Hall of Fame Professional Wrestler. One of the earliest female superstars, she holds the unique distinction of having fought matches in nine different decades. Born Johnnie Mae Young, she was raised in the Tulsa suburbs, learned her sport from her brothers, and in her early teens joined the boys' wrestling team at school. While she was still in high school, the legendary Mildred Burke visited Tulsa and Mae challenged her to a match, and though not allowed to fight Mildred she did beat a lady named Gladys Gillem. Her potential recognized, Mae made her professional bow on August 20, 1939 and in 1941 was recruited by Mildred to help introduce ladies' wrestling to Canada. During World War II female wrestling gained popularity as the men were away fighting; over the years Mae had notable 'feuds' with Mildred and, to a lesser extent, with June Byers, and in 1951 was crowned the first National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Women's World Champion. In the mid 1950s she teamed with her good friend, longtime World Champion The Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison, 1923-2007); Mae took wrestling and her finishing Bronco Buster all over the world, in the process becoming a pioneer of returning the sport to Japan. Though she 'retired' in 1990 to become a Christian missionary, she reentered the ring in 1999 when she joined Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). Crowned Miss Royal Rumble 2000 following a bikini contest, over the next 10 years she engaged in numerous storylines with Moolah and others, on one especially memorable occasion emerging unhurt after the Dudley Brothers put her through a table. Mae was elected to the WWE Hall-of-Fame in 2008, on November 15, 2010 beat Lay Cool in a 'falls count anywhere' match which made her a nine decade professional, lived out her days in the South Carolina capital, and died of the effects of advanced age. Numerous DVDs documenting her performances are available.
Hall of Fame Professional Wrestler. One of the earliest female superstars, she holds the unique distinction of having fought matches in nine different decades. Born Johnnie Mae Young, she was raised in the Tulsa suburbs, learned her sport from her brothers, and in her early teens joined the boys' wrestling team at school. While she was still in high school, the legendary Mildred Burke visited Tulsa and Mae challenged her to a match, and though not allowed to fight Mildred she did beat a lady named Gladys Gillem. Her potential recognized, Mae made her professional bow on August 20, 1939 and in 1941 was recruited by Mildred to help introduce ladies' wrestling to Canada. During World War II female wrestling gained popularity as the men were away fighting; over the years Mae had notable 'feuds' with Mildred and, to a lesser extent, with June Byers, and in 1951 was crowned the first National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Women's World Champion. In the mid 1950s she teamed with her good friend, longtime World Champion The Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison, 1923-2007); Mae took wrestling and her finishing Bronco Buster all over the world, in the process becoming a pioneer of returning the sport to Japan. Though she 'retired' in 1990 to become a Christian missionary, she reentered the ring in 1999 when she joined Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). Crowned Miss Royal Rumble 2000 following a bikini contest, over the next 10 years she engaged in numerous storylines with Moolah and others, on one especially memorable occasion emerging unhurt after the Dudley Brothers put her through a table. Mae was elected to the WWE Hall-of-Fame in 2008, on November 15, 2010 beat Lay Cool in a 'falls count anywhere' match which made her a nine decade professional, lived out her days in the South Carolina capital, and died of the effects of advanced age. Numerous DVDs documenting her performances are available.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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Daughter of John Henry Young and Lillie Mae LaRue Young.
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