Ken Patera vs. Superstar Billy Graham Arm Wrestling match (1974/08/21)

[@DabsDad]

Kudos to the transfer to digital of this gem. Fantastic quality for the era.

[@mmafan8407]

Not only did Superstar Billy Graham have one of the best physiques in wrestling history but he was also one of the strongest wrestlers ever. Add to that his charisma and you will realize that he was truly one of a kind

[@chrisg9615]

Yup. There is a photo of him with Arnold benching 260kg

[@wesleyearldavis503]

Steroids

[@Scorch1028]

Superstar Billy Graham refused to wrestle Billy Robinson, because he was afraid that Robinson would legitimately hurt him. Graham carried a knife with him when he was in the same arena as Robinson.

[@phunnypharmer8832]

Bonafide rose in the concrete 😉

[@jerseykid9528]

The Real Hulk Hogan before Hulk Hogan lol

[@michaelvolgare4454]

Patera was an absolute monster!!

[@Scorch1028]

Yeah, I saw him in those classic World's Strongest Man contests. Ken Patera was freakishly strong.

[@horizontoday7874]

Still no Hall of Fame 😢

[@MrDoneboy]

Classic Houston Wrestling that I grew up watching. Thank you so much, Mr. Paul Boesch!

[@rodzor]

often imitated, never duplicated...Superstar Billy Graham

[@herculescolon3915]

jessy tryied but fell short on the body.

[@timpenfield5]

LOVE THE STAR

[@thenicklas615]

@@herculescolon3915 ,Nobody, I mean nobody had a build like Superstar Billy Graham.

[@SillySongs4Everyone2001]

Hulk Hogan and Jessie Ventura ripped off Superstars Gimmick

[@manuelper]

@@SillySongs4Everyone2001 The most blatant was Scott Steiner and Scotty had the nerve to rip on Flair for using Buddy Rogers' gimmick.

[@MichaelSimmons.]

Graham & Patera were good friends. They did a lot of jobs for each other, back in the day. They finally got to work together as a tag team, later in their career.

[@wesleyearldavis503]

Hulk hogan stole his style and personality.

[@kennethsmith8968]

@@wesleyearldavis503 yep and he even admits it.

[@mrmagoo491]

Graham looks like bodybuilder, Patera a power lifter. His legs are huge

[@bigconan]

that's cause patera was a powerlifter and graham was a very strong bodybuilder.

[@bigroy38]

It’s from the deep snatches.

[@thenicklas615]

I'll bet on the bench press, Graham is stronger, however, on squat, I'd take Patera,

[@box5bastard277]

Olympic lifter, Kenny gets ornery when just called a power lifter for some reason🤣🤣🤣🤣yell

[@box5bastard277]

@@thenicklas615 petera on the bench and squat yell

[@justinriley8651]

Billy Graham trained with arnold back then and he was a beast!

[@timpenfield5]

Arny don't look big next to bill in pics+bill was taller

[@thenicklas615]

@@timpenfield5 6' 4" Billy Graham was listed as; with the weight of 282 lbs.

[@CP-kb1du]

@@timpenfield5 And Bigger

[@CP-kb1du]

@@timpenfield5 And Bigger

[@JA_WILL]

At 7:10 mark I believe that is the Terminator himself who was a workout partner with Superstar Graham. Superstar brought in some of his work-out buddies it appears as lumberjacks.

[@74superglide]

They were using more energy making faces than actually armwrestling 🤣🤣🤣

[@jerseykid9528]

Billy Graham was like Hulk Hogan and Rick Rude mixed together

[@jkr527]

Two of my favorite wrestlers!!!!

[@bryandaniel2875]

Ken Patera was first man to overhead press over 500 lbs in competition.

[@GlobalTubeTruth]

Graham looks absolutely ripped here.

[@thenicklas615]

The Best!

[@Scorch1028]

Yeah, but Billy Graham paid for all of that juicing later in life. He needed a liver transplant, and he's had serious medical problems ever since getting his first transplant.

