Former Moolah stable wrestler Winona Littleheart passes away
Winona Barkley, best known under the name Winona Littleheart, a pro wrestler who was part of the Fabulous Moolah’s stable from 1977 to 1985, passed away.
She was believed to have been 64 years old. No cause of death has been reported.
The Championship Wrestling from Florida Facebook page first reported her death today, as did the Cauliflower Alley Club.
She was mostly a babyface doing a Native American gimmick with the leather fringe vest and feathers in her hair. During her career she challenged Moolah for her World title and in 1985 on TBS challenged Leilani Kai for the WWF Women’s title.
She also was involved in training Wendi Richter.
Later in her career she played a demented heel as The Lock, as part of a tag team of The Lock & Luna (Vachon). She debuted in that role as a childhood friend of Barry Windham who was abducted by Kevin Sullivan doing a Symbionese Liberation Army type of Stockholm syndrome gimmick.
As The Lock, she wrestled through 1988, including working for David McLane’s POWW.
She was the daughter of “Dirty” Dick Barkley, who wrestled some in the Southeast in the late 50s and early 60s.
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.