Sonny King (wrestler)
Sonny King | |
---|---|
![]() King in 1978 | |
Birth name | Larry Johnson |
Born | North Carolina, U.S.[1] | February 8, 1945
Died | August 31, 2024 | (aged 79)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Sonny King |
Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1] |
Billed weight | 231 lb (105 kg)[1] |
Debut | 1960s |
Retired | 1985 |
Larry Johnson (February 8, 1945 – August 31, 2024) was an American professional wrestler better known as Sonny King. He competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), where he won the WWWF Tag Team Championship. Wrestling journalist and historian Dave Meltzer credits King as one of the first African-Americans ever to hold a championship in WWWF, which would later become WWE.[2]
Professional wrestling career
[edit]Johnson began his career as a professional boxer, but later turned to professional wrestling after befriending Ernie Ladd.[3] Johnson initially turned down the offer from Jack Britton to join the sport, but later tried it anyway.[3] He began his training in Detroit.[3] He later worked in Pittsburgh and Ontario.[3]
In 1972, he teamed with Chief Jay Strongbow to win the World Wide Wrestling Federation's World Tag Team Championship from Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea.[3][4] After a month, they lost the title to the team of Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji.[4] Through 1973 and 1974, he worked in NWA Mid Atlantic where he most often fought Johhny Valentine and Swede Hanson.[citation needed]
Johnson won the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship in Alabama in March 1977. In 1978 and 1979, Johnson worked in Memphis as a manager to Jos Leduc and Ron Bass.[3] He also feuded with Jerry Lawler for the Southern Championship.[3] While with Championship Wrestling from Florida, he traded the Florida version of the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship with Killer Karl Kox.[citation needed]
While partnering with The Angel in the Continental Wrestling Association in 1980, he won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. While waiting for a card to start in the Carolinas, he noticed a male force his way into an arena past an elderly security guard. When Johnson confronted the man, he was stabbed numerous times, during which he suffered a punctured lung and the knife nicked his heart. Johnson was rushed into emergency surgery. Years later, Johnson recounted the surgeon having to massage his heart outside of his body to keep him alive. He retired in the mid-1980s.[3]
Personal life and death
[edit]Johnson grew up in North Carolina.[3] After retiring from wrestling, he worked in a junkyard in South Florida, buying and selling car parts.[3] His son played football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[3] Johnson died on August 31, 2024, at the age of 79.[5]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Ricky Morton (1) and The Angel (1)
- NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Eddie Sullivan[1]
- International Wrestling Association
- IWA Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time) [1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Sonny King Cagematch.net Retrieved Apr 1, 2020
- ^ Bryan Alvarez, Dave Meltzer (1 September 2024). "Wrestling Observer Radio: WWE Bash in Berlin & AEW Collision recaps, Villano V & Sonny King pass away". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Podcast). Retrieved 2 September 2024.}}
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Oliver, Greg (May 31, 2010). "Sonny King talks about his career -- for the first time!". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c "History of the World Tag Team Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
- ^ Mat Matters: Sonny King’s death a reminder of the son I connected him with
External links
[edit]- Sonny King Profile at Online World of Wrestling
- Sonny King Profile at Cagematch
- 1945 births
- 2024 deaths
- African-American professional wrestlers
- American male professional wrestlers
- Professional wrestlers from North Carolina
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American sportspeople
- 20th-century male professional wrestlers
- NWA Brass Knuckles Champions (Florida version)
- World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)