Sonny King (wrestler) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sonny King |
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| Birth name | Larry Johnson |
| Born | January 26, 1935 McCall, Louisiana |
| Died | August 31, 2024 (aged 89) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Sonny King |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Billed weight | 231 lb (105 kg) |
| Debut | 1960s |
| Retired | 1985 |
Larry Johnson (January 26, 1935 – August 31, 2024) was an American former 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 was born in McCall, Louisiana. He grew up in Donaldsonville and New Orleans.
He began his career as a professional boxer, but later turned to professional wrestling after befriending Ernie Ladd. Johnson initially turned down the offer from Jack Britton to join the sport, but later tried it anyway. He began his training in Detroit. He later worked in Pittsburgh and Ontario.
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. After a month, they lost the title to the team of Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji. 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. He also feuded with Jerry Lawler for the Southern Championship. 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. He retired in the mid-1980s.
Personal life
Johnson grew up in North Carolina. After retiring from wrestling, he worked in a junkyard in South Florida, buying and selling car parts. His son played football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Championships and accomplishments
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
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- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
- Continental Wrestling Association
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- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Ricky Morton (1) and The Angel (1)
- Southeastern Championship Wrestling
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- NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Eddie Sullivan
- International Wrestling Association
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- IWA Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
- World Wide Wrestling Federation
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- WWWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Chief Jay Strongbow
