Answering the 10 Count: Women’s Wrestler Debbie Johnson

Brian Damage

Debbie Johnson was a professional wrestler that competed in the early to mid 1970’s. She was trained by the Fabulous Moolah and was one of the very first female second generation wrestlers in the business, although it was never recognized by promoters. Johnson was also a trailblazer in women’s wrestling, as she was one of the first women to compete after the ban on women’s wrestling was lifted in New York. Despite all those impressive credentials, her career was cut short by very malicious means. Today on the blog, we have the privilege to talk with Debbie Johnson about her career and what led to her very early retirement.

RTDB: You were a second generation female wrestler in the business. Who was your mother?

Debbie Johnson: Dottie Downs…she was trained by Moolah as well.

RTDB: You were 13 or 14 when you became a wrestler. Was it your personal decision or were you forced into the business by your mother?

DJ: I was 15 and I wanted to be a wrestler I just had no idea how much control someone could have over my life. I thought I was going to travel the world and wrestle for my lifetime. I was such a fool.

RTDB: I wouldn’t call yourself a fool, you were young and a dreamer. Was your mother a wrestler before you or did she become one with you?

DJ: She actually went first and I went a few months later and was trained for 2 weeks and then sent on the road. My mother trained for almost a year before she started working.

RTDB: Did she have an influence on you to become a wrestler or was that all on your own? How was your relationship with your mother before wrestling?

DJ: She had no influence on me at all, we were never close her mother raised me. She didn’t want me to leave home so young, but she wouldn’t stop me if it’s what I wanted.

RTDB: Describe what the life of a female wrestler was like in the 1970’s.

DJ: On the road a lot, but I got punished a lot so I didn’t get booked as much as others. To me, it was amazing! I had no idea that most of the women wrestlers lived in one place. I learned a lot really fast but I was so naive, I trusted everyone because I didn’t know I couldn’t or shouldn’t. Moolah took 30 percent of everything we made then take out what our transportation cost and paying her rent I worked for over a year before I ever had a penny in my hand that was mine. We were all very protective of the business.

RTDB: Did any of the male wrestlers harass you because you were young and naive?

DJ: No we weren’t allowed to spend any time with them. We stayed in our dressing room until it was ring time, then back to the dressing room and leave.

RTDB: So it was a version of slavery practically?

DJ: That’s what I called it.

RTDB: I assume you worked for the WWWF and Vince McMahon Sr? If so, how was he to work for?

DJ: Vince Sr. was great! He always helped us pay for our transportation plus our pay…the only promoter that did.

RTDB: What years were you active as a wrestler?

DJ: I worked for Moolah from 1970 to 1975.

RTDB: I had read somewhere that you were one of the first women to wrestle in Madison Square Garden after New York lifted its ban on women’s wrestling. Is that true and if so, how did it feel to break barriers?

DJ: Yes, I was actually the 3rd women to wrestle in NYC. It was actually Shea Stadium in Queens, NY. It was so cold that the mat had ice on it, making it almost impossible to stand up, but we managed. (The match took place in September 1972 and had Fabulous Moolah defeating Debbie Johnson)

RTDB: Do you have any favorite opponents or toughest wrestlers you ever faced?

DJ: Vivian Vachon and I worked in Canada a lot against each other, she was a great wrestler.

RTDB: You are famously one of the women photographed on the shoulder of Andre the Giant. What was it like hanging out with the 8th Wonder of the World?

DJ: Andre was an amazing man. It literally took hours to get that one picture taken. Andre loved to drink.

RTDB: Any horror stories you know of involving Moolah and her crew?

DJ: I can only say what was done to me, she treated everyone differently.
If I pissed her off, which I did often, she wouldn’t book me…no money, no food. We owed her for everything. We had to live on her property, not allowed to have any friends, not allowed to do anything.

RTDB: Your career wasn’t all that long. What led you to ultimately quit professional wrestling?

DJ: In 1973, a wrestler named Jan Sheridan, an evil bitch that drugged me for Moolah and my mother and drove me to Ashville N.C. for an illegal abortion they killed my child!!!!!!!

RTDB: Oh my God! What happened with this incident? From what you said, Jan Sheridan worked in conjunction with Moolah and your mom for you to get an abortion? Also, why did they do that? How did you respond?

DJ: I was devastated, I was 17 at the time. I wanted my baby, but Moolah and my mother didn’t want me to because I wouldn’t be able to wrestle pregnant and who would take care of us? I couldn’t travel with a baby, so Jan got the drugs used on me and the father gave them the money. My hands were tied and my eyes were taped so I couldn’t see the person’s face. I got very sick afterwards and once I got through that I had to fulfill a contract my mother had signed so I could wrestle. I continued to have a relationship with the father we still stay in touch.

RTDB: How was your relationship with your mom and Moolah afterwards?

DJ: There was no relationship. I only spoke to them when I had to.

RTDB: I’m so sorry you went through such an awful ordeal.

DJ: The child’s father was one of Moolah’s nephews. He still lives in Columbia, South Carolina. When I first started my relationship with him, I was 15 he was and is 18 years older than me. I loved him then and I still love him. I always will.

RTDB: You mentioned that he paid for the abortion correct? Was there any animosity on your part towards him? Did you ever consider contacting the police about the incident?

DJ: I understand why he paid her the money, Moolah would have made his life hell so I never blamed him. Calling the police was out of the question for the same reason. what she would do to him it was March 10-1973. AJ is his name. AJ was/is married, so I can only imagine what she would have done to him.

RTDB: So the father of your unborn child…AJ…was married at the time? Did his wife ever find out about the affair and if so, what was her response to you if any?

DJ: AJ’s wife never knew.

RTDB: So how were you able to cope?

DJ: I knew I would never be able to just walk away from her or him. I really loved him, so I told Moolah I was going to marry the first man that asked me and that’s exactly what I did. I met a guy two times and he asked me to marry him and I did . Didn’t know anything about him but I had two amazing sons that have both passed away. My life is a long crazy story.

RTDB: It happened in 1973, but you continued wrestling until 1975?

DJ: I continued to work for Moolah off and on, but in January of 1975 I found I was pregnant with my son Brian, so that’s when I quit, but she still tried to get me to work when I was 6 months pregnant which I then told her where she could go!

RTDB: Did your mother ever show remorse at any time?

DJ: My mother never showed any remorse ever.

RTDB: Circling back to Jan Sheridan and being the one who drugged you, was there any confrontation with her about what she did?

DJ: She didn’t stay long after what she did. She quit and went back to Arkansas. I never spoke to her after what she did to me.

RTDB: You mentioned earlier that you lost both of your sons. Can you share what happened to them?

DJ: My youngest son died in 2001 he was 24. He was given to much chemo, his name was Kevin and my oldest son Brian died Jan. 5th 2022. He had Covid and his wife took him off the ventilator. He was 46.

RTDB: Debbie I want to sincerely thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

DJ: You’re welcome.

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