Billy Graham dead at age 79: WWE Hall-of-Famer dies “at home with his family” after being removed from life support
Former WWWF Heavyweight Champion “Superstar” Billy Graham died Wednesday at the age of 79 after a months-long health struggle.
16-time world champion Ric Fair tweeted that Graham – real name Eldridge Wayne Coleman – had “left us”.
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“Thank you for all your influence on my career!” Flair wrote.
Graham’s family told it TMZ that he died with his wife and daughter by his side after being removed from life support.
Following news of Graham’s death, fans and fellow wrestlers paid tribute to the star’s career.
Two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee X-Pac shared a photo of a much younger Graham.
“That’s the version of superstar Billy Graham that I saw in Florida,” he said wrote. “He came out to kung fu and I loved it! RIP to the most copied man of all time in pro wrestling.”
The Iron Sheik, a member of the Hall of Fame, shared a photo of him and Graham on Twitter. Write: “SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM. ONE OF MY FIRST TEACHERS OF HEAT. THE TRUE LEGEND BUBBA. HE LOVES ME, I LOVE HIM. TOGETHER WE GO TO THE GYM AND PROTECT THE EARTH. I LOVE YOU FOREVER BROTHER. RIP.”
“Superstar” Billy Graham started out as a bodybuilder and competed as a teenager before training under legendary wrestler and trainer Stu Hart.
He appeared in Hart’s promotion Stampede Wrestling on January 16, 1970 in a match against Dan Kroffat.
At first he appeared under his real name, but soon adopted the name Billy Graham – after the model of the famous evangelist of the same name.
Over time, he developed his flamboyant personality for which he became known and became a fan favorite with his entertaining interviews.
Graham made his in-ring debut for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in October 1975 in a tag team match with Spiros Arion.
Together, the duo defeated then-WWF Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino and Dominic De Nucci.
The high point of his career came on April 30, 1977 when Graham defeated Sammartino in the WWWF World Heavyweight, now known as the WWE Championship.
Graham ended Sammartino’s 1,000-day reign and held the title for almost 300 days before being defeated by Bob Backlund on February 20, 1978 at Madison Square Garden.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated named him Most Hated Wrestler of 1973 before giving him Match of the Year awards for his bouts with Sammartino and Backlund.
His career served as an inspiration for several wrestlers, many of whom he trained, including Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Scott Steiner and Jesse Ventura.
In 2004, Graham was inducted into the 2004 WWE Hall of Fame by Ventura.
Over the years, Graham’s body has struggled with major health issues, beginning in 2002 when he received a liver transplant after being diagnosed with cirrhosis.
In 2010 he was diagnosed with liver problems again and told he had only a year to live without another transplant.
At the time, Graham famously reserved a gravesite in Green Acres Cemetery in Scottsdale, Arizona, next to the late Eddie Guerrero.
In 2012, Graham was diagnosed with stage three liver disease and cirrhosis and spent several years in and out of hospital.
Earlier this year in January, Graham was hospitalized after being diagnosed with an ear and skull infection.
After a liver transplant, he sold his WWE Hall of Fame ring to pay for medication.
He is survived by his wife Valerie, whom he married in 1978.
Graham also had two children from a previous marriage, daughter Capella and son Joey, whose godfather was wrestler Dusty Rhodes.
“URGENT PRAYERS”
Before his death, Graham’s wife revealed that doctors had recommended pulling the plug, but she declined.
She asked his fans for “urgent prayers” over his deteriorating health, writing on Facebook, “Urgent prayers please for my husband.”
“Doctors wanted to remove his life support tonight. I declined.”
“He’s a fighter and his will is strong, even if his body isn’t. God is our hope.”
Back then, Flair wrote about the influence Graham had on him and several other wrestlers.
“So sad to hear about Billy Graham’s health condition!! Make no mistake – talk about the impact he had on ME and so many others! Hulk, Dusty, etc,” he said wrote.
“You’re beautiful. Bonnie dyed my hair in 1972!! Stay strong, my mentor! FYI, you and Dusty Rhodes were my heroes! you made me!”
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