Pro wrestling legend ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham dies aged 79

Struggle

By Joseph Staszewski

May 17, 2023 | 10:23 p.m.

Pro wrestling legend “Superstar” Billy Graham died on Wednesday.

He was 79 years old.

Graham, real name Eldridge Wayne Coleman, had been struggling with health issues for decades before things took a turn for the worse in February.

Ric Flair broke the news of Graham’s death, which was confirmed by TMZ

“Superstar Billy Graham just left us,” Flair tweeted. “THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE on My Career!”

Graham had been on life support in intensive care to deal with numerous infections, organ failure, diabetes and other conditions requiring emergency surgery earlier this month.

His wife Valerie posted on Graham’s Facebook account on Monday morning that doctors wanted him off life support, but at that time she had refused.

Graham is a three-time former world champion professional wrestler, including a 1977-78 title in the WWWF, the New York territory promotion that eventually became WWE. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.

“SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM. ONE OF MY FIRST HEAT TEACHER,” Iron Shiek tweeted. “TRUE LEGEND BUBBA. HE LOVES ME I LOVE HIM. LOVE FOREVER BRO. RIP.”

Bodybuilder friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Graham got into professional wrestling in the late 1960s with Stew Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in Calgary and wrestled until 1987 when injuries and health problems push him out of the ring.

Graham, who moved into a commentating role, wrestled for AWA, WWWF, NWA and WWF during his career.

He was nicknamed “Superstar” during his time at the AWA.

Graham won the WWWF Championship from Bruno Samartino in April 1977 and held the belt for nine and a half months – losing the title to Bob Backlund in February 1978.

Graham’s looks and charisma influenced generations of wrestlers to come, including Hulk Hogan, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Scott Steiner, and Flair, among others.

He was known for using the word “brother” in promos, something that became a fixture for Hogan his entire career.

Graham, who was a steroid user, became a strong voice against drugs, especially in the 90s when Vince McMahon was involved in federal steroid trials, causing a rift between him and the WWE boss.

The fences were finally mended for his Hall of Fame induction.

He is survived by his wife and two children.