Babs Wingo, Ethel Johnson and Marva Scott – sisters who became the first African American female pro wrestlers in the 1950s – will be inducted into the Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame (WWHOF www.womenswrestlinghalloffame.com ) on March 9, 2024, during the OUC-Shoemaker Center during the World Classic Professional Big Time Wrestling event in Chillicothe, Ohio. The three pioneers were originally supposed to be inducted into the inaugural class last year, however they decided to wait for a big event in their home state. Also inducted that evening will be legendary pro wrestling valet Baby Doll. The three
The 2024 inductees will be joining such amateur and pro wrestling greats such as the first U.S. medalist in freestyle Amateur Wrestling, Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston; Olympic medalist Clarissa Chun; Canadian Paralympic silver medalist Priscilla Gagné, WWE hall of famers Wendi Richter, Sherri Martell, Jacqueline Moore, and many more…WWHOF was founded by ECW original Angel Orsini, NWA hall of Fame Inductee Susan Tex Green, international award-winning filmmaker Rev. Christopher Annino, and ECW original’s Pitbull # 1 Gary Wolf.
The mission of the WWHOF is to educate, promote, and preserve the history of Women’s wrestling. There are three categories that are honored each year: Pro Wrestling, amateur wrestling which includes Olympians, Paralympians, College level athletes and coaches. And non-wrestlers which are reserved for managers, announcers, valets, promotions, and referees.
Wingo, Johnson, and Scott were the first African American female pro wrestlers. All three were sisters and were trained by Mildred Burke, the first women’s world wrestling champion. Wingo, Johnson and Scott were each pioneer and helped break both the color barriers in sports, similar to Jackie Robinson’s historic achievements in Major League Baseball. Wingo was the first African American female to be featured in an interracial pro wrestling match. Johnson was the first African American female to win a title – or in her case – titles.
Check out the official 2024 Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame induction:
Johnson matched up against such legends as June Byers, Penny Banner, and world champion Burke herself. Johnson’s final match was in 1976 where she went against her sister, Marva Scott. Wingo, Johnson and Scott are chronicled in the documentary “Lady Wrestler” (https://www.ladywrestlermovie.com/ ), directed by journalist and filmmaker Chris Bournea. The documentary explores in-depth the impact these three sisters had on pro wrestling. All three sisters along with Baby Doll will be inducted into the Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame.
ECW’s First Lady of Pro Wrestling Missy Hyatt, Francine, and Melissa Coates accepting on her behalf ECW legend Sabu will officially be inducted at the legendary ECW arena at Battleground Championship Wrestling “Block Party Meet and Greet” Friday April 5, 2024, at 4pm to 7pm at the 2300 Arena.
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