Book Review: Tangled Ropes, The Superstar Graham Story

Whatever fame he gained he paid for in levels of pain no one should have to endure.

Wayne “Superstar Billy Graham” Coleman hit NYC and Philly wrestling like no one else before. He had the jive talk. The tie-dyed clothes. And a physique like no one else had seen before. This was long before people knew what anabolic steroids were.

“These hands can crush coconuts! These hands can straighten out horseshoes! I train five hours a day! I run 19 miles a day!”

Graham had a magic look. Guys wanted to be him. Women imagined (and realized) time with him. He lived the fast life. He traveled the world. He earned as much as $35,000 a month during a time when most in the pro game wouldn’t see that amount in a year.

He was unique and was one of the few bad boys who could reach in and really hit the nerve inside the young male audience. Wacko comedian Andy Kaufman was a regular at MSG during Graham’s reign. Andy Warhol even stopped by on occaission.

Behind the scenes, he was nothing like the person he portrayed on the TV and in the arena. He was a born again Christian and a devoted husband. He was also shooting steroids at an alarming rate while abusing uppers, downers and painkillers to get through the grind of professional wrestling.

“Don’t call my brother [and tag team partner Luke Graham] crazy! He is cured! I spent my money on getting him the best psychiatrists in the world. He can now eat at the dinner table with the rest of the family!”

He was king of NY until moved away from the top spot, with promoters unwilling to go in the direction of keeping a colorful bad guy on top.

Deep depression set in shortly thereafter as The Superstar took his demotion very hard. As anyone would who felt they were truly cheated out of their glory having it cut short before its popularity peaked.

Billy’s fall was hard. Addictions set in and he slipped into an outrageous pill addiction to numb the fall from grace. The drugs that made him the Superstar were more. His body shrunk back to normalcy. He toiled in obscurity for years seeing the anabolics that one made him famous had turned against him. Both hips were replaced. Both ankles fused. And recently he miraculously underwent a successful liver transplant that saved his life.

The book is better than the DVD that accompanies it. But both are recommended.

More than just a chronology of a life once lived or a history of pro wrestling, “Tangled Ropes” is a must read look into one of the most unique pop culture icons of his day.

On the fringe.