[@tafaofamily4819]

This takes me down memory lane! A young Patera. I was born in 76 and by the time I was watching WWE in the mid 80's, Patera had grey hair and Superstar had the bald Mr. Clean look. Now 44 I realize how fast & short life is. John 3:16 Whoever believes on Jesus Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life.

[@jeffreycollier4220]

Sau word brother

[@Bigger-Than-Jesus]

life is too short to waste it watching WWE

[@jr2375]

@@Bigger-Than-Jesus Life is too short NOT to enjoy some wrestling.

[@mailliw75]

The original fake newz

[@beauclark7063]

I was a teenager and. Completely mesmerised by this huge muscle man.

[@booty121212]

@619 OG rofl this dude really said "mesmerized "

[@battlestarmarc]

Superstar and Patera were two of the strongest and best ever.

[@giovannisocci8793]

Superstar was a dud,an utter failure in the WSM of...1979? Ken Patera did ok in the WSM contest,but neither was impressive, of course,Superstar was the worse...and again,he shows what kind of poor competitor he was,Superstar was nothing without the steroids,and even with steroids,his best was not that good.

[@giovannisocci8793]

You are so wrong...SO WRONG!!

[@kennycarlson9654]

till mark henry tony atlas

[@CP-kb1du]

@@giovannisocci8793 You speak as if your a Cody Rhodes follower , Graham was a Legit Bad ass Great Athlete , Strong and the Best Build in Pro Wrestler period not to mentioned most copied should have been Champ for years .... his promos over 40 yrs ago MSG are the Best you will see , he created heat ...........you SAD SAC Pasta Boy ..

[@Bushmaster10MM]

@@giovannisocci8793 my man, Patera placed 3rd against stiff competition. He also had a back injury at the time. Patera was a fine strength athlete, considering that was his first shot at that. Also, Patera was a Olympic level lifter. Definitely was a true all around powerhouse. JB

[@davidtaylor6613]

Graham was a inspiration to both Hogan and Ventura but Ken was the real deal. World strongest man level strength at this time. Look for some of his strong man stunts. Impressive even today.

[@benjaminlucas1635]

First man to gorilla press 500 pounds.

[@thenicklas615]

I'd take Graham any day over Patera. On bench press, Graham would beat Patera, however, on squat, I'd take Patera.

[@saldifrancesca2500]

Billy Graham was a beast in the gym,back in the day....heavy bencher...

[@ThisGuyRides]

I remember watching that, 1977 I think. Franco Columbo was also competing and leading at the time when his knee gave out during the fridge carry contest.

[@peterb2325]

@@saldifrancesca2500 What was Graham’s best , what did work out with

[@grc3577]

Billy is the perfect look for Sabertooth for Marvel

[@kingdavid6535]

GR C wow 😳 he does look like Sabretooth!

[@RaginBajan]

Blond Sebastien shaw

[@RaginBajan]

Psycho Sid would be Sabretooth

[@michaelkarastamatis8311]

Mad greek Two of the best bodies and entertainers in the wrestling business.

[@CP-kb1du]

Both men are pure Legends ! Great inside and out the ring .... A Wrestling Ring without Ropes .

[@ronsharer2986]

It's a shame what Superstar Billy is going through right now. I wish him a speedy recovery 🙏.

[@chrisruth7057]

RIP Superstar Billy Graham🥺😥

[@JohnSmith-ry7wh]

Superstar battled the passions of sin, but he was a brother that knew Our Lord ☦️ who art in Heaven. May he pass through God's ☦️ judgment and onto Paradise. Amen.

[@JeffreyJetsKohut]

Recovery? He passed away!

[@joesphgallo5534]

Graham passed away

[@bobberguy1]

Superstar lived a full life and was blessed in many ways. Condolences to his family.

[@davidcantey3353]

The arm wrestling champion of the world. Superstar Billy Graham!

[@herbpetrillo163]

He lost.

