 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jerry Martin Matthews[1] (1921-12-16)December 16, 1921[1] Woodward, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | January 24, 1997(1997-01-24) (aged 75)[1] Glendale, California, U.S.[1] |
| Alma mater | Phoenix College Arizona State University |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Dr. Jerry Graham Jerry Graham Dr. Zombie[2] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[3] |
| Billed weight | 245 lb (111 kg)[3] |
| Billed from | Phoenix, Arizona[3] |
| Debut | 1947[4] |
| Retired | 1981 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1947-1948[1] |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 82nd Airborne Division |
Jerry Martin Graham (bornJerry Martin Matthews,[5] December 16, 1921 – January 24, 1997) better known as"Dr. Jerry Graham" was an Americanprofessional wrestler. He is best known for his time spent in theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation and as the founder of the Graham wrestling family.
Graham was adopted by his stepfather Harold Graham and his name was legally changed.[5] He was raised in Arizona. In June 1947, he enlisted in theUnited States Army, serving with the82nd Airborne Division as aparatrooper and as a driver forGeneral James M. Gavin.[1][6][2] He became a private first class. After leaving the Army in 1948, he returned to Phoenix, where he attendedPhoenix College andArizona State University.[1][2]
Graham began wrestling at the age of 14 in his hometown ofPhoenix, Arizona,[2] and won his first major title, theNWA Southern Heavyweight Championship, in December 1956.[7] He was the founder of thestoryline Graham wrestling family,[2] which includedEddie 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. (Donald J. Jolly), Mad Dog Steele Graham (Tom Hankins) and Gerry Chubby Graham (M. Gerald Sadler).[6][8] Along with Eddie, Jerry sold outMadison Square Garden many times in the 1950s and late 1960s, when they were known as The Golden Grahams. After histag team success, Dr. Graham brought "Crazy" Luke Graham and "Superstar" Billy Graham into the Graham family.[9][10] He engaged in afeud withBuddy Rogers in 1956, predominantly inNew York.[11]
On November 19, 1957, Graham andDick the Bruiser wrestledAntonio Rocca andEdouard Carpentier atMadison Square Garden.[2] 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.[2] All of the wrestlers during the match were fined, and Dick the Bruiser was banned for life from wrestling inNew York.[2][12] He was a top contender forBruno Sammartino'sWorld Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF)World Heavyweight Championship, wrestling him in three bouts at Madison Square Garden.[8] The arena was so packed that more than 10,000 fans were turned away.[2]
Despite coming up short in winning the world title, Graham held theWWWF United States Tag Team Championship six times; his first reign with Eddie Graham began in September 1958, when they defeatedMark Lewin andDon Curtis.[8] They won the titles again in May 1959 until it was vacated due to Jerry suffering an injury.[13] He also held it in November withJohnny Valentine until Eddie took his place the following year.[13] This also included a reign with "brother" Crazy Luke Graham in March 1964.[13] Graham also won theNWA Canadian Tag Team Championship withAbdullah the Butcher in October 1967.[11]
He spent the 1970s training other wrestlers and occasionally wrestling himself.[14] Graham unsuccessfully attempted a comeback to the now WWF in 1984, and spent the rest of his career as a manager on theindependent circuit.[8][6] Throughout his career, he suffered from injuries which included abroken nose,dislocated hip,back pain, and at least 300 stitches to his back.[15]
Graham's final match took place in 1986 at theGrand Olympic Auditorium for All-Star California Championship Wrestling, challengingVictor Rivera for the CCW Heavyweight Championship. The match was stopped due to Graham's excessive bleeding.Pampero Firpo also returned that evening to professional wrestling, winning a 20-manbattle royal.
Graham suffered from alcoholism and depression.[2] 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 the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.[5][16] After the incident, he spent time in the Arizona State Mental Hospital.[6]
In"Superstar" Billy Graham's bookTangled Ropes, he speaks about the real life hatred that Graham had forFreddie Blassie.[16]
Graham suffered from failing health in the mid-90s, causing him to enter a nursing home.[6] On January 24, 1997, Graham died inGlendale at the age of 75, due to complications from a stroke six weeks earlier.[2][11]
He was posthumously inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame as a part of the Legacy wing on March 31, 2017.[17]
In the 2024 documentary miniseriesMr. McMahon,Vince McMahon named Graham as his favorite professional wrestler.
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