# Rick McGraw

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{{short description|American professional wrestler (1955-1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Rick McGraw 
| birth_name  = Richard Emmett McGraw Jr.
| image       = Rick McGraw.jpg
| names       = Rick McGraw 
| spouse      = Lisa
| height      = {{height|ft=5|in=7}}<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>
| weight      = {{convert|235|lb|kg|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1955|3|19}}
| birth_place = [Charlotte, North Carolina](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina), U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1985|11|1|1955|3|19|mf=y}}
| death_place = [Fair Haven East, Connecticut](/source/Fair_Haven_East%2C_Connecticut), U.S.
| death_cause = [Heart attack](/source/Myocardial_infarction)
| billed      = Charlotte, North Carolina<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>
| trainer     = [Rip Hawk](/source/Rip_Hawk)<br/>[Bill Watts](/source/Bill_Watts)<ref name="Monthly"/><br/>[Pat O'Connor](/source/Pat_O'Connor_(wrestler))<ref name="Monthly"/>
| debut       = 1975
}}
'''Richard Emmett McGraw Jr.''' (March 19, 1955 &ndash; November 1, 1985) was an American [professional wrestler](/source/professional_wrestling), best known for his appearances with the [World Wrestling Federation](/source/WWE) (WWF) under the [ring name](/source/ring_name) '''"Quickdraw" Rick McGraw''' from 1980 until his death in 1985. He also wrestled for the [World Wrestling Association](/source/World_Wrestling_Association) (WWA), where he won the [WWA World Tag Team Championship](/source/WWA_World_Tag_Team_Championship) with [The Dream Machine](/source/Troy_Graham) as The New York Dolls, and [Southeastern Championship Wrestling](/source/Continental_Championship_Wrestling) (SECW), where he won the [NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship](/source/NWA_Alabama_Heavyweight_Championship). 

== Early life ==
Richard Emmett McGraw Jr. was born in [Charlotte, North Carolina](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina), on March 15, 1955.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 3, 1985|title=Deaths And Funerals In Mecklenberg County|work=[The Charlotte Observer](/source/The_Charlotte_Observer)|page=48|quote=Mr. Richard Emmett McGraw Jr., 30, of New Haven, Conn., formerly of Charlotte, died Friday in New Haven.}}</ref><ref name="EYE">{{Cite magazine|last=Adams|first=Joshua|date=May 1986|title=Rick ‘Quick Draw’ McGraw|magazine=Wrestling Eye|publisher=Jems, Inc.|page=50}}</ref> He graduated from [North Mecklenburg High School](/source/North_Mecklenburg_High_School) in 1973,<ref name="Obit"/> where he was a state wrestling champion in the 185-pound division and chosen as his school's athlete of the year.<ref name="Monthly"/><ref name="EYE"/> He also played football as an All-County [linebacker](/source/linebacker) and [running back](/source/running_back).<ref name="Fame">{{Cite news|date=August 24, 1975|title=McGraw Grapples For Wrestling Fame|work=[The Charlotte Observer](/source/The_Charlotte_Observer)|page=64}}</ref> McGraw then attended [Elon College](/source/Elon_University), where he also wrestled and played football.<ref name="Fame"/>

==Professional wrestling career==
McGraw made his professional wrestling debut in 1975 in Florida after training under [Rip Hawk](/source/Rip_Hawk), who knew him at a young age, at the gym in the basement of Hawk's house.<ref name="EYE"/><ref name="Fame"/> That same year, he made his debut for [Jim Crockett Promotions](/source/Jim_Crockett_Promotions) (JCP), working there until 1977.<ref name="Obit"/> He returned to North Mecklenburg High School in 1979 to serve as an assistant wrestling coach.<ref name="Obit"/> 

