Years earlier than Hulk Hogan exploded in reputation and adjusted the face of the trade, it was “Celebrity” Billy Graham who set the template for a real headliner in professional wrestling. Again when WWE was often called the WWWF and run by Vince McMahon Sr., Graham was introduced in as the following large factor, with the elder McMahon selecting Graham to finish Bruno Sammartino’s multi-year reign with the corporate’s Heavyweight Championship in 1977.
Graham carried the title for practically a 12 months, till the time got here for him to drop the belt to Bob Backlund. That had lengthy been the plan, and Graham knew he was going to lose to Backlund earlier than he even joined the promotion. Nevertheless, no one anticipated the sorts of reactions Graham would garner from crowds, and the wrestler felt he deserved an opportunity to maintain holding the belt. Sadly for him, McMahon disagreed and went forward with the title change.
Following the loss, Graham grew depressed and practically give up the corporate. He caught round for awhile however, by the tip of the 12 months, Graham may sense issues had modified. Audiences simply weren’t giving him the identical reactions that they had earlier than. Selecting to strive his luck with the assorted NWA promotions, Graham left earlier than the tip of 1978. Issues did not precisely enhance for Graham after leaving the WWWF, nonetheless.
Graham re-joins the WWF
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Graham continued wrestling across the nation to smaller and smaller crowds, and it appeared as if he may need left the trade altogether if he wasn’t contacted by Vince McMahon Jr. in 1982. Now answerable for his father’s firm, the youthful McMahon wished to deliver the “Celebrity” again. He reached Graham at a time when the wrestler was exceptionally determined, dwelling in a resort and withdrawing from varied substances, and efficiently satisfied him to come back again. Nevertheless, when Graham arrived, it wasn’t the model McMahon had anticipated.
Now sporting a bald head and a thick moustache, Graham had adopted a karate-inspired gimmick that stood in stark distinction to his outdated persona. It should not come as a lot of a shock that Graham failed to attach with audiences in the identical manner he had earlier than. With McMahon evidently feeling purchaser’s regret, Graham’s second run with the corporate got here to an finish after he didn’t win the title again from Backlund.
Hogan would enter the image quickly after, and although Graham would ultimately return for an additional run, he’d by no means once more attain the early heights of his profession. Graham’s profession went off the rails following his loss to Backlund, however the query of whether or not the fault lies with Graham or another person stays.
Graham was inducted into the WWE Corridor of Fame in 2004 and continued to make occasional appearances for the corporate within the years that adopted. Following an extended collection of well being points, Graham died in 2023 on the age of 79.
