WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham was one of the biggest stars during his golden days in the industry. Fans of the golden ages fondly remember his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship. He sadly passed away recently, but not without influencing Vince McMahon in a way that will forever be remembered.

Billy Graham sadly passed away on May 17th at the age of 79 after long and painful battle with numerous health issues. Fans all lost hope when his wife was advised by doctors to pull him from life support earlier this week.

The pro wrestling legend will be remembered as one of the most influential wrestlers, as quite a few pro wrestlers were inspired by his charisma and his mannerisms in general. Not only that – Vince McMahon was greatly inspired by him as well.

Paul Heyman took to Twitter and revealed that Vince McMahon began using the term “WWE Superstars” after the undeniable mark that Billy Graham had on the professional wrestling industry as a whole.

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“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!”

Billy Graham’s flamboyant persona and captivating interviews made him an instant fan favorite. He inspired innumerable pro wrestlers, including the likes of Triple H. No matter what, Graham’s contributions to the industry will always be remembered and that is all that matters.

What’s your opinion on Billy Graham inspiring Vince McMahon? What is your favorite Billy Graham moment? Let us know in the comments!

Subhojeet Mukherjee

Subhojeet is a professional wrestling fan for over 22 years. He got captivated by the sport during the Monday Night Wars and has a passion for it ever since. He also enjoys TV shows, movies, anime, novels and music, which broadens his perspective and appreciation for wrestling. He is a knowledgeable and respected voice in the industry.

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