Jerry Martin Graham (born Jerry Martin Matthews, December 16, 1928 – January 24, 1997) was an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

. He is best known for his time spent in the

World Wide Wrestling Federation Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. was an American sports promotion company. It was run by Vincent J. McMahon from 1953 to 1982. Operating as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC), the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing p ...

and as the founder of the Graham wrestling family.

Professional wrestling career

Graham began wrestling at the age of 14 in his hometown of

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

. He was the founder of the storyline Graham wrestling family, which included Eddie Graham (Edward Gossett), "Crazy" Luke Graham (James Grady Johnson), "Superstar" Billy Graham (Wayne Coleman), Mike Graham (Mike Gossett), Jerry Graham Jr., Crazy Luke Graham Jr. and Mad Dog Steele Graham (Tom Hankins). Along with Eddie, Jerry sold out

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

many times in the 1950s and late 1960s, when they were known as The Golden Grahams. After his

tag team Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establish ...

success, Dr. Graham brought "Crazy" Luke Graham and "Superstar" Billy Graham into the Graham family. Graham feuded with Buddy Rogers in 1956. On November 19, 1957, Graham and

Dick the Bruiser William Fritz Afflis (June 27, 1929 – November 10, 1991) was an American professional wrestler, promoter, and former NFL player, better known by his ring name, Dick the Bruiser. During his NFL days he played four seasons with the Green Bay Pac ...

wrestled

Antonio Rocca Antonio Rocca (mid 17th century) was an Italian painter. He became a monk and worked in Rome and the Piedmont. He died at Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendar ...

and Edouard Carpentier at

. During the match, a major riot exploded and many fans were arrested, with eight police officers being injured from chairs that were thrown by fans. All of the wrestlers during the match were fined, and Dick the Bruiser was banned for life from wrestling in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. When Graham wrestled

Bruno Sammartino Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). There, he held the WWWF World Heavywei ...

for the

(WWWF)'s World Heavyweight Championship,

was so packed that more than 10,000 fans were turned away. He held the

WWWF United States Tag Team Championship The WWWF United States Tag Team Championship was the first version of the main tag team title in the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1963 until 1967. Originally, the WWWF was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance operating out of the No ...

six times, including several reigns with Eddie Graham, one with "brother" Crazy Luke Graham, and one with

Johnny Valentine John Theodore Wisniski (September 22, 1928 – April 24, 2001), better known by his ring name Johnny Valentine, was an American professional wrestler with a career spanning almost three decades. He has been inducted into four halls of fame fo ...

. Graham spent the 1970s training other wrestlers and occasionally wrestling himself. In 2009, Graham was inducted into the Georgia Wrestling History Hall of Fame. On March 31, 2017, Graham was posthumously inducted into the

WWE Hall of Fame The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which honors professional wrestlers and professional wrestling personalities maintained by WWE. Originally known as the "WWF Hall of Fame", it was created in 1993 when André the Giant was posthumously ind ...

as a part of the Legacy wing.

Personal life

Graham was adopted by his stepfather Harold Graham and his name was legally changed. He falsified his age to enlist in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers. After the war, he attended

Phoenix College Phoenix College (PC) is a public community college in Encanto, Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country. History The college was originally a part of the Phoenix Union High School and Junio ...

and

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...

. Graham suffered from alcoholism and depression. In August 1969, when his mother died, he grabbed a shotgun from the back of his car and took his mother's corpse out of Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. After the incident, he spent time in the Arizona State Mental Hospital. In "Superstar" Billy Graham's book ''Tangled Ropes'', he speaks about the real life hatred that Graham had for

Freddie Blassie Frederick Kenneth Blassman (February 8, 1918 – June 2, 2003) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known by the ring name "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Renowned as "The Hollywood Fashion Plate","Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot ...

. Graham died on January 24, 1997, at age of 68 due to complications from a stroke six weeks earlier.

Championships and accomplishments

Capitol Wrestling Corporation Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. was an American sports promotion company. It was run by Vincent J. McMahon from 1953 to 1982. Operating as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC), the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing p ...

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...

** NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) ( 5 times) – with

Eddie Graham Edward F. Gossett (January 15, 1930 – January 21, 1985), better known as Eddie Graham, was an American professional wrestler. He was also the promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida and President of the NWA in the 1970s. ...

(4),

(1) **

( 1 time) – with Luke Graham **

(Class of 2017) *

Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling Continental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Dothan, Alabama from 1985 until 1989, owned by Ron Fuller. The promotion evolved out of the NWA-affiliated Southeastern Championship Wr ...

NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship The NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division) was originally the primary singles championship for ''Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling'' and was originally named the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship. As the name indicates ...

( 1 time) *

Maple Leaf Wrestling Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. History Queensbury Athletic Club The promotion, initially known as the Queensbury Athle ...

NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) The Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling championship (professional wrestling), championship in the Canada, Canadian professional wrestling promotion, promotion Maple Leaf Wres ...

( 1 time) – with

Bulldog Brower Richard Gland (September 17, 1933 – September 15, 1997) was an American professional wrestler who used the ring name Dick "Bulldog" Brower. Professional wrestling career Gland started his career in the Delaware territory in 1958 under the ring ...

* Mid-South Sports **

NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Georgia version) The Georgia version of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Southern Heavyweight Championship was a secondary singles championship used in Georgia Championship Wrestling off-and-on from 1948 to 1972. The title is one of many versions of the NWA ...

(

2 times "2 Times" is a song co-written and recorded by British Italian-based singer Ann Lee. It was released in 1999 as the lead single from her debut album, ''Dreams'' (1999). The single entered and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Outside ...

) **

NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) Between May 1955 and 1969 the professional wrestling promotion ABC Booking (later known as Georgia Championship Wrestling; GCW) promoted their own regional version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship, a professional wrestling championship for ...

( 1 time) – with

Don McIntyre Daniel Gordon "Don" McIntyre (5 March 1915 – 16 July 2013) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the VFL. McIntyre played as a defender, usually in the back pocket. He won a Best and Fairest In Australian sport, ...

NWA All-Star Wrestling NWA All Star Wrestling (sometimes referred to as NWA Vancouver) is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. All-Star Wrestling folded in 1989 but returned in 2007 no longer affiliated with the National Wr ...

NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) The Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship was established in 1962 as the top tag team title in NWA All-Star Wrestling. The title held that status until late summer 1985, when the title was renamed the UWA Tag Team Champions ...

( 1 time) – with

Abdullah the Butcher Lawrence Robert Shreve (born January 11, 1941), better known by the ring name Abdullah the Butcher, is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He has a reputation for being involved in some of the most violent and bloody hardcore wrestling matc ...

NWA World Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) The Vancouver version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship for tag teams that was used by NWA All-Star Wrestling from 1966 to 1968. When the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) was created in 1948, the Bo ...

( 1 time) – with Abdullah the Butcher *

Stampede Wrestling Stampede Wrestling was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta. For nearly 50 years, it was one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies. Originally established by Stu Hart in 1948, the prom ...

** NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) ( 1 time) – with

Jim Wright James Claude Wright Jr. (December 22, 1922 – May 6, 2015) was an American politician who served as the 48th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1989. He represented Texas's 12th congressional district as a ...

World Wrestling Association The World Wrestling Association (WWA) (Asociación Mundial de Lucha Libre in Spanish) is a lucha libre promotion based in the Tijuana-area of Mexico. It was founded in 1986 by Benjamin Mora Jr.. It featured some of Mexico's best ''luchadores'' a ...

WWA World Tag Team Championship The WWA World Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title in the Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association The World Wrestling Association (WWA) (Asociación Mundial de Lucha Libre in Spanish) is a lucha libre promotion based i ...

(

) – with Don Kent

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Jerry American male professional wrestlers Professional wrestlers from Oklahoma Professional wrestling trainers 1928 births 1997 deaths WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees Phoenix College alumni Arizona State University alumni United States Army personnel of World War II Stampede Wrestling alumni Burials at Riverside National Cemetery Child soldiers in World War II 20th-century professional wrestlers NWA International Tag Team Champions (Toronto version) Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champions