In May 1980, McGraw made his debut for the [World Wrestling Federation](/source/WWE) (WWF) as a [face](/source/Face_(professional_wrestling)).<ref name="Encyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[WWE Encyclopedia](/source/WWE_Encyclopedia)|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/239 239]|publisher=[Dorling Kindersley](/source/Dorling_Kindersley)|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0}}</ref> On August 9, he took part in the [Showdown at Shea](/source/Showdown_at_Shea_(1980)) event, losing to [Greg Gagne](/source/Greg_Gagne_(wrestler)).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shields|first=Brian|title=Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s|publisher=[Pocket Books](/source/Pocket_Books)|year=2006|isbn=978-1-4165-3257-6|edition=4th|page=146}}</ref> He defeated [enhancement talent](/source/job_(professional_wrestling)), but mostly lost to [heels](/source/Heel_(professional_wrestling)) who were ready to challenge [WWF Champion](/source/WWE_Championship) [Bob Backlund](/source/Bob_Backlund).<ref name="WWF6389Book">{{cite book|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963 - 1989|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform|year=2013|isbn=978-1492825975}}</ref> In April 1981, McGraw appeared for [New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling) (NJPW) as part of the "NJPW WWF Big Fight Series II" tour, often teaming with [Ken Patera](/source/Ken_Patera), Backlund, [Tiger Jeet Singh](/source/Tiger_Jeet_Singh) and [Dynamite Kid](/source/Dynamite_Kid) against the likes of [Antonio Inoki](/source/Antonio_Inoki), [Tatsumi Fujinami](/source/Tatsumi_Fujinami), [Seiji Sakaguchi](/source/Seiji_Sakaguchi) and [Riki Choshu](/source/Riki_Choshu).<ref name="NJPW">{{Cite web|title=Rick McGraw >> Matches >> New Japan Pro Wrestling|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=3323&view=&page=4&promotion=7|access-date=December 14, 2025|website=CageMatch}}</ref> Two months later, McGraw was involved in an [angle](/source/Angle_(professional_wrestling)) where his neck was "broken" by [Killer Khan](/source/Killer_Khan) in a match, sidelining him for six to nine weeks.<ref name="WWF6389Book"/> In the interim, he wrestled for [Promotions Varoussac](/source/Lutte_Internationale), where he and [Gino Brito](/source/Gino_Brito) defeated [Swede Hanson](/source/Swede_Hanson_(wrestler)) and [Le Bourreau](/source/Jean-Neil_Guay) to win the [Canadian International Tag Team Championship](/source/Canadian_International_Tag_Team_Championship) on November 9. They lost the titles on December 30 to [Gilles Poisson](/source/Gilles_Poisson) and [Sailor White](/source/Moondog_King).<ref name="InternationalTag"/> McGraw returned in January 1982 with [Arnold Skaaland](/source/Arnold_Skaaland) as his [manager](/source/Manager_(professional_wrestling)), and formed a [tag team](/source/tag_team) with [Steve Travis](/source/Steve_Travis_(wrestler)) the following month.<ref name="WWF6389Book"/> They were known as the "Carolina Connection" due to both men being from the Carolinas and having similar backgrounds playing football in college.<ref name="Carolina">{{Cite magazine|last=Cunliffe|first=Joe|last2=Cunliffe|first2=Ron|date=July 1982|title=The Wrestling News® interviews the Carolina Connection (McGraw & Travis)|magazine=Wrestling Revue|pages=14–15|issn=0049-8181}}</ref> At the same time, he teamed with [André the Giant](/source/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant), and both teams unsuccessfully challenged [Mr. Fuji](/source/Mr._Fuji) and [Mr. Saito](/source/Masa_Saito) for the [WWF Tag Team Championship](/source/World_Tag_Team_Championship_(WWE%2C_1971%E2%80%932010)).<ref name="WWF6389Book"/> McGraw left the WWF in July and briefly returned to NJPW that month as part of the "Summer Fight Series II" tour.<ref name="NJPW"/> 