[@rubenrivera2838]

2 of the strongests Man in wrestling and in the World of sports in the 70,s

[@herculescolon3915]

billy looks in great shape.

[@bgandjsco1]

Graham could bench 615lbs at a time when the record was 635

[@thenicklas615]

He held the world record in 1969 with that lift. He broke the world bench press record back in 1969; however, in 1974, someone else beat that.

[@olderetiredtreemahn3234]

@G L then came Arcidi

[@asmith2406]

Graham was THE MAN.

[@stephenkinq7965]

SuperStar Arms + Ken's Legs = Megatron

[@leeinvegas]

Superstar had the biggest arms at that time

[@blkprl34]

the man with the biggest arms. the man causing all the harm....

[@bigconan]

Id still say he's the best built man ever in wrestling...just my opinion...from a purely bodybuilding perspective...

[@TheTamtam76]

back when steroids were accepted..

[@oldetreetrimmer7176]

@@bigconan you sure. I saw Putski wrestle Gragham.😀👏👏kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZzRqaGppbh8i7s

[@theraven3481]

bigconan I might argue that Tony Atlas was better up top but he didn't have any wheels

[@matthewcollins8602]

Both of these men were some of the strongest in world's history and Superstar Graham may have been the most charismatic ever but Ken Patera was freak strength personified. Patera a legit badass has held numerous world weightlifting records and as acknowledged by Jim Brunzell and others to be the only man who could lift a fellow wrestler and throw them from one end of the ring to the other without assistance.

[@cirenosnor5768]

Matthew Collins - There’s rare footage of Bruno doing the same kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGPSlpummbFqjpo Round 0:50 shoots him across the ring like a dart 😮 Apparently not planned and Tolos had a “wtf” look on his face. Needed a moment to collect himself and continue

[@whats20buks57]

I remember they did a weight lifting contest in DFW area

[@l4dengun186]

This is awesome 😂. Would love to hear the current crop of armwrestling channels analyze this technique.

[@photonicus]

So it went from arm wrestling straight into a no dq lumberjack match. Cool...2 for 1 deal!

[@MrDoneboy]

Paul Boesch was full of surprises on his programs!

[@levedia]

I love superstar.

[@oldetreetrimmer7176]

Him an Arnold arm blaster pose

[@mrbillyb1966]

Actually. Superstar was a beast 6'4" 270. But patera was a super freak too

[@timpenfield5]

They were killers, wrong place to pic a fight

[@gurnblanston5000]

6'2" maybe

[@pulsarlights2825]

Where are the ring ropes?

[@Bigbencher]

Superstar's even got abs in his back! Lol

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

His glorious sideburns had abs too

[@timpenfield5]

TO FUKIN TOTAL MONSTERS. AND 2 OF MY FAVORITES. NO MATS AROUND THE RING BACK THEN

[@octaviocruzjr2962]

Paul Boesch and Houston Wrestling....simply the best

[@midnitedip8850]

Awesome stuff thankyou

[@stp4500]

Hulk hogan and Jesse Ventura stole his style.

[@Wxsharpe]

Who hit Ken @ 7:14?

[@howardrossell2771]

God so cool. Remember seeing this classic match. Wow.

[@mikes.4136]

Whoa! I knew Superstar Billy Graham was huge, but he was really incredibly muscular! He seems to be significantly larger than the huge Patera at this contest. I’ve seen both of them in person many years ago, but never together and by that time Superstar had slimmed down and shaved his head. Man, he was a beast!

[@dariosandoval5140]

He might be at his all time best shape in that contest. Look at his back!

[@GeorgeD1965]

first time I saw Patera, it was in the late 70's, he was slimmer and had blond hair

[@thismycollection334]

This was filmed in 4:3 format. The old format for television at that time. The new 16:9 format stretches the old format sideways and makes people look shorter and wider.

