Mid-Atlantic Wrestling: Superstar Billy Graham Kung Fu Fights Wahoo McDaniel

[T74G]

"Superstars" sporadic chopping motions....GOLD!!

[mwhitten77]

Wtf was that? Fat-ass Wahoo McDaniel beats Billy Graham with a weak ass chop? Not following that one at all.

[Humanoidfreak]

@mwhitten77

Back then, the fat guys could be beat anybody easily with a simple move. Hell Dusty Rhodes used a flying elbow as his finisher.

[Junkay2]

And I hate the way wrestling has traditionally booked Native American wrestlers. Traditionally, Professional wrestling has perpetuated sterotypes about Native Americans (the wearing of headresses, a wrestler going on the "war path", etc.). And particularly with Wahoo, he was often billed as one of the great "Indian" wrestlers. Why can't he just have been one of the great wrestlers?

[22centman36]

@Junkay2 aw come on , man, I love the headdress. But I agree, its a gimmick always used and over used. But Pro wresstling especially int he 80's was all about stereotypes. A wrestler couldnt jsut be a wrestler unless he was a jobber. And who knows, some of the native america wrestlers may have actually wanted to wear their headdresses.

[jesxe69]

@Junkay2 At least there was Jack and Gerry Brisco.

[GohModley]

@Junkay2 Cuz he's an injun. Deal wit it.

[Junkay2]

That "Kung Fu" gimmick was really horrible. And it was punctuated by Billy Graham's entrance music which is pretty much a novelty song. This should be used as a training tool to future bookers as to how NOT to get a wrestler over!

[stevedrums]

WWE should release all of the Starcadde cards likemthey did Wrestlmania, Royal Rumbles et al. The 3 disc version, is a ncie start, but I'd to have the complete cards ot '83 through '87.

[darilc1966]

This wrestling in its golden years Mcmahon couldn't put quality out like this today

[GohModley]

@darilc1966 Not only could he but he would, if he thought it would make him more money than what he's putting out now. We like old school, but we're a minority. Deal with it.

[ccie12933]

Two legends. Terrible match. Nuff said.

[Naitch35]

@ccie12933 Perfect summary of this match. In fact the whole card was one of the worst Starrcades ever.

[ccie12933]

@Naitch35 True, but the Blanchard-Steamboat match on this show is a forgotten classic. The crowd reaction to the result of the Valiant-Jones match was great, as was Valiant's slamming of the chair before his head shaving. The rest was pretty much crap, I'm afraid.

[litehouse6]

Graham said in an interview that this period was the low point in his life. He said he was using hard drugs like coke and didn't feel up to doing his Superstar gimmick.

[Lfdjake91]

Superstar Billy Graham here reminds me of my old Akido teacher.

[realestatefla1]

Look how Jeff Jarret is copying what the Super Star did 30 years ago! Freaking amazing how SBG was so ahead of his time!

[gvader]

Gordon Solie baby! The best!

[impactplayer09]

damn what were they thinking dropping Superstar's gimmick for this crap

[GohModley]

@impactplayer09 Superstar made up the gimmick.

[impactplayer09]

@GohModley damn what was he thinking

[GohModley]

@impactplayer09 if I remember from his book, he had a breakdown after losing the title to Backlund and never really recovered. Read his book, it's really kind of heartbreaking.

[Lfdjake91]

@impactplayer09 Superstar's old colorful gimmick was being coppied by guys like Jesse Ventura, Austin Idol & some newcomer named Hulk Hogan, Graham felt he needed something different to stand out. Martial arts were very hot & new in the late '70s, w/ stuff like Bruce Lee, TV show Kung Fu & song Kung Fu fighting, so Graham created this gimmick. Sadly, for him it was not as popular as his previous persona.

[eslubin]

Wahoo destroyed Superstar. Proving not only wrestling is superior to karate, but Indians are tougher than Whites

[angus506]

@eslubin pfft indians are tougher than whites? tell that to the ufc

[obaeng]

In adding to my last log in,It was pure B.S. that he was not recognized for the prize.

