Dino Bravo, Superstar Graham, and the Battle That Shook the WWWF
When wrestling fans picked up the March 1979 issue of Inside Wrestling, they weren’t just buying another magazine. They were entering the world of the WWWF at a moment of change, where heroes and villains collided in ways that captured the imagination of thousands of fans across arenas like Madison Square Garden. This issue featured a powerful article titled “How Dino Bravo Drove Superstar Graham Out of the WWWF” — a dramatic account that showed how a young wrestler rose against a seasoned powerhouse, shifting the balance in one of wrestling’s most fascinating eras.
For readers in the late 1970s, this was more than ringside gossip. It was an insight into the clash of personalities and styles that defined the WWWF, and a reminder that professional wrestling was not only about scripted results, but also about the emotional battles that gripped its fans.
The late 1970s was a turning point for professional wrestling in the United States. The World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), headed by Vince McMahon Sr., was anchored in the Northeast, with Madison Square Garden as its crown jewel venue. This was an era where larger-than-life characters ruled: Bruno Sammartino had already carved out his legacy, and men like Superstar Billy Graham had electrified fans with charisma, physique, and sheer bravado.
Superstar Graham in particular was a defining figure. With his bleach-blond hair, tie-dye ring gear, and flamboyant promos, he embodied a new kind of wrestling star — one that blended bodybuilder aesthetics with brash personality. Yet by 1979, his dominance was under challenge.
Enter Dino Bravo, a younger, athletic, and determined wrestler whose rise represented the promise of a new generation. When Bravo stepped into the ring with Graham at Madison Square Garden, fans expected a spectacle. What they got was a moment of transition, where the balance of power visibly shifted.
The article captures the tension of that night: fans were “confused” and even “dazed” as they watched Bravo go head-to-head with Graham. Against overwhelming odds, Bravo not only held his own but emerged as the hero, while Graham’s tactics — once celebrated — appeared less effective. For the audience, it was a symbolic passing of the torch, the kind of drama that professional wrestling thrives upon.
The March 1979 article is classic Inside Wrestling storytelling. The feature was accompanied by bold, action-packed photos by Bill Apter, whose ringside photography defined an entire era of wrestling journalism. On the opening page, readers were confronted with a dramatic shot of Bravo sending Graham crashing backward, the kind of frozen moment that made fans feel as though they were in the front row at Madison Square Garden.
Another photo shows Bravo overpowering Graham in a test of strength — a striking image that reinforced the narrative of an underdog rising to prominence. These images weren’t just illustrations; they were part of the story itself.
Unlike straightforward sports reporting, Inside Wrestling blended narrative drama with visual spectacle. The writers didn’t shy away from painting Graham as “fearsome” or highlighting the crowd’s divided reaction, with some laughing at Bravo and others fearing for his safety. This blend of commentary, photography, and fan-focused storytelling was what made the magazine so essential to wrestling culture.
For many fans, Inside Wrestling was their lifeline to the wrestling world beyond their local TV broadcasts. It offered not just results, but the context and character drama that turned matches into sagas.
The feature focused on the clash between two very different wrestlers, framed in ways that gave fans a sense of witnessing history:
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Madison Square Garden as the stage — the most important arena for WWWF storytelling.
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The charisma of Superstar Billy Graham, contrasted against Dino Bravo’s courage and determination.
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The shock of fans who could not “understand Billy Graham’s ring tactics” as Bravo resisted.
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Bravo’s rise being compared to a heroic moment, where he “walked away a hero” despite Graham’s reputation.
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A statistical look at wrestling dominance, with Bravo’s winning streak placing him among names like Lou Thesz, Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, and Dusty Rhodes.
Each of these elements underscored that this was more than a single match — it was a chapter in wrestling’s ongoing story of eras, champions, and shifting loyalties.
For collectors of vintage wrestling magazines, the March 1979 issue of Inside Wrestling holds special value. It captures not only a rivalry, but a moment when the WWWF itself was in flux. Billy Graham’s flamboyant run was fading, and younger stars like Dino Bravo were stepping forward, foreshadowing the massive changes wrestling would undergo in the 1980s.
Why is this issue collectible today?
First, it contains exclusive photography by Bill Apter, whose work is highly regarded by fans and historians alike. Second, it documents a pivotal clash between two wrestlers who represented different eras — Graham’s 1970s showmanship versus Bravo’s fresh determination. Third, it embodies the style of wrestling journalism that no longer exists in the digital age: printed pages that blended fan engagement, drama, and visual storytelling in a way that defined the culture of the time.
Owning this magazine is like holding a time capsule of professional wrestling in 1979. For fans of Dino Bravo, Superstar Billy Graham, or the WWWF, it’s not just memorabilia — it’s an artifact of how wrestling was experienced, narrated, and celebrated by its audience.
Much like Life Magazine did for global events, Inside Wrestling provided a window into a world that fans could not otherwise access. Television broadcasts showed the matches, but magazines gave them meaning. They offered behind-the-scenes glimpses, commentary, and photo sequences that extended the life of each event far beyond the night it happened.
This endurance is what makes vintage wrestling magazines so valuable today. They are more than paper; they are cultural witnesses. They preserve the stories of an era when professional wrestling was regional, personal, and deeply tied to the imagination of its fans.
If you want to revisit this clash between Dino Bravo and Superstar Billy Graham — or explore decades of wrestling history — the March 1979 issue of Inside Wrestling is an essential piece. Its coverage captures the energy of Madison Square Garden, the drama of a fading star, and the rise of a new hero.
👉 Browse the full collection of original Inside Wrestling magazines here:
Original Inside Wrestling Collection
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a lifelong wrestling fan, or someone honoring the memory of wrestling’s golden years, these magazines offer something truly special: a chance to see history as it was first reported.
Conclusion
The March 1979 issue of Inside Wrestling remains a landmark in wrestling journalism. Its coverage of Dino Bravo’s victory over Superstar Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden documented more than a match — it told the story of a shift in wrestling’s landscape. Through powerful photography and narrative, the article showed fans how one night could change the direction of the WWWF.
Holding this issue today is holding a piece of wrestling history. Thanks to Inside Wrestling and the pens and lenses of writers and photographers like Bill Apter, these moments live on for us to revisit decades later.
For anyone who values wrestling history, vintage magazines like this are not just collectibles — they are artifacts that remind us why professional wrestling has always been about more than what happens inside the ring.