[@denisemitchell8477]

Superstar the original Hulk Patera weight lifter Legit dudes Pro Arm rassla here. Kens arm on a table no no

[@thenicklas615]

This match is King Kong vs Godzilla. I am rooting for Billy (Superstar) Graham.

[@belldn3]

Damn, Superstar looks like a Greek statue.

[@thenicklas615]

Man look at size of the bicepts on Superatar Billy Graham, got to be 22" ! This is before Ken Patera was a heel.

[@thenicklas615]

Man, look at the size of Billy Graham's bicepts, legit 22" arms!

[@briancenti5423]

i watched all of Patera's matches at MSG, including his three title shots against Bruno..in the first match, 1/77..Patera actually picked bruno up and threw his across the ring into the turnbuckle like a sack of potatoe's..actually threw him from one side to the other..pure power.

[@CP-kb1du]

Bruno was a sac of stale potato chips

[@preachinoldschool5726]

In Bruno's younger & heavier days, the bout would have been interesting

[@ronaldgranville9760]

@@CP-kb1du TELL THAT TO TO THE MILLIONS OF FANS BRUNO STILL HAS JACKSON FIVE!!!!!!!!

[@dietrichwilliams2913]

wow, superstar was on serious swole in 74!!!

[@davidcombs2423]

Super star

[@dougfredricks2017]

Both Patera and Graham competed on the old CBS 📺 World Strongest Men competition back in the day...

[@amoruzz]

The best of pro wrestling!

[@ilovecops5499]

Me and Billy were taking steroids back in the day.

[@fishhookism]

Billy Graham's arms were monstrous.

[@PunkSlapper123]

Superstar was jacked.

[@davidcantey3353]

The man of the hour the man with the power too sweet to be sour Super Star Billy Graham.

[@MrDoneboy]

Sam Houston Coliseum and Paul Boesch, baby!

[@anothonypeterson3402]

Leeinvegas-not really.Jeep Swenson had 26-inch arms.He died young ,though.

[@pumpkinsdontcry]

Was this a work?

[@chriszenko6355]

I remember the superstar when he was the WWWF champion he sold out every area he should have had a longer run

[@randquadrozzi1280]

And along came howdy doody.No disrespect meant as backlund was a great wrestler just didn't like his act.

[@philaman1972]

The way these two magnificent physical specimens were built tells the story of bodybuilder versus power lifter. While Graham was no slouch in the leg department, it's clear that his focus was directed on developing his upper body (chest, biceps, triceps, deltoids, and traps). Conversely, Patera's focus was on developing his quads and hamstrings because that's where all the power comes from. Years ago when I used to work out, there would be people who only focused on upper body and as a result, their legs were disproportional to the their upper body and secondly, their benchpress weight would remain stagnant!

[@wbruzek]

The Superstar wasn’t lying. He took my title in early 74.

[@grc3577]

Sabertooth vs. Ken Patera

[@ernestoleitao8684]

I was a kid, this is when wrestling was fn awesome!, period very rustic, if you will!, haaaahaahaaa

[@samsmith8725]

this was great

[@usaf1804]

What was their height weight bios?

[@hughirwin8722]

was this AWA or WWF?

[@JackBarrett7]

Idk if that was a work, or how much of it was, but it was closer than I thought it'd be. I had Patera for a quick win..as strong as Graham was, Patera was an Olympian.

[@happyathomecrimsonandpauls8338]

This was the day I was born!

[@thenicklas615]

Look at the size of Billy Graham's back!

[@cruztijerina9855]

he's got muscles he hasn't flexed yet

[@Poohdaddymagic]

Superstar had a huge influence on Scott Steiner becoming Big Poppa Pump...

[@catyear75]

Wow ! Graham and Patera were both pretty much at their peaks back then !

[@joshsmith2071]

That guy announcing acts like he wants everyone to know he is in charge

[@samuelclemons508]

Superstar was a strong guy,no doubt. But Jesus look at the size of Patera's thighs. That's functional strength. I don't think people realize how strong he was at that point in time.

