WWE Legends - Superstar Billy Graham: Tangled Ropes (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Keith Elliot Greenberg (Author)
Key Phrases: wrestling business, blade job, tag team partner, World Wrestling Federation, Valerie Coleman, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

'The man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!' That was how Superstar Billy Graham described himself, and who could argue? Graham was perhaps the single most influential performer of the past thirty years, and the mark of that influence can be found in Superstars ranging from Hulk Hogan to Scott Steiner. His outrageous ring attire and Muhammad Ali-style interviews were a breath of fresh air during an era when sports entertainment was much more bare-bones than it is today. Just as fans flocked to see the Superstar compete in the ring, so they loved to listen to him pontificate on the microphone, even if he was bad-mouthing the Superstars they held dear. With his equally colourful manager the Grand Wizard at his side, Graham toppled Bruno Sammartino from his WWE Championship perch for the last time on April 30, 1977. He went on to hold the prize for nearly ten months, the longest reign for any ring villain in WWE history to this day. Clad in tie-dye and feather boas, the Superstar was a sign of things to come, and boasted a chiselled, muscular physique that was very unique at the time. During the late 1980s, he made a brief return to WWE competition, and even enjoyed stints as a manager and broadcaster. Graham has experienced it all and he's going to be talking about it in this book, with stories about all the legendary wrestlers - including Sammartino, Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka and Sergeant Slaughter - that no true wrestling fan will want to miss.

About the Author

Keith Elliot Greenberg is a lifelong wrestling fan and a senior writer for World Wrestling Entertainment publications. He is also an award winning television producer whose work has been seen on 48 Hours, America's Most Wanted, VH-1 and The History Channel. He is the author of more than thirty non-fiction books for children and lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: World Wrestling Entertainment (January 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416507531
• ISBN-13: 978-1416507536
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #511,067 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superstar...super book, February 2, 2006

By	JohnBuford (Andover MA.) - See all my reviews

Mick Foley set the bar very high for wrestlers who choose to write their autobiography and those of us who are wrestling fans should thank him.Ric Flair's and Freddie Blassie's were two that I read and enjoyed and now comes Superstar Billy Graham.How does his measure up ? Very well indeed.Early in the book when Billy talks about his religious beliefs I winced,fearing it would be "lecturing" in tone.But no, Billy tells the reader how he feels and what he believes and moves along.In fact the entire book moves along nicely,never once bogging down.The toll that drugs,(legal and otherwise) took on him is sobering.Billy doesn't whine or make excuses.In fact it should be noted that steroids were not illegal when he was taking them.The stories are terrific,many of them laugh out loud funny.My only regret is that Billy doesn't talk more about Ernie Roth, "The Grand Wizard".Billy and TGW had a special chemistry.Their interviews were priceless.But beyond that I have no complaints. Billy was special.And so is this book.Read it.You'll be glad you did.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The things you finally discover, July 8, 2008

By	J. R. Neumiller (Salisbury, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A little background: I grew up in Central Illinois, and began watching "All Star Wrestling" on Saturday mornings. I would see these bulky bruisers like Nick Bockwinkle and "Da Crusher!", and really thought this stuff was real.

Then, out of nowhere, came this flamboyant, trash-talking, electrifying persona called Superstar Billy Graham, with his tie-dyed tights, Elton-John rhinestone sunglasses, and the biggest, baddest, most impressive physique I'd ever seen. He was unreal, and for the next year or so, he was THE GUY to watch for during the telecasts.

Then, just as suddenly, he disappeared. Vanished. The TV wrestling went on, and I sort of lost interest, and always wondered what happened to that Superstar Billy Graham guy.

Well, read this book, and you'll find out the whole story. Being so regionalized in those days, unless you were a hard-core wrestling hound, it would have been difficult TO know what happened to him in the intervening years.

What happened to him was he moved on to the NY region, was a smash hit in the NY area, got major juice as the heel to beat, won the belt in a titanic match, held it for about a year, sold out arenas everywhere he went, and then was forced to give up the belt to a true Baby Face named Bob Backlund, (WHO???), got messed up in his head and heart, got into drugs, and became - even more quickly than he arrived - one of the saddest also-rans in the business. Never ever regaining the Superstar persona that had so electrified crowds in the mid to late 70's.

You'll find out more about Wayne Coleman than you'd ever like to know otherwise. Its a fascinating backstage view of pro wrestling in the kayfabe era, and what it was really like to be a performer in those days. You'll discover the ups and downs of steroid use/abuse, and how it prematurely depletes the body of its essential elements. You'll meet a man who gave his life to one of the strangest forms of sport/entertainment on the planet, and find out what happens when the ride is over.

Its a very telling, and really well written book. Its a very honest, personable account that makes you feel you've actually met Wayne Coleman. Its easy to see how a lot of people could really not like him, but this fascinating account of who "The Superstar" really is and was is extremely interesting and compelling. I enjoyed reading this book very much, (similar to how I felt reading Gene Simmons book on KISS.)

I don't endorse pro wrestling at all. In all honesty, its about as Satanic an expression as exists these days. But for filling in a long ago mystery of what happened to the "Superstar Billy Graham," this book does all that and more. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know the full story of the granddaddy of all modern wrestlers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superstar Billy Graham: Tangled Ropes, October 27, 2006

By	Bradley D. Banos "authority on nothing" (Toms River, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Very insightful autobiography by the Superstar. A man who became one of the top stars of the W.W.W.F. due to his showmanship and ming-boggling physique.
His learning the trade in Stu Hart's infamous "Dungeon" (where many pro wrestlers have trained)and comments by SBG of "working" with various opponents are especially interesting.
The Superstar's perserverence through the health problems caused by his former steroid use/abuse, his falling out with the W.W.F./W.W.E. and subsequent reconcilliation with the company are covered as well by SBG.
An outstanding account of his life from the man who influenced many future pro wrestling stars, including Hulk Hogan (arguably wrestling's greatest star, which I say because I feel Bruno Sammartino was the greatest). The matches between SBG and Bruno are among the best of all, which SBG describes.
Definitely should be read by wrestling fans of his era, when this type of information wasn't available to us fans of this "sport".