Mike Graham, son of the legendary hall of famer Eddie Graham, sat down for an intense three hour shoot interview that answers all the questions wrestling fans have been asking. Covering his entire career, this comprehensive interview tells the tale of how little Mikey Graham was brought to the wrestling shows by his father, eventually making his own way in the business, all the way to his current role as an elder statesman who has witnessed more tragedy than any soul should have to bear.
For the first time ever, Mike goes on the record concerning his father’s suicide. Having worked closely with Kevin and Nancy Sullivan in Florida, Mike shared his insight on the side of Nancy many never saw and gives his thoughts on the Chris Benoit situation. We’ve all heard countless talking heads covering this subject, but Graham has a take on that terrible events which has never been heard before.
Although he is most known for his work in Florida, Mike has been all over the wrestling circuit and we got stories concerning a wide variety of territories and superstars. NWA. Mid South. AWA. WCW. XWF. Dick Slater. Gary Hart. Ray Stevens. Bill Watts. Dusty Rhodes. JJ Dillon. Billy Jack Haynes. Hulk Hogan. Lex Luger. Barry Windham. Eric Bischoff. Scott Hall. Kevin Nash. You won’t believe the list of people that Graham has worked with over the years.
Being named PWI’s rookie of the year for 1972. Kevin Sullivan’s devil gimmick. Working inside WCW’s Power Plant. The infamous match at WCW Uncensored between Dustin Rhodes and Barry Darsow that Mike was an agent for. The Orndorff/Vader fight. His father’s induction into WCW and WWE’s hall of fame. Mike hits every significant moment of his career and is unabashedly honest throughout. Mike has seen the worst wrestling has to offer and has come out the other side with his head on straight, his priorities in order, and a whole bunch of entertaining stories for wrestling fans!
What was it like growing up as the son of Eddie Graham
How soon did he bring you to shows, etc
Do you have any fun stories about wrestlers staying over or coming over for dinner
How soon did you know that you wanted to get into the business
When did your dad expose kayfabe to you
Howd the other wrestlers treat you as a kid
How hard did your dad take it when the steel window fell on him and he had to sit out a year
Do you remember ever sitting in with your dad on booking meetings
Do you have any early memories of the NWA conventions
When did you start to train
Did you feel immediate pressures as his son
What made your dad such a great booker
Memories of training with Boris Malenko and Hiro
Did Hiro stretch you
Was your dad harder or easier on you in training
Did you ever have any thoughts of breaking in and hiding your name
Did you ever have any instances early in your career when a veteran would take his anger against your dad on you
Memories of your first match
Memories teaming with your dad
Memories of Vince McMahon SR< /div>
Early memories of Dusty Rhodes
Memories of Dusty’s turn
Memories of Gary Hart
Memories of Sputnick Monroe
Memories of teaming with Kevin Sullivan early in your career
Memories wrestling Dusty and Dick Slater
Memories of Jos LeDuc
Did your dad ever want to send you out of Florida to get experience elsewhere
Memories of wrestling the Ortons
Why do you think some second generation wrestlers like yourself an d Randy Orton succeed where others like David Sammartino and David Flair fail
Memories of Bob Backlund
How important to your career was it to be named PWI Rookie of the Year in 72
Memories of matches with the Hollywood Blondes
Memories teaming with Ken Lucas
Memories of the Briscos
Memories of Superstar Graham
Memories teaming with Steve Keirn
Any good road stories from this period
Memories teaming with Ray Stevens
When did you begin to feel confident as a worker
Memories wrestling Tatusmi Fujinami
Early impressions of Barry Windham
Memories wrestling Ric Flair
Memories of your draw with Harley Race
How important was that to your career
Memories meeting Hulk Hogan
Memories of his training
Memories of Kevin Sullivan and his big angle
How out of control did that angle get
Memories of JJ Dillon
How much of a part of the booking committee were you
Memories of wh en Bill Watts came to study under your father
Did Dusty get drunk with power
Early memories of Billy Jack Haynes
Memories of Magnum TA
Memories of Abdullah the Butcher
Memories of Terry Funk
Memories of Gordon Solie
Paul Jones said in an interview he left because your dad was putting you in matches above him. Did you find other vets jealous of your push
Memories working for the AWA
How did Verne compare to your dad as a booker
Memories of matches with Buck Zumhofe
Was the weather hard to get used to
Early memories of Lex Luger
Why do you think the territory was so successful
How did you find out about your father
Billy Jack said in his shoot he thinks your father killed himself because Dusty took all of the talent and left for Crockett. What do you think
How hard was it on you and your dad when Dusty jumped
Did you take it personally
Did you think the territory could continue
Did you see territories start to change when Vince expanded
When did you realize the territory was in trouble
Memories of running the territory with Steve Keirn
What were the pitfalls of running a territory at that time
Was it a losing situation in a sense that your dad had built up such a legacy that it was hard to match it
Memories of working for Dusty’s PWF
Why do you think it failed
Initial impressions of Dustin
Memories of the Nasty Boys
How did it end in Florida
Do you think a territory could be successful today in Florida
Why do you think that the legacy still lives on today
Has Vince been fair with the legacy and the tapes
How did you wind up in WCW as a road agent
Memories working for Eric Bischoff
Memories of the Sid Vicious squeegee incident
Does Sid get a bad rap
Was WCW as chaotic as people say it was
How did things change when Hogan came over
Did you think it was a good or bad move
Why do you think Barry Windham never got a big run in the WWE or an NWA title run
How did you get involved with the Power Plant
Some wrestlers like Batista and others have had bad things to say about the Power Plant. A lot of guys say that the Plant had no interest in training anyone and just breaking down guys. How do you respond
What do you think of Jody Hamilton as a trainer
Memories of the Orndorff-Vader fight
Who came out of the Plant that surprised you as a success and a failure
What was the story with the Uncensored match between Barry Darsow and Dustin Rhodes
How soon did you get your job back
Who was your favorite booker to work with in WCW
How difficult were the politics in WCW
Memories of Hall and Nash
Were you surprised it closed
Did you ever talk to Vince about working there as a road agent
There is a story told many times that you threatened to slash Chris Benoit’s throat and he used that as an excuse to get out of his contract. Thoughts?
What are your thoughts on the Benoit tragedy
Is it hard sometimes to separate Mike Graham the wrestler from Mike Graham the road agent/Turner Employee
Why do you think the XWF didn’t work
Could another company work today in addition to TNA and WWE
How come you haven’t worked with TNA
Thoughts on Vince Russo booking TNA
How important was it for your father to be recognized by Vince
Is it true that you got $1 million for the library
Thoughts on Vince
What is the problem with the business today
What is lacking in independent wrestlers and indy wrestling
Can TNA compete with the WWE
In your career who did you find was overrated and underrated
Favorite matches overall
Fav guys to work with
Do you enjoy doing the nostalgia shows
Least fav guys to work with
Who do you enjoy watching
Good ribs and road stories
What do you do today
Do you ever want to write a book