Tributes flood in for Billy Graham after the WWE superstar passed away aged 79 as 16-time world champion Ric Flair hails the Hall-of-Famer’s ‘influence on my career’
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Tributes have come in for Billy Graham, after the 79-year-old’s death following a battle with a ‘myriad of health issues’.
A GoFundMe page had been set up to support Graham’s family, which claimed that he had been in hospital for a number of months, moving to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for several weeks.
Graham passed away on Wednesday, with his family informing TMZ that he had been taken off life support.
And several former wrestlers and figures from within the sport have taken to Twitter to share their heartfelt messages for their departed colleague, who spent 18 years in the ring.
Ric Flair was quick to hail the American’s impact on his own stellar career, writing: ‘The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career!’
‘Superstar’ Billy Graham (right) passed away on Wednesday after a battle with a number of health issues
Graham had been in hospital for several months according to a GoFundMe page set up to support him and his family
Manager and former promoter Paul Heyman added: ‘Before Billy Graham, performers in WWWF / WWF/ WWE were known as professional wrestlers.
‘After Billy Graham left his mark, Vincent Kennedy McMahon decided everyone would be a WWE Superstar.
‘A most heartfelt RIP to the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!’
Ex-professional wrestler Sgt Slaughter wrote: ‘Eldridge Wayne Coleman. A Master On The Microphone & One of The “Greatest” Promo’s In Our Glorious Business. R.I.P. Superstar Billy Graham.’
The Iron Sheik – the sole Iranian champion in WWE history – said: ‘The superstar Billy Graham my brother for life.
‘He was the champion and most over man in the business. He always show me the respect. I love him and I miss him forever.’
And Nick Aldis added: ‘RIP Superstar. Quite possibly the biggest game-changer of all time.
‘Because of Billy Graham, we got Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, not to mention countless others who made fortunes borrowing from this man.
‘Say his name and remember him. “Superstar” Billy Graham. 1943-2023.’
Over the course of his long career in wrestling, Graham won the 1977 WWWF World Heavyweight Championship.
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