[obaeng]

I have been a professional wrestling fan since approximately 1972, when I was 4 years old when my great grandmother (RIP) and my grandmother would watch it on Saturdays; especially NWA wrestling( particularly Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling).Looking a Wahoo Mcdaniel's(RIP) wrestling career, I truly believe that he got screwed over. He should have been the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion at least twice. Regardless of his imperfections, he was a talented wrestler and All Pro NFL player.B.S.!!

[spoodyface]

the kung fu gimmick started in wwf not crocket

[litehouse6]

Graham said this was the darkest period of his life. He said in an interview, that he was heavy into drug use, not just steroids, and very unhappy and that was why he switched from his Superstar gimmick to the karate nonsense. Regardless, Dusty sucked as a booker and did his best to keep other guys down and elevate his fat self.

[mrhollister09]

God I hate that Crockett turned him into a Kung Fu star. I suspect Dusty, out of remote jealousy, did this bullshit to an otherwise fabulous legend

[ringgiant1]

@mrhollister09

The kung fu thing started in his comeback during his rematches with Backlund. Biggest mistake superstar ever made. Superstar as heel was big, but if he had come to mid atlantic as a baby face he could have been huge minus the kung fu fighting thing.

[Sargebri]

They should have had Wahoo take on Steamboat. Unfortuantely Steamboat was already programmed with Tully Blanchard. Also, this was still a couple of months before Magnum arrived in Crockett and began his challenge of Wahoo.

[Lfdjake91]

@Sargebri The original booking plan called for Wahoo to wrestle & IIRC drop the US title to Barry Windham. However,Windham bailed to WWF just weeks before.On short notice, Dusty brought SSBG up from Florida where Graham was working as a face after a falling out w/ Kevin Sullivan's cult.The idea was that Superstar & Wahoo had battled many times during the early '70s & that as a result they would have great chemistry together.Later Magnum TA replaced Barry as the man Wahoo dropped the title to.

[Sargebri]

@Lfdjake91 Wow. I never knew about the Windham factor. Now that would have been something, Windham as US champ and, in essence, the top babyface in the area. I also thought it was interesting that he and Rotundo were there. Of course, didn't start showing Crockett here in Los Angeles until January of 1985 and by that time they were deep into Magnum's push.

[DoktorSick]

wahoo McDanials was always one of my fave wrestlers because even though he was a face he could fight dirty. You don't see that to much if any nowadays.

[mrkmuscle]

That double bi flex of superstar was still a turn on then and now

[sanddune]

Superstar was on his last leg in the sport. They couldn't push him too much because his body wasstarting to break down.

[MultiHotrod1]

With the US Belt being the 2nd rated belt in the Mid-Atlantic they could have came up with a better opponent than Superstar Graham. This was a lame match 4 Starrcade. FAT ASS Dusty strikes again

[daredevilpre]

no wonder he pinned Graham, he landed on his hip.

[harryarchiegus]

First, love the music. Second, love Kung Fu Superstar Billy Graham. Third, great match. Well, no, just kidding on that last one.

What is the name of that song Wahoo came down the aisle to?

[mamacornettesmoney]

@harryarchiegus That song is Far from Over by Frank Stallone (Sly's brother). It was from the movie "Stayin' Alive" (sequel to Saturday Night Fever) that Sly Stallone directed.

The song won several awards and has been used in countless places. You probably recognize it as the long time theme for Starcade.

[larrystarstruck]

They have legends in this match and for the record, very poor.

[RevDarkehorse]

This match was, sadly, anti-climatic.

[RevDarkehorse]

I always hated this version of Superstar Billy Graham. To me, the original version with the blond hair and the tye-dye is the version of his career that I want to remember.

[le238man]

@RevDarkehorse I agree totally! I lost interest when he came on with this nonsense! The original Graham was classic,especially paired up with "The Grand Wizard".

[DocFarnoff]

Poor Superstar! Saddled with lousy entrance music and a finish that made him look very weak.

[OaktownABQ]

I agree. One, two, three -- right in the middle of the ring. I didn't see that coming!