Who is he, what has he done, and why should I care? (ECW Spoilers)

[FourFifty]

I just read that Eddie Graham is going into the Hall of Fame. This is weird because for the first time this is a name that I just heard of tonight. Who is this guy, what has he done, and why should I care?
I know wikipedia isn't the best source of news but it looks like this guy was just a number. A wrestler turned booker turned possible suicide victim. I don't see anything remarkable. So he wrestled for for Capitol Wrestling. Had a gimmick as "The Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers' brother. Went on to become another person's brother. All in all a less than stellar life.
The only thing I could think of is his ties to Florida's wrestling, but come on, who gives a fuck this year? The Rock is there. The fans will be focused on The Rock for Florida wrestling history because, and let's be real, very few people care about someone who killed himself in the 80's.
The only tie he has to wrestling right now is his son works for WWE 24/7 showing matches from Florida.


So can someone explain to me why this guy is going into the Hall of Fame?

[KingofOldSchool]

Because he was a legendary promoter and a great tag team star in the WWWF back in the day.

How hard is that to understand?

[FourFifty]

Legendary? With all due respect I wouldn't count what he did for the industry as legendary. There have been tons of great wrestlers that went on to do work behind the scenes who haven't gotten into the Hall of Fame yet. The Freebirds, Strike Force, Ricky Steamboat, just to name a few.
I'm going to be open minded about this- I've never heard of the guy, or even known what he has done. From what I've read he was just a tag team wrestler who killed himself. So hey, tell me more about him, and why he should be in the Hall of Fame.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The WWE usually does a good job with their videos promoting their Hall of Fame entrants. If that doesn't get you to see the guy as a legend, I doubt someone here could do it.

I only know what you know, but apparently he was a "legendary" wrestling promoter. I'd assume that he's mainly going into the Hall of Fame because of these promoting achievements. The WWE has put a few guys that shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame before others in the Hall before, so you can't expect them all to be Ric Flairs, or something.

I'm still hoping tha Gordon Solie gets in this year.

[FourFifty]

The WWE usually does a good job with their videos promoting their Hall of Fame entrants. If that doesn't get you to see the guy as a legend, I doubt someone here could do it.

Ah, I've always loved WWE's production values. They can sell a rack of ribs to a vegan.
However, here's a small issue- I didn't see the video package.

Albeit I have been reading more and more... The dude had a big impact on Florida. I won't say he's a legend, but he did a LOT for that state. Donated money to a school to build a wrestling room, helped train Bob Orton Jr, part of a team which paved the way for fake brothers.... The guy did a lot more than I thought.

[KingofOldSchool]

Legendary? With all due respect I wouldn't count what he did for the industry as legendary. There have been tons of great wrestlers that went on to do work behind the scenes who haven't gotten into the Hall of Fame yet. The Freebirds, Strike Force, Ricky Steamboat, just to name a few.
I'm going to be open minded about this- I've never heard of the guy, or even known what he has done. From what I've read he was just a tag team wrestler who killed himself. So hey, tell me more about him, and why he should be in the Hall of Fame.

You can't have everyone going in at once, geesh.

Just because the guy was not around before your time, doesn't mean he wasn't a legend

[KingofOldSchool]

I mean hell, most of the casual fans now don't even remember The Rock and will only recognize him from movies. Doesn't mean he is any less HOF worthy.

[FourFifty]

Just because the guy was not around before your time, doesn't mean he wasn't a legend

Hold up a second KoOS. Just because someone was before my time doesn't mean anything.
Buddy Rogers, Lou Thez, Bruno Sammartino, Haystacks Callhoun, Gordon Solie, and a hell of a lot of other people in the industry are before my time. These people just made an impact that I've noticed and followed. I never said anything close to "well he was before my time so he doesn't matter." I just never heard of him.

