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Wrestling legend 'Superstar' Billy Graham has died at the age of 79, according to fellow WWE Hall of Famer 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair.
"The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career," Flair tweeted.
Earlier this week, TMZ Sports reported that Graham was on life support and his health situation was described as dire, but his wife, Valerie, said she refused to remove the wrestler from life support.
"Please urgent prayers needed for my husband," Valerie said in an update on her husband's health via TMZ Sports. "The doctors wanted to remove him from life support tonight. I refused."
"He’s a fighter and his will is strong even if his body isn’t. God is our hope."
A GoFundMe page launched in Graham's name to help the family pay for "mounting long-term medical related bills" has raised $21,273 of its $50,000 goal as of Wednesday (May 17) night.
Graham was the sixth man to win the then-World Wide Wrestling Federation (now WWE) championship, defeating Bruno Sammartino on April 30, 1977 in Baltimore, Maryland and held the title for 296 days. The former bodybuilder is credited as one of the most influential wrestlers of his era, inspiring the likes of Flair, Hulk Hogan, Jesse 'The Body' Ventura and Scott Steiner.