Though she experienced discrimination along the way, Columbus resident Ramona Isbell now laughs about her experiences. In the early 1960s, Isbell was one of several black women who wrestled in Ohio and around the world.
A new documentary, “Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring," highlights the experiences of Isbell and her contemporaries in the sport, starting in the 1950’s.
Now 78, Isbell began wrestling in her early 20s after signing up with a promoter.
“I would sneak and train with Billy Wolfe (promoter)," Isbell says. "My mother didn’t even know I was training."
Some of her matches happened in downtown Columbus at old Memorial Hall on East Broad Street, in the former headquarters for the Franklin County Board of Elections.
Isbell says fans in Columbus welcomed the black women wrestlers. But traveling to matches in segregated southern states brought many challenges.
“Especially Savannah, Georgia, it was rough down there. And some parts of Florida," Isbell says. "And if we were hungry, whoever you rode with would have to go in and bring your food out to you."
Isbell competed across the country and in Japan, Nigeria and Australia.
“We trained just like the men trained, like when you go to a gym, you have to train in the gym," Isbell says. "You have to learn to take your falls. You have to build yourself up. It’s just like a real sports thing."
Isbell says she suffered some injuries during her matches, including a broken ankle.
After her marriage fell apart, Isbell became a single mom of four. She says that professional wrestling provided enough money for her to support her family, most of the time.
“It was fun," she says. "You got to travel, and most of the time, the money was good."
Isbell retired from wrestling in 1981.
"Lady Wrestler" debuts Thursday, March 29, at Ohio State’s Wexner Center for the Arts. The movie’s filmmaker, Chris Bournea, plans to screen the documentary in other cities and then release the film on Amazon.