Not So Magnificent: Don Muraco Becomes ‘The Rock’ In The WWF

Posted on October 13, 2020 by bdamage1

Brian Damage

Everybody loves a good comeback story, this unfortunately isn’t one of them. There is no question that ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham was a game changer in his heyday for the WWWF. A world champion who was built like a Greek god and someone who oozed charisma out of every pour of his body. Graham truly was a superstar for the promotion. The thing was, he also had a fierce love/hate relationship with the McMahon family and the WWF.

In June of 1986, at the age of 43 years old, Billy Graham decided to make a triumphant comeback to the squared circle and return to the company he once ruled as world champion. Vignettes were aired hyping Graham’s return. The thing was, Graham’s legendary physique was rapidly deteriorating from the inside. He needed a hip replacement and his ankle and spine were eroding. Despite all the physical ailments, Graham decided to give his wrestling career one more big payday.

It was rumored that the only reason Graham returned to active competition with the WWF, was to get money to pay for hip replacement surgery. Regardless of the reasoning, Graham was handed a full schedule with the company and almost immediately…his body began to break down from the wear and tear. He desperately needed a new hip, so Vince McMahon paid for the surgery. He had a camera crew in the operating room filming the actual surgery and aired it on WWF syndicated television.

After rehab, Graham returned to active wrestling for the company….his move set had to be tweaked due to his lack of mobility in the ring. His bear hug finisher was changed to a sleeper hold so as not to lift any extra weight on his new hip. McMahon so the writing on the wall and made the decision to end Billy Graham’s in ring career. An angle was set up with Graham taking on ‘The Natural’ Butch Reed. During the contest, Reed’s manager Slick interfered and then Reed, Slick and Slick’s other charge One Man Gang triple teamed Graham. The 400 plus pound One Man Gang repeatedly splashed onto Graham.

During the beatdown, ‘The Magnificent’ Don Muraco of all people, ran to the ring to save the beaten and battered Billy Graham. It was a move that solidified Muraco (who was a longtime heel for the company) into a bonafide babyface. Graham would become Muraco’s new manager and change his appearance. Muraco would start wearing tie dyed T shirts and ditched the Magnificent nickname for the name ‘The Rock’ Don Muraco. A name that was bestowed upon him by Pat Patterson and in reality…Muraco hated.

‘The Rock’ Don Muraco had also gotten himself into better shape physically. Muraco would continue the feud where Graham left off with Butch Reed and the One Man Gang. Years later, Muraco admitted that he hated the idea of turning face, as he loved playing a heel all those years. His run as ‘The Rock’ wasn’t his most favorite time with the company.

After his feud with Slick and his entourage….The Rock Muraco was scheduled to feud with Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine. To ignite this battle, Valentine attacked Billy Graham and placed him in the figure four leg lock. Superstar Graham wasn’t pleased with his character being the one attacked and stretchered out…but at this point in his career…a payday was just a payday. The feud with Valentine never really got going because Muraco ended up being fired after an altercation with road agent Nick Bockwinkel in 1988.

Billy Graham would be transitioned into a color commentator for the remainder of his time with the WWF until he left in 1989.