Mae young bio

Mae young died

Johnnie Mae Young [ 5 ] March 12, — January 14, was an American professional wrestler , trainer and promoter. Young is considered one of the pioneers in women's wrestling as she helped to increase the popularity of the sport throughout the s and during World War II. In , she and Mildred Burke were among the first female competitors to tour post-war Japan.

In , an all-female professional wrestling tournament was introduced by WWE and was named Mae Young Classic as a tribute to her memory. Its purpose was to showcase the new female wrestlers that had signed with the company and were in development, as well as independent circuit veterans from around the world. The winner received a contract with WWE and a trophy for their achievement.

After the second tournament in , the tournament was discontinued. Her mother Lilly Mae Young was a single mother her partner left to find work and never returned living during the Great Depression. Young's oldest sister Inie was severely disabled by whooping cough at a very young age. Young also played softball with Tulsa 's national championship team.

While still in high school, Young went to a professional wrestling show and challenged then-champion Mildred Burke when she visited Tulsa to wrestle Gladys Gillem.