(PARADISE VALLEY, AZ)-In professional wrestling, outrageous characters in outrageous costumes saying outrageous things is nothing new.
In the 1960s and ’70s, it had more novelty.
Superstar Billy Graham was the anomaly, a flamboyant, muscular, eloquent heel adorned in psychedelic colors, with bleached blonde hair and sunglasses.
He passed away today.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) majordomo Vince McMahon often said of Graham, “He was 20 years ahead of his time.”
In a career spanning from 1969 to 1989, Graham was recognized as world champion three times, his last reign spanning over a year from 1977 to 78.
Many of the characteristics of today’s grapplers find their origin in Graham.
He was fond of wearing feather boas, doo rags, and tie-dyed ring gear, which many, most notably Hulk Hogan & Jesse Ventura, would eventually ape.
A “heel” or “bad guy,” Graham developed a style of talking similar to Muhammad Ali, delivering interviews excitingly and believably, ending with his catchphrase, “The man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour.”
This promo style was copied by Graham’s long-time rival, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, The Rock, and countless others.
He also is credited as the man who introduced the word “brother” into wrestling vernacular, a term he adopted from his upbringing in a solid evangelical home.
During the ’80s, when Hulk Hogan said, “Listen here, brother,” he channeled Superstar Billy Graham in 1969.
The former champion was also one of the first to admit to using anabolic steroids during his career to enhance his physique. This trend became more prevalent in professional wrestling during the mid-80s.
Being retired for almost 35 years, and despite a strained relationship with WWE, Graham would make sporadic appearances for the sports entertainment league, including induction into their Hall Of Fame in 2004.
He had been battling a variety of illnesses since January.
Superstar Billy Graham was 79.
(Photo courtesy of Bleacher Report.)
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