When you think about it, "Superstar" Billy Graham served as the blueprint for a WWE Superstar before the term "WWE Superstar" was even a thing! Simply put: Your current favorite Superstars wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Billy Graham.
Graham's garish ring attire – he often wore tie-dye and outlandish earrings – paved the way for modern Superstars such as Ultimate Warrior to dress the same. In fact, many fans credit him for creating the prototype of the character Hulk Hogan would eventually portray in WWE Billy Graham's long blond hair and stunning bodybuilder physique seemed truly ahead of his time. It's widely rumored that Ric Flair incorporated many of Graham's mannerisms and verbal stylings when he ascended to the top of the industry. Known for his catchphrases long before WWE Superstars like The Rock could even talk, Graham's "I am the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!" and "I lift barbell plates, I eat T-bone steaks, I'm sweeter than a German chocolate cake, how much more of me can you take?" captivated audiences worldwide in a time when most wrestlers let their in-ring acumen do the talking. Before Graham, wrestlers entered an arena to either raucous cheers, jeering boos, or total silence. The WWE Universe may be surprised to know that Billy Graham was the first professional wrestler to incorporate music into his entrance. However, Graham's lasting effect on the business extended far beyond just being the first WWE "villain" to hold the WWE Championship for an extended period – he was one of the first larger-than-life "characters" in wrestling history. Superstar held the title for nearly a year, successfully defending sports entertainment's richest prize against icons like Dusty Rhodes, Gorilla Monsoon, and 'High Chief' Peter Maivia before being dethroned by Bob Backlund in controversial fashion."Īs one of the only two men in history to defeat Bruno Sammartino for the WWE Championship (along with Ivon Koloff), Billy Graham was always destined to go down in the history books as one of the most remarkable men to lace up a pair of boots. WWE May 18, 2023Īccording to WWE.com, Graham's most outstanding achievement went down on April 30, 1977, when he "accomplished the near-impossible feat of toppling Bruno Sammartino from his WWE Championship perch. We extend our condolences to Graham's family, friends, and fans. WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham has passed away.
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