Pioneering Black Female Wrestler: Kathleen Wimbley

Chris Bournea’s documentary Lady Wrestler: The Amazing Untold Story Of African-American

Women in the ring chronicles a handful of pioneers in the fight sport, women who braved racism and sexism in the male-dominated world of wrestling from the 1950s through the 1970s. Kathleen Wimbley, now 88, trained at promoter Billy Wolfe’s gym and was a member of the first group that integrated pro wrestling.

By Gerry Chisolm

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