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WWE Legends - Superstar Billy Graham: Tangled Ropes
"I'm the man of the hour," Superstar Billy Graham told his audiences, "the man with the power. Too sweet to be sour!"
Despite years of devastating health issues (a long history of drug abuse led to a liver transplant in 2002), the man regarded as one of the most influential professional wrestlers of the past thirty years still flaunts the same optimism that made his interviews as compelling as his matches. In Tangled Ropes, his autobiography, Graham remembers his victories -- and his setbacks -- on both the wrestling and the evangelism circuits in vibrant detail.
At his core, Graham is still Wayne Coleman, the artistic, curious boy who escaped the wrath of his disabled father in post-war Phoenix through painting, sports, and bodybuilding.
When his photo appeared in a bodybuilding magazine, the young man caught the attention of a family in Texas who began praying for his soul. Soon, Wayne found religion at a revival meeting, then mortified his parents as he left home to bend steel, rip phone books in half, and preach the Gospel on the back roads of America.
Because of his natural athleticism, Wayne held a series of jobs -- from bouncer to boxer, from repo man to football player. However, it was under the training of the "Mentor of Mayhem," Stu Hart, that the wrestler was revealed. Then the fading headliner Dr. Jerry Graham bleached Wayne's hair blond and transformed him into an in-ring "brother." Still reverent of men of faith, Coleman became "Billy Graham," after the preacher. Graham completed the package with his golden tan and enormous "pythons," a succession of color-coordinated outfits and jive-talking -- a persona imitated by countless wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan and Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
The Superstar's greatest wrestling achievement came in 1977, when he took the World Wide Wrestling Federation Championship from Bruno Sammartino. He held the prize for nearly a year -- the first wrestling villain to do so. But after he lost the title to wholesome Bob Backlund, Graham fell into a deep depression. He disappeared from the business, squandering his money and losing himself in a haze of drugs.
In Tangled Ropes -- co-written with Keith Elliot Greenberg -- Superstar Billy Graham tells a story that transcends his life in the wrestling profession, offering candor, nostalgia, inspiration, and humor. Graham's narrative is supplemented by anecdotes from personalities like Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura, Ivan Koloff, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Despite years of devastating health issues (a long history of drug abuse led to a liver transplant in 2002), the man regarded as one of the most influential professional wrestlers of the past thirty years still flaunts the same optimism that made his interviews as compelling as his matches. In Tangled Ropes, his autobiography, Graham remembers his victories -- and his setbacks -- on both the wrestling and the evangelism circuits in vibrant detail.
At his core, Graham is still Wayne Coleman, the artistic, curious boy who escaped the wrath of his disabled father in post-war Phoenix through painting, sports, and bodybuilding.
When his photo appeared in a bodybuilding magazine, the young man caught the attention of a family in Texas who began praying for his soul. Soon, Wayne found religion at a revival meeting, then mortified his parents as he left home to bend steel, rip phone books in half, and preach the Gospel on the back roads of America.
Because of his natural athleticism, Wayne held a series of jobs -- from bouncer to boxer, from repo man to football player. However, it was under the training of the "Mentor of Mayhem," Stu Hart, that the wrestler was revealed. Then the fading headliner Dr. Jerry Graham bleached Wayne's hair blond and transformed him into an in-ring "brother." Still reverent of men of faith, Coleman became "Billy Graham," after the preacher. Graham completed the package with his golden tan and enormous "pythons," a succession of color-coordinated outfits and jive-talking -- a persona imitated by countless wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan and Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
The Superstar's greatest wrestling achievement came in 1977, when he took the World Wide Wrestling Federation Championship from Bruno Sammartino. He held the prize for nearly a year -- the first wrestling villain to do so. But after he lost the title to wholesome Bob Backlund, Graham fell into a deep depression. He disappeared from the business, squandering his money and losing himself in a haze of drugs.
