WWE: Billy Graham has Ric Flair’s full support as WWE legend pays tribute to his ‘mentor’ and ‘hero’

Ric Flair has paid tribute to his ‘mentor’ and ‘hero’ ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham after news broke that the 1977-78 WWWF Heavyweight Champion was on a ventilator with a series of serious health problems.

The 16-time world champion took to Twitter on Monday to offer his full support to 79-year-old Graham, also sharing how much of an impact he has had on Flair’s own glamorous career.

“So sad to hear that Billy Graham is healthy,” Flair tweeted. “Make no mistake – talk about the influence he has had on me and so many others! Hulk, Dusty etc! You are beautiful. Bonnie dyed my hair in 1972!! Stay strong my mentor! FYI, you and Dusty Rhodes were my heroes! You made me do it!’

Flair’s heartfelt message to his wrestling partner comes a day after Graham’s wife, Valerie, shared an update on her husband’s health on his official Facebook page on May 15.

“Please urgent prayers needed for my husband,” she wrote. “The doctors wanted to take him off the ventilator tonight. I refused. “He is a fighter and his will is strong, even if his body is not. God is our hope.’

Graham – a former heavyweight champion – is on a ventilator and dealing with serious health issues

Ric Flair – a 16-time world wrestling champion – shared his heartfelt message to Graham after learning more about his idol’s condition on Monday. Pictured in June 2022

Graham’s health has been steadily declining in recent months, according to one GoFundMe pagewith the award-winning bodybuilder dealing with “a host of very serious health issues.”

As of Tuesday, 422 donations were made, raising $17,090 of a $50,000 goal.

Before embarking on a career in pro wrestling, Graham – born Eldridge Wayne Coleman – had aspirations to make it to the Canadian Football League, although he rose to huge fame when his jacked physique became very popular with the media.

Graham began his wrestling career in 1969 and signed several promotional deals before making his WWE debut in 1975.

By then, his in-arena look became influential for many of his counterparts such as Austin Idol, Jesse Ventura, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair.

Once wrestling became more popular in the 1980s and 1990s, wrestlers such as Steve Austin and Triple H began to adopt his looks and mannerisms.

Over the course of his WWE career, Graham’s won the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship once in 1977.

He was teamed up with Ventura and Sgt. Slaughter in the 2004 WWE Hall of Fame class.

But Graham’s career was not without some controversy. He admittedly used anabolic steroids and claimed to be “an innovator of steroid use” in the WWE. Graham went on to launch an awareness campaign about the dangers of the drug after learning of its effects.

In terms of his health, Graham’s has had multiple problems with his liver over the past decade, requiring transplants, before finally being diagnosed with stage three liver disease and cirrhosis in 2012.

He has since been hospitalized for pneumonia, possible heart failure, liver complications and internal bleeding.

In 2022 he had his toes amputated. In January of this year, he was hospitalized after being diagnosed with an ear and skull infection – which he is currently battling.

According to that GoFundMe page, Graham has been away from home for four months — either in rehab or in a hospital.

As of April 26, Page says he’s lost 80 pounds and has “extreme weakness,” taking strong IV antibiotics three times a day. Doctors say he will “have to use them for at least another three months.”

Page also says the infection in his ears, skull and sinuses has left him “completely deaf.”

Graham also “occasionally suffers from kidney problems and is on dialysis” in addition to “heart and lung problems, ulcers from being in bed for four months and depression.”

What’s more, his wife, Valerie, contracted COVID in March and is struggling with a long-term case of the virus, making it more difficult to visit her husband.