20 Years Too Soon - Superstar Billy Graham (WWE)

Before I review the DVD, I want to make something clear:Other than this DVD, I have no other knowledge or "Superstar" Billy Graham. I didn't grow up watching him, so if anything significant is missing from the main documentary feature, I couldn't tell you what it is.I love WWE DVDs like this one. 20 YEARS TOO SOON is unlike any other WWE production released. It uses the same "talking heads" and "montage" formats, but this apple is very different from the rest of the barrel.The most successful superstars of today often give credit to guys like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, or Dusty Rhodes. I'm sure there are many others, but those seem to be the big three. Well, Rhodes and Hogan will be the first to tell you that "Superstar" Billy Graham was the original pioneer of sports entertainment. After watching this DVD, I'm sure most viewers will agree. Even though there were many great wrestlers who got plenty over with the fans, Graham --- according the documentary --- was the first to break through and put a pop culture spin on the product.As with all other WWE programs like this, 20 YEARS TOO SOON highlights Graham's greatest matches, most famous promos, and struggles with success.The match highlights mainly include Bruno Sammartino and Dusty Rhodes. There isn't much coverage in this area, but Graham wasn't an active competitor for very long (15 years, I think). We do get to see some good footage of his rivalries, each very easy to understand why they important for their time. I hate when WWE just assumes we know things from 20 years ago, don't you? For example, later in his career, "Superstar" used a bizarre "karate persona". I'll leave that one for you to learn about.The promos are as masterful as they come. Graham wasn't an overly energetic personality like Hogan, Flair, or Rock. He's much closer to Jake Roberts, where his chosen words and body language didn't require a loud voice. If you want to compile a Top 10 list of the greatest talkers in televised wrestling, Graham easily deserves a spot.I've read that Graham had stints in other promotions, which aren't included in 20 YEARS TOO SOON. If that's true, I don't know why they were left out. Since I'm someone who didn't know much about Graham, I wouldn't have noticed that anything was missing. But again, I don't think the pro wrestling itself is the heart of the story.The struggles that Graham endured are what I want to address the most, because they are the true core of what the "Superstar" wants to be about. 20 YEARS TOO SOON isn't a traditional WWE feature. It's more of a biography, with wrestling in the background. Whoever made the final cut of the documentary is to be commended for taking a unique approach to this material. First off, "Superstar" Billy Graham is such a humble and grateful interviewee that it's impossible to dislike the man. He shows no anger, bitterness, or jealousy throughout the program. While he acknowledges how innovative he was for his time, Billy Graham equally enjoys seeing how his style influenced many of today's talent.The documentary does address Graham's battle with drugs, health, and being physically unable to recapture his magic. I don't wanna get into a steroid debate, but Graham's story makes a good case for having a testing policy of some kind. His health issues are easy to understand why they happened, how they affected his career, and how Graham adapted to them.Another strength in the documentary is that it doesn't focus too long on the negative aspects. Sure, it gets pretty rough in a few spots, but we are always reminded of the light at the end of the dark tunnel. 20 YEARS TOO SOON is ultimately a celebration of life. I don't wanna give anymore away, but I will spoil this tiny surprise. Vince McMahon actually gets a tad teary-eyed when he talks about "Superstar". I'll leave the rest of the gripping tale for you to discover.The 2-disc set includes a handful of matches, deleted scenes, and promo footage. I like the selection of matches overall, but a few are a tad short. None are exactly masterpieces, but I always like trying to pretend that I'm watching a 70s broadcast live on TV. Fake nostalgia, I know.The deleted scenes are all great; I have no idea why they aren't just in the main cut, other than WWE showing this on PPV. And as I said before, the promos and interviews are genius. I dare you not to laugh when Graham talks about "crushing coconuts".20 YEARS TOO SOON is a DVD any fan will enjoy, as long as you're aware that the actual wrestling is secondary to the biography and historical details. I'm convinced that "Superstar" Billy Graham is most responsible for sports entertainment as we know it. He was ahead of his time and never got the incredible legacy he deserved. But because his peers know how much he mattered, I'm convinced that pro wrestling is in good hands.

