Former WWE Champion and WWE Hall of Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham has passed away at 79. Wrestling legend Ric Flair originally broke the news over his Twitter and was shortly confirmed by other sources.

　　Graham, real name Eldridge Wayne Coleman, transitioned from bodybuilding to become a professional wrestler in the late '60s. He eventually got his start at the legendary Canadian promoter and instructor Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling Promotion. After circulating around the AWA, he debuted in the then-WWF in 1975 in a tag-team match. He briefly left the company, but on his return, he won the World Championship from Bruno Sammartino, ending the living legend's historic four-year reign.

　　Fellow wrestling icons past and present acknowledged Graham's passing over social media and praised him as the prototype for what eventually would be called "sports-entertainment." Without Graham, you don't get the likes of Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, and Ric Flair.

　　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! pic.twitter.com/bwL6UQ3c3h

　　— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) May 18, 2023

　　"Quite possibly the biggest game-changer of all time," former NWA Champion Nick Aldis tweeted. "Because of Billy Graham, we got Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, not to mention countless others who made fortunes borrowing from this man."

　　In 1987, at just 44 years old, Graham retired from in-ring action and started his later career of being a manager and then a color commentator. Graham was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, followed by the WWE documentary, 20 Years Too Soon: The "Superstar" Billy Graham Story, which put the spotlight on his generational influence.