Superstar Billy Graham doesn't get the credit he deserves.

[It's...Baylariat!]

In wrestling, there are few wrestlers who can be considered trend setting or revolutionary. Superstar Billy Graham was both. Many wrestlers say he was nearly 20 years ahead of his time. Now, put that in perspective. He debuted with the tie dye trunks, the huge muscles, and the charisma that wasn’t seen in pro wrestling at that point. Lots of people were inspired to be wrestlers by Billy Graham. Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura for one and someone named Hulk Hogan. To me, when you inspire the biggest name in pro wrestling history, that says something. It’s similar to Buddy Rogers. Without him, you have no Ric Flair. Without the Superstar, you don’t have The Hulkster, the Body, Scott Steiner, and other big bodies who could work the mic.


Yet, in my opinion he’s not mentioned in the annals of history all that much. It might be his career being before the time of the internet and before wrestling was popular, but the man should be recognized as a revolutionary in pro wrestling and to me, is a huge influence on the wrestlers that made their mark in wrestling.


So, do you think Billy Graham gets the credit he deserves? Does he NOT deserve that credit? What did he mean to pro wrestling?

 

[Mitch Henessey]

No Billy Graham doesn't get the credit he deserves, and if Vince has his way, he probably will be put in the "they never existed alumni" along with Randy Savage and Bruno Sammartino. Superstar has had a falling out with Vince and WWE after he got released from the company. He sold his Hall Of Fame ring, and took a shot at Linda and Vince about a month ago.

Anyway, Superstar had a HUGE influence on some of wrestling's biggest stars. Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, Scott Steiner, and Triple H all took pieces of what Graham did character and look wise. As far as Triple H goes, it was more so the bodybuilding aspect of Graham's character. The IWC and other die-hard wrestling fans will probably give Graham the credit he deserves, but as long as Vince is around, that won't be happening through WWE.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Sorry but I think that Superstar Billy Graham, in many ways, is one of the most overrated big names in WWE history. Graham had a couple of catchy phrases that he used to throw out during promos sure, yes he had a fantastic look during a time in which most pro wrestlers didn't look anything remotely like Graham.

As far as Graham's in-ring ability goes, there's nothing really much to say about the guy. He was a big, strong guy sure with a fantastic build. But, so was Lex Luger and he wasn't that great either no matter how much Crockett or WCW wanted him to be so. Aside from winning the WWWF Championship, which is something in and of itself of course, I can't really think of any worthwhile thing Graham did in his career. After he lost the title to Bob Backlund, Graham pretty much faded into obscurity. His roughly 10 month reign as the champ in the WWWF was the highlight of Graham's career and it can't be taken away from him. However, when I think of all the various stars that came after Graham, I think most of them just plain outshine the guy. His influence on the characters and physical looks of some guys and having a herculean physique, I don't see much of an incredible legacy personally.

As far as his relationship with Vince goes, Graham does what a lot of bitter ex-superstars do, which is dog the shit out of the guy whenever he's not associated with him. We all know Vince McMahon is no saint, but you never hear any of the shit Graham has spewed about him while they've had some sort of working relationship going on. Graham's opinion of McMahon wasn't so low that he wasn't willing to accept a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

 

[Checkmate]

In my mind, I have a special category for guys like Billy Graham. I call it the "I paved the way for you, yet you got over more than I did" category. The IWC can (and I say CAN, not always) overrate this category. On the flip side, sometimes these guys are simply forgotten, which I find to be a shame.

However, looking at Billy Graham overall, I do find him to be one of the greats of wrestling. Some definately overrate him, mainly because he DID pave the way for many (which have been mentioned, i.e. Hogan, Jesse Ventura, etc.) and therefore some think that he is better than most simply because he did. Some underrate him, simply because they do not know enough, or look at latter generations (like Hogan) as being better and having surpassed him. I prefer to look at the big picture.

