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 (born January 26, 1935 – died August 31, 2024) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known by his ring name, Sonny King. Sonny King wrestled in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). He even won the WWWF Tag Team Championship there.
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Sonny King's Wrestling Journey
Larry Johnson was born in McCall, Louisiana. He spent his childhood in Donaldsonville and New Orleans. Later, he grew up in North Carolina.
Starting as a Boxer
Before becoming a wrestler, Johnson was a professional boxer. He later decided to try professional wrestling. This happened after he became friends with another wrestler, Ernie Ladd.
At first, Johnson said no to an offer from Jack Britton to join wrestling. But he eventually gave it a try. He started his wrestling training in Detroit. After that, he worked in Pittsburgh and Ontario.
Winning Championships
In 1972, Sonny King teamed up with Chief Jay Strongbow. Together, they won the World Tag Team Championship in the World Wide Wrestling Federation. They won the title from Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea.
About a month later, they lost the championship. The new champions were the team of Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji. In 1973 and 1974, Sonny King wrestled in NWA Mid Atlantic. He often had matches against Johhny Valentine and Swede Hanson.
In March 1977, Johnson won the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship in Alabama. From 1978 to 1979, Johnson worked in Memphis. He was a manager for wrestlers like Jos Leduc and Ron Bass. He also had a rivalry with Jerry Lawler for the Southern Championship.
While wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Florida, he traded the Florida version of the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship with Killer Karl Kox.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1980, Sonny King teamed with The Angel. They were part of the Continental Wrestling Association. They won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. Sonny King stopped wrestling in the mid-1980s.
Life After Wrestling
After he retired from professional wrestling, Larry Johnson worked in South Florida. He worked at a junkyard. There, he bought and sold car parts. His son played football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Wrestling Achievements
Sonny King won several championships during his wrestling career:
- 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
