Dr. Jerry Graham

Dr. Jerry Graham
Birth name Jerry Martin Matthews
Born (1921-12-16)December 16, 1921
Woodward, Oklahoma
Died January 24, 1997(1997-01-24) (aged 65)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Dr. Jerry Graham
Jerry Graham
Billed height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Billed weight 210 lb (95 kg) (In his prime)
Trained by Self-trained at the YMCA
Debut 1947

Jerry Martin Matthews (December 16, 1921 – January 24, 1997), better known by his ring name Dr. Jerry Graham, was an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time spent in the World Wide Wrestling Federation and as the founder of the Graham wrestling family.

Jerry Martin Matthews was adopted by his stepfather Harold Graham and his name was legally changed. Dr. Graham began wrestling at the age of 14 in his hometown of Phoenix. He was the founder of the storyline Graham wrestling family, which held numerous titles. The family included "Crazy" Luke Graham (James Grady Johnson), "Superstar" Billy Graham (Wayne Coleman), Eddie Graham (Edward Gossett), Mike Graham (Mike Gossett) Dr Jerry Graham Jr. (wrestler)[Jerry Jaffe] and Mad Dog Steele Graham (wrestler) Tom Hankins. Jerry sold out Madison Square Garden many times in the 1950s and late 1960s with Eddie Graham, when they were known as the Golden Grahams. After his tag team success, Dr. Graham brought "Crazy" Luke Graham and "Superstar" Billy Graham into the Graham family.

Graham feuded with Buddy Rogers in 1956 which set attendance records at that time. On November 19, 1957, one of the most infamous matches in wrestling history occurred when Graham and Dick the Bruiser wrestled Argentina Rocca and Edouard Carpentier at Madison Square Garden. During the match a major riot exploded and many fans were arrested, with eight police officers being injured from chairs that were thrown by fans. All of the wrestlers during the match were fined and Dick the Bruiser was banned for life from wrestling in New York. When Dr. Graham wrestled Bruno Sammartino for his WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) title, Madison Square Garden was so packed that more than 10,328 fans were turned away. Jerry held the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship 6 times, including several reigns with Eddie Graham, one with "brother" Crazy Luke Graham, and one with Johnny Valentine.

Jerry Graham was also current WWE owner Vince McMahon's favorite wrestler as a teenager.

Personal life

It is well documented that Dr. Graham had many run-ins with the law and had alcohol problems. When his mother died, he grabbed a shotgun from the back of his car and took his mother's corpse out of Phoenix General Hospital. After the incident he spent time in the Arizona State Mental Hospital. In "Superstar" Billy Graham's book Tangled Ropes he speaks about the real life hatred that Dr. Graham had for Freddie Blassie. In 2005 Dr. Graham was inducted into the GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com Hall Of Fame.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

External links

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