"Superstar" Billy Graham

Interview

Woodward: I’d like to throw some names at you, starting with some wrestlers that you’ve influenced with your look and style, and get your comments on them. The one name that always comes up is Hulk Hogan. What are Billy Graham’s thoughts on Hulk Hogan?

Graham: Billy Graham’s thoughts on Hulk Hogan will be in my book, brother! [Laughs]

Woodward: That was a great way to get that plug in there!

Graham: Actually on my website, I’m going to talk about the Hulk, and the way I feel now. And as I said before, I’m going to have the transcripts from my lawyers, and show my bitterness on the internet for everyone to read. It was tumultuous, and we went from the best of friends to the most hated of enemies, the Hulk and I. I can say that today, I have no bitterness or anger towards the Hulk. I wish him the best all the way. I think that he’s got so much money now, he ought to consider not wrestling anymore, before he gets a career threatening injury that might put him in a wheelchair or something like that. That would be tragic. I wish he’d end his career while still healthy, rather than end up in a wheelchair like Dynamite Kid.

Woodward: Do you think Hogan should step aside to let the younger talent through as well?

Graham: Well, that’s what I hear, that’s what I read everywhere, it’s about that. That’s Hulk’s decision. I know that’s why Vince is so successful, because his guys are young, and the age demographics of wrestling is a young audience. It’s a hard, hard thing to cut loose of it. I remember the first time, in 1987, when I was making the transition from wrestler to Muraco’s manager, and I had to do a stretcher. That’s when Butch Reed , and remember Slick?

Woodward: Oh yeah, the Reverend Slick.

Graham: Slick, Butch Reed, and the One Man Gang came out and big splashed me before the Survivor Series of ’87. I was supposed to be in that, but my health was failing, so they took me out and put Muraco in my spot. That was the first time, it was somewhere in upstate New York, that I heard someone yell "Hey Superstar, you’re an old man. You’re weak. It’s time to get out." I heard that fan, and I can still here it echoing, and it’s not a good thing to hear. Just something about it, Buck, that you just want to keep on wrestling. My friend Terry Funk, he just keeps on wrestling. [Laughs] Guys like him, it’s just in their blood, they love it so much. They’re just going to keep on doing it. It’s their decision that they have to make. I never did love wrestling the way these guys love wrestling. It’s a great business, but I could never love it.

Woodward: You were never like a Terry Funk, who had to get back into it.

Graham: It was never in my blood. It’s a tough deal for these guys. Maybe it’s in Hulk’s blood to keep on working, keep on wrestling. He obviously doesn’t have to, he’s a rich man. Maybe it’s just in his blood.

Woodward: Another name, and he resembles you look so much these days, is Scott Steiner. The goatee, bleached hair, and the physique, a lot of people look at him as the Billy Graham of today.

Graham: I did a commentary on Scott Steiner on my website. I did a 45 minute deal on Scott, so the people reading this can go into the archives on my website, and punch up my commentary on Scott Steiner from June 30th. Him taking my gimmick is a compliment. I mean, Jesse Ventura did me better than I did myself! [laughs]

Woodward: That was the next name I was going to ask you about.

Graham: Jesse and I are close friends. I remember Verne Gagne calling me saying "I’ve got a guy that can do you better than you do yourself, his name is Jesse Ventura." I said "Yeah, he’s great, isn’t he?" I think it is a great compliment when someone has been influenced by your persona. It is a tremendous compliment. I have some real good suggestions for him. [Laughs]

It just flashed through my mind, maybe for Hulk and Ric Flair, maybe it’s hard to admit you’re getting older. I know I’m dealing with that now. It’s hard for me to deal with getting older, even though I’ve been out of the business for so long. Maybe its a mental thing. It’s just hard to convince themselves that they’re getting older. Even though they physically can do it, they’ve gone down a few steps, but they’re still getting the job done. Maybe that’s the thing, just accepting that you’re getting older. That may be the bottom line. I think that probably is the bottom line, it’s a short life we’re living in, and we’ve only got one shot at walking through it. Hulk has been doing it for so long, and he has such a name in the business, maybe he just can’t step aside. The younger guys are calling for it, I know Scott Steiner and the other younger guys are calling for him to step aside, but it’s a hard thing to say "I’m too old for the business" when the business has been your whole life. He’s contributed so much to the business, he’s an icon.

Woodward: He’s the biggest name in the history of the business.

Graham: He’s a household name. In the 80’s, the Hulkster became a household name, and pretty much still is.

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