Superstar Billy Graham, WWE Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 79, ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair announced on Twitter.
“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us 🙏🏻 THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career!” Flair tweeted.
Graham, who’s real name was Eldridge Wayne Coleman, was born on June 7, 1943. His wrestling career began in Calgary, where he trained in Stu Hart’s Dungeon and worked for Hart’s Stampede Wrestling promotion. He began bodybuilding in his twenties before moving to the NWA’s San Francisco territory in 1970 and joined forces with Pat Patterson there to work the West Coast and Hawaii.
He worked for Vern Gagne’s AWA, the then-WWWF, and various NWA promotions for the remainder of the decade. He ended Bruno Sammartino’s almost ten-year reign as Vince McMahon Sr.’s champion there in 1977, and he held the World title until Bob Backlund defeated him for it eight months later. He would work primarily for the WWF for the remainder of his career, before retiring in 1987 at the age of 44.
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Graham has been dealing with health problems that got worse over the years. The news about his condition over the past several months had been sounding increasingly dire.
As per Billy Graham’s autobiography – titled Tangled Ropes – he is married to to his second wife Valerie since 1978. They do not have children together.
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Graham was married to Madelyn Miluso. He had a daughter – Capella – and a son – Joey. His daughter Capella was born on June 8, 1972. She was given her name after a star he had read about in the Universe Atlas. Joey, his son, was born on March 18, 1975. Joey’s double pneumonia and enlarged heart were surgically treated after birth. His godfather was wrestler Dusty Rhodes.