greatest in ring trash talker way before his time-superstar billy graham. this guy opened doors for sports entertainment making wrestling must see and fun for the fans to enjoy themselves. inspiring future generation hall of famers like: dusty rhodes, nature boy ric flair, hulk hogan, jesse ventura and so many others. He could have probably set more records than any other superstar before or after him, but was not given the chance because at that time, wrestling promoters did not see him as becoming a "fan favorite friendly" trash talker and the fans were starting to turn him babyface (good guy) on their own cheering him weekly for his entertaining mic skills and charisma. Vincent J. McMahon wanted superstar to remain heel (bad guy), so they had him lose to Bob Backlund the then wwwf (world wide wrestling federation) title and his career was never the same again. Once superstar returned later on to the then, wwf (world wrestling federation) owned by Vincent K. McMahon, Vince was ready to have superstar take his place as the top guy with overflowing entertaining charisma. But health issues in superstar's life prevented his run. years of steroid abuse came back to haunt him as well as other personal demons. but in the end after going through years of controversy with vince mcmahon and wwe, superstar finally got back to his roots being in touch with the lord and coming full circle making peace with vince mcmahon not only being welcomed back to wwe, but eventually inducted into the 2004 hall of fame where he rightly belongs.

This is a very entertaining WWE DVD. To be honest, all that I knew of the Superstar was his final days in the late 80's (Bald head days) so it was intersting to see him in his prime. This is a DVD I've watched a few different times already, and it is enjoyable each time. It's rare to see a wrestler from the 70's that could step into the WWE today and still look more impressive than pretty much everyone else.

I love this DVD and I can watch Superstar Billy Graham's matches and it's worth it. God Bless Superstar Billy Graham 😔🙏

I lived in Minnesota from the early 70s to the early 90s. AWA was our wrestling promotion at the time. I watched many excellent wrestling cards in St Paul & Minneapolis. Yes, I saw Superstar Billy Graham perform, live, in his heyday.I didn't remember much about Superstar's story. I didn't remember why he left, etc. I saw one AWA promo video which implied he was dying of steroid abuse.This DVD gave me the chance to see one of my favorite wrestlers from the 1970s. Superstar's origins, and his struggle with addiction & faith were inspiring. I cried just a little.I was so pleased to see Superstar Billy Graham is still alive & healthy. Billy & his wife stayed together all these decades, despite the poverty and health challenges brought on by his steroid and drug abuse. The WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony were very touching. I love the scene when Vince McMahon & Superstar Billy Graham embraced.

this not only chronicles the before, the middle, the end of his wrestling career, it also tells the excellent story of his personal life inthis dvd, i enjoyed it very much as a fan that remembers this great wrestler and how he opened up his life to all of us in this must have dvd!

I'm a big time wrestling fan. so I had this before but lost it so I had to reorder it and add it to my wrestling collection.

Truly ahead of his time

Good stuff

Had the book many years ago. It tells the true life of Wayne Coleman becoming Superstar Billy Graham and his survival. The DVD is a great warning to the use of steroids but also about the enduring love of his wife Valerie who has seen him through some very painful and heartbreaking times and to the forgiveness given to him from people who were close friends. Certain aspects of the book have been left out and do feel that some have been for the respect of those not around anymore. As colourful a character in and out of the ring and a life that could have been very different.

I enjoyed watching this film and felt that it was an appropriate tribute to a wrestler, who was certainly 10 years ahead of his time, 20 might be pushing it. I remember seeing his promos in the late 80s, but I never really saw him wrestle. It was only until I got older that I learned more about him, and sparked enough interest to purchase his DVD. I think a watch once through would be good enough, but for collection purposes, you owe it to yourself to have this one among them, especially at such a cheap price.

I looked all over for this, and had to go for an NTSC dvd. Happy that i did, this guy added so much to the wrestling scene, truely ahead of his time.