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Sonny King (wrestler)

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Sonny King
King in 1978
Birth nameLarry Johnson
Born(1945-02-08)February 8, 1945[1]
North Carolina, U.S.[2]
DiedAugust 31, 2024(2024-08-31) (aged 79)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Sonny King
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[2]
Billed weight231 lb (105 kg)[2]
Debut1960s
Retired1985

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. Professional wrestling journalist and historian Dave Meltzer credits King as one of the first African-American wrestlers ever to hold a championship in WWWF, which would later become WWE.[3]

Professional wrestling career

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Johnson began his career as a professional boxer, but later turned to professional wrestling after befriending Ernie Ladd.[4] Johnson initially turned down the offer from Jack Britton to join the sport, but later tried it anyway.[4] He began his training in Detroit.[4] He later worked in Pittsburgh and Ontario.[4]

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.[4][5] After a month, they lost the title to the team of Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji.[5] Through 1973 and 1974, he worked in NWA Mid Atlantic where he most often fought Johnny Valentine and Swede Hanson.[6]

Johnson won the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship in Alabama in March 1977.[7] In 1978 and 1979, Johnson worked in Memphis as a manager to Jos Leduc and Ron Bass.[4] He also feuded with Jerry Lawler for the Southern Championship.[4] While with Championship Wrestling from Florida, he traded the Florida version of the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship with Killer Karl Kox.[8]

While partnering with The Angel in the Continental Wrestling Association in 1980, he won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship.[9] 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 his body to keep him alive. He retired in the mid-1980s.[4]

Personal life and death

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Johnson was born in 8 February 1945.[1] He grew up in North Carolina.[4] After retiring from wrestling, he worked in a junkyard in South Florida, buying and selling car parts.[4] One of his sons played football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[4] He was reunited with another son after a 2010 interview.[10] Johnson died on August 31, 2024, at the age of 79.[10]

Championships and accomplishments

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  • International Wrestling Association
  • IWA Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Sonny King, wrestlingdata.com
  2. ^ a b c d e Sonny King Cagematch.net Retrieved Apr 1, 2020
  3. ^ Bryan Alvarez, Dave Meltzer (September 1, 2024). "Wrestling Observer Radio: WWE Bash in Berlin & AEW Collision recaps, Villano V & Sonny King pass away". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Podcast). Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  4. ^ 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 June 1, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b c "History of the World Tag Team Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
  6. ^ "Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Results: Jan. - March 1975". The Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive. September 22, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "WWWF Alumnus Sonny King Passes Away At 79". 411 Mania. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  8. ^ Pollock, John (September 2, 2024). "Former WWWF tag champion and wrestler/manager Sonny King passes away". POST Wrestling | WWE AEW NXT NJPW Podcasts, News, Reviews. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  9. ^ "Sonny King". Cagematch. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Mat Matters: Sonny King’s death a reminder of the son I connected him with, SLAM! Wrestling
  11. ^ a b c "Sonny King: Title Reigns". Cagematch. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
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