crow laws were still in effect, the sisters’ achievements and affluence during this period cannot be overstated, it is a little-known chapter in American history. Wrestling was a popular sport for women, even if they had to deal with the accepted prejudice of the period (in Lady Wrestler, Johnson writes about how vacations to southern states frequently entailed women hiding in the trunk while traveling with a white person), but they were still popular.
With the exception of a few stylistic peculiarities of the time period, the film that exists of them seems to be footage from a match from the 1980s or early 1990s in the United States. Johnson was a highly nimble fighter in the ring, delivering dropkicks, a variant of flying head scissors, and the atomic drop, which was hailed as a feat of athleticism by the press at the time.
Eventually, Ethel Johnson faced off against her mentor, Mildred Burke, for the NWA World Women’s Championship. Johnson won. Unfortunately, she was never able to win the championship or acquire the level of notoriety that she seems destined to accomplish. Despite this, she and her contemporaries set the path for a generation of African American women who followed in their footsteps. It’s a real pity that their story isn’t being told more widely at this point.
The formula that was used - “sex, muscles and diamonds” - changed the image of combat sports. Promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, world champion Mildred Burke, sold glamour and action. The women entered the ring dressed like Hollywood starlets, doing battle in satin bathing suits and tight leotards while performing some of the industry’s most difficult moves and introducing new ones, which became their signature. Johnson’s flying dropkick and other aerial maneuvers made the women more exciting to watch than the men.
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Wolfe became the first promoter to welcome Black women into the wrestling ranks in the early ’50s with Babs Wingo of Columbus, Ohio. Wingo fought against Burke in the first integrated women’s championship match around 1952. Her sisters Ethel Johnson and Marva Scott, along with Kathleen Wimbley and other Black women, soon joined. The “Negro lady wrestlers,” as they were known, were fierce and fabulous. The public’s curiosity made them the next big thing in wrestling. Segregated audiences clamored to see these female gladiators with their strong, muscular physiques. The rest, as they say, is history.
For 13 years, journalist and filmmaker Chris Bournea labored to unearth the history of these African-American pioneers. His research began in 2005 in his native Columbus, the home of women’s wrestling. Bournea followed up - and ended up with the great fortune of interviewing Columbus native Ethel Johnson, the first Black female wrestling champ.
Representatives of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s annual Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus read Bournea’s article on Johnson. They said they had never heard the history of these amazing wresters and were wondering if Bournea could help them get in touch with Johnson so they could honor her with a lifetime-achievement award. Having an international superstar acknowledge Johnson motivated Bournea to continue his research into women’s wrestling. He soon uncovered the hidden history of these unsung “sheroes.”
Training and Athleticism
Ethel, her sisters Marva and Babs, Kathleen Wimbley and others were among the first Black women to train in Billy Wolfe’s gym as part of his fighter-development program. They trained with his more experienced white female fighters, having medicine balls thrown into their stomachs, lifting weights, [doing] deep knee bends, practicing wrestling techniques, flipping over the ropes.
Through this type of training, the women really developed the endurance of an Olympic athlete.
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Modern Era Trailblazers
African-American women (and men) have been trailblazers in women’s wrestling from the start of USA fielding teams. Women’s wrestling at the Olympic Games (2004), in College (1994), & World Championships (1987) is a relatively new phenomenon.
Here are some of the modern era trailblazers:
- Tamyra Mensah-Stock became the first African-American Olympic Champion at the 2020 Tokyo Games and second African-American women wrestler to be crowned World Champion in 2019. She accomplished this feat at 68kg and also won another World Championships gold medal in 2022, a silver medal in 2021 and bronze medals in 2021, 2018. In college, she was a 2X WCWA National Champion and 4X all-American for Wayland Baptist University.
- Leia Kawaii was the first African-American World Championships medalist for Team USA women’s wrestling in 1989. The inaugural women’s world championships was held in 1987 and Team USA first fielded a women’s wrestling team in 1989. Kawaii wrestled for Team USA at 2 World Championships winning a silver medal in 1989 at 70kg and placing 6th at the World Championships in 1991 at 75kg.