[@oldetreetrimmer7176]

5.05 I do . I grew up back then. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3vVZGuJlLqpirM

[@theraven3481]

Samuel Clemons your exactly right. the man was no joke

[@74superglide]

@Tim Allen she's a huge bitch then...as in walrus

[@JS1966]

@Gene Bone Definitely....was legit one of the strongest men in the world.

[@michaelinhouston9086]

Paul Boesch is the greatest - RIP Mr Boesch.

[@curtisjacobs6745]

I bench press "850lb" do u want to know how?"BECAUSE I am the strongest there is

[@davidcantey3353]

Superstar graham the arm wrestling champion of the world!

[@anthonygonzalez4888]

David Cantey he cheated here

[@MrDoneboy]

SSBG...Still undefeated as arm wrestling champion! Any disagreer's?

[@herbpetrillo163]

@619 OG right

[@herbpetrillo163]

@@MrDoneboy he is unvictorious

[@AaronT129]

Does anyone know what territory this was in?

[@TheScottmgreen]

Houston. Paul Bosh promoted there for years

[@themopar426]

should be awa

[@michaelinhouston9086]

this was in Houston - Friday night at the Sam Houston Coliseum - Paul Boesch promoter and announcer

[@lionsinofprideescanor8709]

Damn i can see six pack on Graham's mighty back.. what a badass lol

[@toma.4808]

Ken patera at one time was freakishly strong. Not to take anything away from the superstar he certainly was strong but patera was on a whole diffrent level

[@davidjacob5828]

Predictable outcome 😅.

[@mackermaldrill2656]

Ahhhh, when men use to treat each other with respect.

[@krazeraiderfan]

Does Magnum PI know that the referee stole one of his shirts?

[@jamesmichalek5406]

Red Bastein. He wrestled both.

[@beauclark7063]

was 12 yrs win this took place and totaly mesmerized by Graham. his fuckin arms were amazing and i wanted to look just like himLol.

[@tkdmofo90]

SO dramatic! LOL. I jumped right to 5 minutes in....

[@xipingpooh5783]

Super⭐️Billy Graham is the Reflection of Perfection⚡️ Ken Paterson was built like a Rhino!!!

[@GabrielPerez-ty2ho]

Patera is they real mccoy

[@田中修-t7p]

Ken Patera ♪ (*￣∇￣)ノ

[@thenicklas615]

No way, Billy Graham is stronger, you can't go by what you see on this arm wrestling match because it's for publicity and entertainment. Like I said, on bench press, Billy Graham would best Patera, however, on squat, I'd say Patera.

[@isgar2266]

Paul Bosch and Houston wrestling, as a kid I loved watching every Saturday night and Sunday's repeat of the night before. I remember that's where the annoying Mattress Mack got his start with advertising Gallery Furniture.

[@regg.2970]

I remember seeing these guys do an arm wrestling contest as well as a weightlifting challenge at Northside Coliseum in Fort Worth...Graham would be losing both times and would resort to attacking Patera.

[@rajb5595]

Devon larrat ....any comments? 😀

[@thenicklas615]

Come on Billy (Superstar) Graham

[@alexciocca4451]

Arm wrestling law ?? Know it well majored in it in arm wrestling law school

[@vinnysamways63]

I was born on this very day.

[@johnwilkerson2195]

Ken had Graham beat end of story because Ken is stronger

[@TheRmm1976]

3:07 freeze frame and look at the size of Patera's thighs. Dude was a monster.

[@maxpuppy96]

5:16 Graham calling the shots

[@ray84thstiger]

The striations in superstars lower back!!

[@bobbyhulll8737]

My Money is on Patera

[@nomikes4392]

This was actually the Oregon State Championship

[@PunkSlapper123]

Superstar is friggin jacked.

[@68air]

Too bad Patera was blacklisted by WWE for alleging CTE in a lawsuit. He definitely belongs in the WWE HOF.

[@gurnblanston5000]

CTE?