Pro wrestling legend “Superstar” Billy Graham has died, World Wrestling Entertainment says.
He was just short of his 80th birthday.
Graham, whose real name was Eldridge Wayne Coleman, was born on June 7, 1943 in Phoenix.
Graham’s “flashy fashion style, over-the-top interviews and bodybuilder physique created the archetype for a generation of Superstars that followed in his footsteps,” WWE says.
He was, according to WWE, “perhaps the single-most influential performer in WWE history whose interviews, fashion and physique inspired Hulk Hogan, Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura and Scott Steiner.”
It notes that his “greatest WWE achievement” was taking the WWE championship from fellow wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino in April 1977. He held onto the title for almost a year.
May he rest in peace..