I think of the WWE (formerly F, and all that built up to it) as a house that has become a mansion. Each guy (and gal) that stepped into the ring contributed something to building that house, be it a brick, a shingle, or some even building a room. While Graham may not have started the construction, done the most, or even done the best, he was definately one of the guys that showed someone else how to build it the right way. What each person did with that guidence varied, but Graham certainly left his mark.

 

[markmeout]

Billy grahm had a great carrer and should get credit. But its obvious if you pull the stunts you are pulling you are going to get no respect. He's running his mouth like a mad crazy man. Sure he was good in the ring, but trashing the company that has the right to determine who is a ledgend in this industry and who gets blacklisted is a bad idea. He lost all the respect from most of the people in the wrestling community and being a wrestler pre rock and wrestling era you need all the help in getting promoted to be concidered a ledgend. All his negitive publicity has done nothing but destory any chance he will get half of the credit for which he deserves, its sad in a way that he cant keep his mouth shut for his legacy sake.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

Billy grahm had a great carrer and should get credit. But its obvious if you pull the stunts you are pulling you are going to get no respect. He's running his mouth like a mad crazy man. Sure he was good in the ring, but trashing the company that has the right to determine who is a ledgend in this industry and who gets blacklisted is a bad idea. He lost all the respect from most of the people in the wrestling community and being a wrestler pre rock and wrestling era you need all the help in getting promoted to be concidered a ledgend. All his negitive publicity has done nothing but destory any chance he will get half of the credit for which he deserves, its sad in a way that he cant keep his mouth shut for his legacy sake.

Spell check is your friend. Remember that.

Just because he shoots his mouth off at Vince for some truthful things doesn't tarnish what he did as a character and in the ring. Sure he wasn't the best worker. He didn't have to be. Neither did Hogan or Ventura. Steiner was a great worker before becoming Big Poppa Pump, but once he turned into the second incarnation of Superstar, so was Steiner.

Fact is, he doesn't get enough gratitude. Hogan even acknowledged that he was the forefather to the character he played. Ventura says so as well. Billy Graham was great on the mic and a great contributor to the wrestling industry. He was also a long reigning WWWF champion. Only Bruno and Hogan had longer reigns.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

He was also a long reigning WWWF champion. Only Bruno and Hogan had longer reigns.

Exept for Morales, Backlund, Savage, Nash and John Cena.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

Exept for Morales, Backlund, Savage, Nash and John Cena.

Good catch. I had his reign confused with Backlund's reign, which was long, also. But it doesn't change the fact that he was a dynamic champion. And he was also the first wrestler in the WWE to have a custom WWE belt, using a Red Strap instead of the green one used to start with.

 

[BooCocky]

Billy Graham is a favorite of mine. I always loved his look. He was Hulk Hogan before Hulk Hogan. He was big, muscular, had an awesome mustache and was very charismatic. Too bad he debuted in the wrong era.

In my opinion Billy Graham is great because many famous wrestlers portrayed their look after him. The reason he doesn't get the credit he deserves is because of the similarities between him and Hulk Hogan. His dispute with McMahon was his downfall because you cross the boss, your career gets pretty much buried...

You're right though, Graham doesn't get the credit he deserves, he helped revolutionize the business, yet no one ever talks about him when they talk about some of the greatest performers of all time. Graham is so underrated it isn't even funny, and it's a shame most current fans have no idea who he is because he crossed the boss.

 

[matman8540]

Among older wrestling fans (such as myself), Superstar Billy Graham receives much credit. Way back when, the WWWF rarely had the heel come out on top for any appreciable length of time. Up until then, the previous heel champions held extremely short title reigns. His mic work, and his way to draw heat from the crowd, made him the man the fans loved to hate. His legacy was extended by Jesse Ventura and Hulk Hogan, which then spawned out to (in lesser degrees), Mr. Magnificent Kevin Kelly and Scott Steiner (when he became Big Poppa Pump). On a personal note, in a high school play I was in during Graham's title reign, I did the Graham muscle pose. Newer fans will just have to get schooled by the old-timers, like us.