In Tangled Ropes -- co-written with Keith Elliot Greenberg -- Superstar Billy Graham tells a story that transcends his life in the wrestling profession, offering candor, nostalgia, inspiration, and humor. Graham's narrative is supplemented by anecdotes from personalities like Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura, Ivan Koloff, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2006
About the author
Billy Graham
19 books2 followersLibrarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 24, 2007
Superstar Billy recounts his childhood and young adult life as a Christian pastor, then as a low-level grappler, to big time wrestling star; to drug abuse; anger; depression; comeback; retirement; hip replacement; liver transplant and, finally, return to grace. He is brutally honest about his flaws such as the aforementioned drug addiction, disloyalty to his friends and mentors, putting his wife - the true hero of this book - through all kinds of hell and sabotaging his own career because of resentment and jealousy. He goes out of his way to praise nearly everyone while downplaying himself while subtley sending out the Christian message of rebellion, repentence, forgiveness and salvation.
May 14, 2017
Being a fan of old professional wrestling and weight lifting this was a must read. Superstar Billy Graham is such an influential wrestler and character that without him there would be no Hulk Hogan or Rick Flair. Sadly drugs and bad financial choices sent his career into a tailspin. I guess his life story could serve as a cautionary tale to all that dabble in steroids and other performance enhancers. If you want to destroy your body just for 15 minutes of fame then by all means follow in this guys foot steps.
I really enjoyed reading about his time in wrestling before the WWWF (WWF now WWE) became this giant that it is today. Graham's era of wrestling was more like Time Square in the 1970's then the flash and entertainment spot it is today. Gritty, dirty, dangerous and filled with drugs, Graham took sports entertainment in a new direction leading towards the Rock & Wrestling Era of the 80's into the Attitude era of the late 90's/early 00.
As a weight lifter I enjoyed reading about his time at Golds with Arnold. It would have been awesome to work out with these guys just once in their prime.
The reason it gets 3 out of 5 stars is it grows depressing at times and I don't think I'll ever re-read it.
I really enjoyed reading about his time in wrestling before the WWWF (WWF now WWE) became this giant that it is today. Graham's era of wrestling was more like Time Square in the 1970's then the flash and entertainment spot it is today. Gritty, dirty, dangerous and filled with drugs, Graham took sports entertainment in a new direction leading towards the Rock & Wrestling Era of the 80's into the Attitude era of the late 90's/early 00.
As a weight lifter I enjoyed reading about his time at Golds with Arnold. It would have been awesome to work out with these guys just once in their prime.
The reason it gets 3 out of 5 stars is it grows depressing at times and I don't think I'll ever re-read it.
December 22, 2016
Billy seemed to have become too much of a mark for himself and took the 70s WWWF booking too seriously. He seems honest about his character flaws, and the early parts of the book about becoming an evangelical preacher and then getting into wrestling via Dr. Jerry Graham are great. One of the better wrestling autobiographies, and surprisingly good considering it is WWE authorized.
March 23, 2020
Best ebook on pro wrestling that I ever read--mentions many pro wrestlers.
Superstar Billy Graham set the mood for many wrestlers with his arrogant attitude and flamboyant muscle posing, but steroid abuse did him in and he honestly admits he has
limited technical skills and he admits lying about witnessing Pat Patterson hit on
underaged ring boys hoping that the more he discredited WWF the more money he could get in a settlement. I always thought Vince McMahon was a jerk, but he treated Graham very well when he almost died from a failed liver, calling him at the hospital and inducting him in Hall of Fame.
Superstar Billy Graham set the mood for many wrestlers with his arrogant attitude and flamboyant muscle posing, but steroid abuse did him in and he honestly admits he has
limited technical skills and he admits lying about witnessing Pat Patterson hit on
underaged ring boys hoping that the more he discredited WWF the more money he could get in a settlement. I always thought Vince McMahon was a jerk, but he treated Graham very well when he almost died from a failed liver, calling him at the hospital and inducting him in Hall of Fame.
November 18, 2024
The man who became pro wrestler "Superstar" Billy Graham does a good job describing his rise and very painful fall. Anyone familiar with Graham's story knows his post-wrestling career was nothing short of a mess and while this memoir covers everything up to the early 2000s, it would be great to see something covering the next 20+years until his passing. Plenty of road stories for wrestling fans as well as tributes by wrestlers who Graham inspired.
