"Superstar" Billy Graham

Eldridge Wayne Coleman (June 7, 1943 – May 17, 2023) was an American professional wrestler. He was of part Arkansas Cherokee descent. Graham was best known for his highly dramatic and charismatic style of wrestling. He created the style while working with The World Wide/World Wrestling Federation under the ring name, "Superstar" Billy Graham. He was also an amateur fine artist. Graham was widely acknowledged as the person who changed modern American pro wrestling by combining it with bodybuilding.^[source?] Many modern professional wrestlers have a bodybuilders' physique. Before wrestling, Graham played 5 games with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).^[1]

"Superstar" Billy Graham
"Superstar" Billy Graham at a 2CW event in May 2008
Born	(1943-06-07)June 7, 1943 Phoenix, Arizona, Arizona, U.S.
Died	May 17, 2023(2023-05-17) (aged 79) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Wayne Coleman Billy Graham
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight	275 lb (125 kg)
Billed from	Paradise Valley, Arizona
Trained by	Stu Hart
Debut	1969
Retired	1987

During the steroid allegations involving WWE owner Vince McMahon in 1992, Graham went on The Phil Donahue Show. On the program, he said that he commonly used steroids. He blamed the WWF for his addiction. The drugs were not illegal in the 1970s. This caused problems between Graham and McMahon. They lasted for over ten years.^[source?]

WWE Hall of Fame

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 by Triple H. In 2011, it was reported that he wanted his name removed from the WWE Hall of Fame after he was upset that Abdullah the Butcher was also made a member of the Hall of Fame.^[2]

Death

Graham was hospitalized in January 2023 because of an ear and skull infection.^[3] In April, he was treated for kidney, heart and lung problems.^[4] Graham died on May 17, 2023 while on life-support at a Phoenix, Arizona hospital of multiple organ failure and sepsis, aged 79.^[5][6]

Championships

Graham held many championships during his professional wrestling career:

• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (two times)
  • NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (one time) (with Ox Baker)
  • NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (one time)
• Continental Wrestling Association
  • CWA World Heavyweight Championship (one time)
• International Pro Wrestling
  • IWA World Heavyweight Championship (one time)
• NWA Big Time Wrestling
  • NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (three times)
• NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions
  • NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship (one time)
• NWA San Francisco
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (two times) (with Pat Patterson)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1973)
  • PWI Match of the Year (1977) (vs. Bruno Sammartino on April 30)
  • PWI Match of the Year (1978) (vs. Bob Backlund on February 20)
  • PWI ranked him #277 of the best 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Class of 2009
• World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
  • WWWF Championship (one time)
  • Slammy Award for Hulk Hogan Real American (1987)
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Best Pro Wrestling Book (2006) (with Keith Greenberg)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)