[Lara Emily]

I just read that Eddie Graham is going into the Hall of Fame. This is weird because for the first time this is a name that I just heard of tonight. Who is this guy, what has he done, and why should I care?
I know wikipedia isn't the best source of news but it looks like this guy was just a number. A wrestler turned booker turned possible suicide victim. I don't see anything remarkable. So he wrestled for for Capitol Wrestling. Had a gimmick as "The Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers' brother. Went on to become another person's brother. All in all a less than stellar life.
The only thing I could think of is his ties to Florida's wrestling, but come on, who gives a fuck this year? The Rock is there. The fans will be focused on The Rock for Florida wrestling history because, and let's be real, very few people care about someone who killed himself in the 80's.
The only tie he has to wrestling right now is his son works for WWE 24/7 showing matches from Florida.


So can someone explain to me why this guy is going into the Hall of Fame?

First of all the guy had a 30 some odd year in ring career, he was President of the NWA for a while. He's also a famous booker who ran the very popular CWF territory down in Florida during the heyday of territory era. The guy is a legit legend.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Lara did a pretty good job of providing specifics on why he is going in. All I knew was that he was great for wrestling in Florida during the territory days. Now I know a little more.

[Mr. JL]

Yeah, I have no idea who this man is but it is nice to see the WWE acknowledge history and this will hopefully help more people understand and know about his contributions to the wrestling biz.

[KingofOldSchool]

Hold up a second KoOS. Just because someone was before my time doesn't mean anything.
Buddy Rogers, Lou Thez, Bruno Sammartino, Haystacks Callhoun, Gordon Solie, and a hell of a lot of other people in the industry are before my time. These people just made an impact that I've noticed and followed. I never said anything close to "well he was before my time so he doesn't matter." I just never heard of him.

But still just because YOU haven't heard of him doesn't mean other people haven't.

[Kane Knight]

I'm refraining from the obvious jokes.

[St. Jimmy]

Who is your daddy, and what does he do?

[Xero]

My daddy is Domingo Montoya, and you killed him. Prepare to die.

[BigDaddyCool]

It might just be me, but the HOF seems more like a political ass kissing game than a real hall of fame. How has Owen Hart not be put in yet, but Bob Orton has. All Bob Orton ever did was cum in some chick and 9 month's later she gave birth to a douche bag.

[Loose Cannon]

wow, seriously?

Florida Championship Wreslting is why. that's all that needs to be said

[Loose Cannon]

ok, might as well.

Obviosuly, not many newer fans understand the importance of the territory days way back when. A lot of the territories helped wrestling survive and played a focal point in thriving business. Flordia was a part of the NWA and is recognized today as one of the most sucessful regions to ever be run.

Before Eddie Graham became known as a great promoter, he was a wreslter that made a lot of money in his time back in the 50's and 60's. The Graham family was a big attraction in the Florida territory and Eddie himself did a lot of outside charity kind of work as well.

Like mentioned, he was president of the NWA at one point and became a spectacular promoter. He took over Florida in the 70's and the promotion took off. The promotion showcased some all-time big names including Dusty Rhodes, Billy Graham, Barry Windham, Solie, The Funks etc...

No, he's not more deserving then a lot of guys who have yet to make it in, but to say he's not deserving is dumb.

Promoters played a pivital part in wrestling history and I think the top ones deserve just as much credit as the wreslters themselves

[Loose Cannon]

the one problem I do have with them inducting Graham is that they haven't inducted Crockett yet.

My top promoter list would be

Vince Jr
Crockett jr
Vince Sr
Gagne
Stu
Graham
Fritz
Watts
Barnett
Owens
Jarrett

and then throw Bischoff/Turner and Heyman in there somewhere

[Jordan]

Heyman should without a doubt go into the Hall of Fame. Bret Hart needs to induct his brother Owen, that will be tough to watch. Steve Austin and The Rock should be there in a few years, Randy Savage should be inducted soon and then I think he should induct Miss Elizabeth as well. There are so many, I dunno I like that WWE is going to get the old territory guys but that can't last much longer obviously. I'd really like most of all to see Owen get inducted by Bret and Elizabeth by Savage, I think it would be nice.