- Tocarra Montgomery was the first African-American Olympic wrestler at the inaugural Olympic Games for women’s wrestling in 2004 at 72kg. Montgomery also won 2 silver medals at World Championships in 2001 at 68kg & 2003 at 72kg. For her accomplishments as an athlete, Montgomery was named FILA International Female Wrestler of the Year in 2001.
- Randi Miller became the first African-American female Olympic Medalist by winning a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at 63kg.
- Iris Smith was the first African-American female wrestler to win a World Championship (2005) gold medal and first black woman to win a world wrestling title for the WCAP - where she was also a Military World Champion (2010).
- Tina George became the first African-American multi World Championships medalist in 2002 & 2003 by winning silver medals in back to back years at 55kg.
- Kelsey Campbell became the third consecutive African-American, in as many Olympic Games, for women’s wrestling in 2012.
- Leigh Jaynes was a 2015 World Championships bronze medalist at age 34 making her the oldest African-American woman to win a world medal.
- Vicki Anthony made 2 World Teams for USA placing 5th in 2013 & 2017. She also was a 2X Jr. World Champion in 2009 & 2010.
Tamyra Mensah-Stock, the first African-American Olympic Champion in wrestling.
Coaching Pioneers
African-American coaches have also played a crucial role in the development of women's wrestling. Here are some notable figures:
- Roye Oliver was the first African-American to coach Team USA women’s wrestling at the World Championships from 1993-1997.
- Olympic Silver Medalist Townsend Saunders became the first African-American to coach Team USA at the inaugural Olympic Games for women’s wrestling in 2004 helping Team USA win 2 medals.
- Shon Lewis & Duane Martin are both the first African-American coaches of the Army World Class Athlete Program women’s team.
- Brian Jackson became the first (or second - see below) African-American head women’s wrestling college coach in 2005 at Missouri Baptist University.
- Tyreece Gilder enters his 10th season as an African-American women’s head wrestling coach at Waldorf University.
- Amond Prater was an African-American “dual” coach at Fontbonne University from 2019-2022.
- Kirwyn Adderley was named women's head wrestling coach at Missouri Baptist University in March of 2022 after serving as assistant coach at MBU in 2021.
- LeRoy Gardner is the third African-American “dual” coach being recognized here.
- Devane Dodgens became the first head women's wrestling coach at Linsdey Wilson College in January 2024.
- Breonnah Neal became the first African-American female head women’s wrestling college coach at Frostburg State University in March of 2023.
- Shannyn J. Gillespie was named head coach for Lakeland University (WI) Women's Wrestling team in September 2020 and is also the first African-American to lead women's wrestling in Lakeland's 6-year history. Gillespie is also credited as the first (or second - see above & below) African-American head women’s wrestling college coach as he began in 2004 at Northern Michigan University.
These coaches have not only guided athletes to success but have also served as role models and mentors, inspiring the next generation of wrestlers.
Here's a table summarizing some of the key milestones:
| Achievement | Name | Year |
|---|---|---|
| First African-American Female Wrestler | Ethel Johnson | Early 1950s |
| First African-American World Championships Medalist | Leia Kawaii | 1989 |
| First African-American Olympic Wrestler | Tocarra Montgomery | 2004 |
| First African-American Female Olympic Medalist | Randi Miller | 2008 |
| First African-American Female World Champion | Iris Smith | 2005 |
| First African-American Olympic Champion | Tamyra Mensah-Stock | 2020 |
Despite any number of cringe-to-flat out racist moments in wrestling’s long history, we’ve come a long way from Bearcat Wright and Bobo Brazil fighting for pro wrestling’s desegregation. From The World’s Strongest Man to New Day to Bianca Belair making history as the longest-reigning Black singles champion in WWE history (with her record 420-day reign as Raw Women's Champion), these 15 superstars overcame the industry's creative handcuffs to build legacies that transcended sports entertainment.
Here are 15 Black superstars who didn't just compete, they redefined wrestling:
- Booker T
- The Rock
- Kofi Kingston
- Mark Henry
- Sasha Banks / Mercedes Mone
- Junkyard Dog
- Ron Simmons / Farooq
- Bobby Lashley
- Bianca Belair
- D’Von Dudley
- Big E
- Jacqueline
- Naomi
- Shelton Benjamin
- Jazz
Black wrestlers have been revolutionizing the sport for the better part of a century. It’s a real pity that their story isn’t being told more widely at this point.
