With our 7th Round Pick, the
Second City Saints select:
In the pre 80's Category
"Superstar" Billy Graham
Eldridge Wayne Coleman (born
September 10,
1943) better known by his
ring name "Superstar" Billy Graham, is an
American retired
professional wrestler. Graham is a former
WWWF Champion, and was inducted into the
WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
Graham's popularity was based principally on the basis of his character, rather than his wrestling skills. His bodybuilder's physique and flamboyant patter paved the way for wrestlers like
Jesse Ventura,
Hulk Hogan,
Scott Steiner and
Triple H, who were all heavily influenced by Graham's example.
[1] Graham called his twenty-two inch arms "pythons," and often recited self-aggrandizing poetry during his interviews, a technique inspired by
Muhammad Ali. A typical example:
"I'm the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour. The women's pet, the men's regret. What you see is what you get. And what you don't see is better yet."
Legacy
"Superstar" Billy Graham is credited for changing how American professional wrestling is portrayed. The WWE describes all of its competitors as "WWE Superstars"; a direct tribute to Billy Graham.
Many wrestlers have claimed to have based their looks and styles on Billy Graham. Some famous examples are
Paul Ellering,
Scott Steiner,
Triple H,
Steve Austin,
Hulk Hogan,
Ric Flair and
Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
He helped
Arnold Schwarzenegger with his posing techniques, for bodybuilding competitions.
Championships and accomplishments