SLAGLE:  Superstar, he was just involved in so many things...

MOONEYHAM:  He was...he was all over the country.  I mean, he was a top draw and he didn't stay in one territory too long because he was such a big drawing card.  He would hit major markets and he was in demand all over the country.

SLAGLE:  Absolutely.  And, he did, he traveled all over the country.  A lot of people seem to associate Graham with the WWF, but, I mean, he was a big NWA player in several of their top territories.  Of course, he wrestled with Verne Gagne for his AWA World title for several months in the AWA during the early seventies.  I mean, he got around.

MOONEYHAM:  Oh yeah, he was a main attraction in all three organizations, the AWA, the NWA and the WWWF.

SLAGLE: Yeah, I mean, a lot of the wrestlers at the time didn't really get around too much.  There was Andre, constantly traveling, Dusty Rhodes was constantly traveling and "Superstar" Graham was another -- outside of the World Champions, who of course traveled all of the time -- but it seems that a lot of times back then, a wrestler would stay in his region, for the most part.  I mean, Verne Gagne didn't travel out of the AWA too much...

MOONEYHAM: Absolutely.  Billy was a big money player.

SLAGLE:  Now, from Hulk Hogan to Jesse Ventura to Scott Steiner (pictured) to just about anyone who came after him was somehow influenced by Graham.   I was wondering what your thoughts are on Billy Graham's overall influence on the wrestling business?

MOONEYHAM: Well, I think Billy made such an impact on any body who came up in that era.

The three guys you named, Scott Steiner of course came much later than Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura, but "Superstar" Billy graham's influence is written all over Steiner's act right now.  From the tremendous muscles to the blonde hair to the style of interviews, his two-tone beard, you can tell that Superstar was a huge influence on Scott.

Now, Jesse Ventura (left) and Hulk Hogan (right) will both tell you that they patterned their styles right after "Superstar" Billy Graham, absoutely.  You know, Hulk Hogan was a Billy Graham mark when he lived in Tampa.  When Billy worked shows in the Tampa area, Hogan was right there getting his autograph at ever show.  He idolized The Superstar.  And, you know, his career took off in a pretty major way a few years later!

SLAGLE:  I would say so!  And you know, another thing as far as his influence goes, think about it.  If there hadn't have been a Billy Graham, Jesse Ventura probably wouldn't have, well, we don't know, but...

MOONEYHAM:  Yeah, I know, I mean...

SLAGLE: And then he wouldn't have been governor...

MOONEYHAM: (semi-serious)  The whole course of the world could've been changed!

SLAGLE:  (semi-joking)  Exactly!  It's all because of The Superstar, man, I'm tellin' ya....

MOONEYHAM:  Well, when you really follow it and take it down to the lowest common denominator, you find that Billy had a great influence on the business, and still has a great influence on the business.  And that's why I'm so happy to see him doing what he's doing now.

I really respect his position in the history of the wrestling business.  I think that guys like that, that meant so much to professional wrestling, they should be out there in the spotlight.  They absolutely paved the way for these guys who are making the big six and seven figure salaries today.  Billy has paid his dues many times over, and he's still paying them.  There's a lesson to be learned, and Billy is the first guy to tell you that lesson.  He's a great individual, and we all love The Superstar.

For more of Mike Mooneyham's thoughts on wrestling, visit:
MikeMooneyham.com