January 18, 2018
Great book!
Growing up in the Seventies, all boys wanted to be Superstar! This book takes you behind the curtain and shows you the good and he bad; the highs and the lows.
Growing up in the Seventies, all boys wanted to be Superstar! This book takes you behind the curtain and shows you the good and he bad; the highs and the lows.
October 18, 2019
His career was nearly over. When i began watching wrestling he influenced so many stars of wrestling.
May 16, 2021
Magnificent!!
What a Fantastic read about the one and only Superstar Billy Graham The GOAT!!
highly recommended read and God bless you brother Billy and your wonderful wife!!
What a Fantastic read about the one and only Superstar Billy Graham The GOAT!!
highly recommended read and God bless you brother Billy and your wonderful wife!!
June 14, 2023
The early years of Superstar up until the early 80s were a wild ride. "I am the women's pet, the men's regret." Superstar was one of a kind, for sure.
October 31, 2020
Terrific read!!
Billy was my childhood hero, and reading his book was a thrill. I really recommend this...I am a college prof now, yet my life long dream was to be like Superstar.
Billy was my childhood hero, and reading his book was a thrill. I really recommend this...I am a college prof now, yet my life long dream was to be like Superstar.
July 3, 2014
Holy shit. Graham has to be the greatest dabbler of all time: a strongman, an evangelist, a pro football washout, a steroid addict, a star high school athlete, an asshole, a criminal, and an absolute gene yuss on top of it. If you're looking for only-in-America stories of cunning Elmer Gantry types who bullshitted their way to the top, this is one of them. And the "with" format seems to work here, as the co-author has managed to capture the weird cadences of Graham's grandiose speaking style (which Graham himself claims was fuelled partly by his extraordinary consumption of drugs of all kinds). While you're at it, watch some YouTube interviews with this guy: it's amazing to watch him freely confess to his own crimes/sins/whatever, then soldier forth to sin again. And because he was so brilliant--not at anything in particular, but just at being himself--everyone gives him the benefit of the doubt, over and over again...even Vince McMahon, whose career Graham would've happily ruined in the early 90s in exchange for a couple of bucks and some TV exposure.
December 31, 2017
Largely enjoyable due to its verbosity and sincere recollection. Every phase of Graham's life is well-analyzed: his upbringing, faith experiences, football and bodybuilding ventures, and at the top, his influential pro wrestling carreer (spanning almost two decades and changing the face of the business). He also touches his struggle against own "personal demons" without a single trace of self-indulgence; really respectable by him, other than touching.
December 10, 2019
If you are an an old school wrestling fan of a certain age like me (I'm 47), you will LOVE this excellent insight into the life of Wayne, aka Superstar Billy Graham.
There's no holding back, very warts and all, sickness, injury, drug abuse. Billy tells all with no regard to kayfabe whatsoever. He worked almost everywhere and his stories of the old time guys are extremely interesting.
It's well written, entertaining and most enlightning.
Thankyou for 3 days of wonderful reading, Superstar!
There's no holding back, very warts and all, sickness, injury, drug abuse. Billy tells all with no regard to kayfabe whatsoever. He worked almost everywhere and his stories of the old time guys are extremely interesting.
It's well written, entertaining and most enlightning.
Thankyou for 3 days of wonderful reading, Superstar!
September 2, 2010
Preacher. Bodybuilder. Drug addict. WWF Champion. Quite a unique combination for the Superstar who was 20 years ahead of his time. He was among the 1st wrestlers to be ripped, dress outlandishly, and entertain on the mic more than with his skills. This book isn't usually included in the best insider wrestling books, but I really enjoyed it.
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October 7, 2007A hard look at the life of a professional wrestler. At times sad, funny, and moving, "Superstar" pulls no punches and ducks no topics in this very honest biography.
November 25, 2012
GREAT book. I couldn't put it down.
February 6, 2015
Wonderfully hard hitting. Very well done Billy!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews