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Sonny King (wrestler)

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Sonny King
Birth nameLarry Johnson
Born1945
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Sonny King
Debut1960's
RetiredMid-1980s

Larry Johnson was a 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 career

Johnson began his career as a professional boxer, but later turned to professional wrestling after befriending Ernie Ladd.[1] Johnson initially turned down the offer from Jack Britton to join the sport, but later tried it anyway.[1] He began his training in Detroit.[1] He later worked in Pittsburgh and Ontario.[1]

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.[1][2] After a month, they lost the title to the team of Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji.[2] Through 1973 and 1974 he worked in NWA Mid Atlantic where he most often fought Johhny Valentine and Swede Hanson.

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.[1] He also feuded with Jerry Lawler for the Southern Championship.[1] While with Championship Wrestling from Florida, he traded the Florida version of the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship with Killer Karl Kox.

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 King confronted the man he was stabbed. He retired in the mid-1980s.[1]

Personal life

Johnson grew up in North Carolina.[1] After retiring from wrestling, he worked in a junkyard in South Florida, buying and selling car parts.[1] His son played football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[1]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ 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. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  2. ^ a b c "History of the World Tag Team Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
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