Former WWE champion, Eldridge Wayne Coleman, better known by his ring name “Superstar” Billy Graham, has passed away. He died at the age of 79.
The professional wrestler, famously known as the “Superstar”, died of undisclosed health issues on Wednesday May 17.
The three-time world champion Graham had reportedly been battling a number of health issues.
The news of his death was first made public by his fellow pro-wrestling protégé, Ric Flair and later confirmed by Dave Meltzer, a reporter for the Wrestling Observer.
“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us,” Flair wrote. “THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career!”
His post:
The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us 🙏🏻 THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career! pic.twitter.com/YH0eT2NM4p
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) May 18, 2023
“I am so sad. My entire life, and tons of others from Flair to Hogan to Jesse to tons you wouldn’t know and tons you would changed because of him. Valerie, I just wish you the best, you’re a saint and more people than you know are aware of it,” Meltzer said.
Earlier this week, Graham’s wife Valerie revealed he had been in the ICU for three weeks.
Many fans and people from the wrestling industry paid tribute to Graham on social media.
(Ric Flair, Twitter)