WWE: ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham ‘influenced a lot of people’, claims ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin

‘Stone Cold’ Steven Austin is just the latest popular ring name to pay his respects to ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham after the WWE Hall of Famer died on May 17.

Austin, who holds the most wins of the WWE Royal Rumble (three), recalled the huge impact that Graham had on wrestling and the way it inspired him to become one of the best in the sport. 

‘I watched his career very intently,’ the 58-year-old told TMZ. ‘He started becoming so entertaining with his promos that the crowd was starting to like him, which is what happened to me.

‘He was great. He was all about the showmanship of it and the physique, and he was a different vibe and a helluva promo.

‘He influenced a lot of people.’

Graham died on Wednesday after battling a ‘myriad of health issues’ over the last few months

Graham died on Wednesday at age 79 after battling a ‘myriad of health issues’ while on life support.

The 1977-78 WWWF Heavyweight Champion had been in the hospital for a number of months dealing with a ‘myriad of very serious health issues’ and had been in the ICU for many weeks, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help him and his family.

He was suffering from acute kidney failure, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and hearing loss. Graham was also hospitalized in January with an infection in his ears that spread to his ear bones and skull.

The wrestler’s wife, Valerie, previously shared an update on Graham’s health on his official Facebook page on May 15, two days before his death, revealing she had initially refused to take him off life support. 

Graham had an impressive bodybuilding career before becoming a WWE Hall of Famer

Austin ( L) holds the most wins of the WWE Royal Rumble (three). Pictured at WrestleMania X8 

‘Please urgent prayers needed for my husband,’ she wrote. ‘The doctors wanted to remove him from life support tonight. I refused.

‘He’s a fighter and his will is strong even if his body isn’t. God is our hope.’

Prior to his seeking a career out of wrestling, Graham – born Eldridge Wayne Coleman – tried out for the Canadian Football League but rose to fame through an impressive bodybuilding career. 

He went on to make a name for himself in the ring starting in 1969, before signing with various promotions and making his debut with the WWE – then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation – six years later.

Graham’s in-arena look became influential to many of the most popular wrestlers of the time – including Austin Idol, Jesse Ventura, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair, who paid tribute to ‘Superstar’ after learning of his death.