On September 6, McGraw debuted for the [World Wrestling Association](/source/World_Wrestling_Association_(Indianapolis)) (WWA), where he and [Giant Kimala](/source/Kamala_(wrestler)) challenged [Spike Huber](/source/Spike_Huber) and [Steve Regal](/source/Steve_Regal) for the [WWA World Tag Team Championship](/source/WWA_World_Tag_Team_Championship), but lost the match via disqualification.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 7, 1982|title=Lawler triumphs to keep title|work=[Memphis Press-Scimitar](/source/Memphis_Press-Scimitar)|page=23}}</ref> Shortly after, he formed a [heel](/source/Heel_(professional_wrestling)) [tag team](/source/tag_team) with [The Dream Machine](/source/Troy_Graham) known as The New York Dolls, incorporating tuxedos and bow ties as part of their ring gear and [Jimmy Hart](/source/Jimmy_Hart) as their manager. They were brought to Memphis to [feud](/source/Feud_(professional_wrestling)) with the [Fabulous Ones](/source/Fabulous_Ones) ([Stan Lane](/source/Stan_Lane) and [Steve Keirn](/source/Steve_Keirn)).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Oliver|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Oliver|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams|last2=Johnson|first2=Steven|publisher=[ECW Press](/source/ECW_Press)|year=2005|isbn=978-1-55022-683-6|page=262|chapter=Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoops|first=Brian|date=October 18, 2022|title=Daily Pro Wrestling History (10/18): The Dudleys win IWGP Tag Team titles|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-the-dudleys-win-iwgp-tag-team-titles/|access-date=December 17, 2025|website=[Wrestling Observer Newsletter](/source/Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter)}}</ref> On September 25, they defeated Huber and Regal to win the WWA World Tag Team Championship. However, they lost the titles in a rematch in December.<ref name="WWATag"/> In 1984, he began appearing for [Southeastern Championship Wrestling](/source/Continental_Championship_Wrestling) (SECW), winning the [NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship](/source/NWA_Alabama_Heavyweight_Championship) from Vic Rain on May 28. He lost the title in August to [Boris Zhukov](/source/Boris_Zhukov).<ref name="AlabamaTitle"/> Later that month, McGraw returned to the WWF full-time.<ref name="WWF6389Book"/>  

On the October 26, 1985 episode of [''WWF Championship Wrestling''](/source/WWF_Championship_Wrestling), McGraw was a guest on [Roddy Piper](/source/Roddy_Piper)'s "Piper's Pit" segment and got on his case about always shooting his mouth off and not wrestling on television, prompting Piper to accept a challenge to wrestle him on the following week's show, which would be McGraw's final televised appearance.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nedeff|first=Adam|date=July 31, 2014|title=The Name on the Marquee: WWF Championship Wrestling (10.26.1985)|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-name-on-the-marquee-wwf-championship-wrestling-10-26-1985/|access-date=December 14, 2025|website=411Mania}}</ref> At the start of the match, Piper threw McGraw out of the ring and twice into the guardrail. After [no-selling](/source/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms) several punches and kicks in McGraw's comeback, Piper hit him with a [swinging neckbreaker](/source/Neckbreaker) and two [DDTs](/source/DDT_(professional_wrestling)), the second prompting the referee to stop the match, declaring McGraw unable to continue. Coincidentally, the match aired the day after McGraw's death.<ref name="WWF6389Book"/> Off TV, McGraw faced [Mike Sharpe](/source/Mike_Sharpe) in his final match on October 28.<ref name="EYE"/>

== Other media ==
McGraw appeared on an episode of [''The A-Team''](/source/The_A-Team) in 1985 alongside [Hulk Hogan](/source/Hulk_Hogan), [Mr. T](/source/Mr._T), [Ricky Steamboat](/source/Ricky_Steamboat), [The British Bulldogs](/source/The_British_Bulldogs) ([Davey Boy Smith](/source/Davey_Boy_Smith) and [Dynamite Kid](/source/Dynamite_Kid)) and [Corporal Kirchner](/source/Corporal_Kirchner).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stroud|first=Brandon|date=August 30, 2018|title=The Wrestling Episode: A-Team, A-Team, Go Go Go!|url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/a-team-body-slam-hulk-hogan-the-wrestling-episode/|access-date=December 14, 2025|website=[Uproxx](/source/Uproxx)}}</ref>

== Personal life and death ==
McGraw enjoyed boating, bowling, ice hockey and swimming.<ref name="Monthly">{{Cite magazine|last=Gordon|first=Gene|date=January 1978|title=Rick McGraw: A Soaring Star In The Grappling Galaxy|magazine=Wrestling Monthly|publisher=Kietzer Publishing|pages=36–38}}</ref>

On November 1, 1985, McGraw died of a [heart attack](/source/Myocardial_infarction) at the age of 30.<ref name="Obit">{{Cite news|date=November 3, 1985|title=Wrestler Dies|work=[The Charlotte Observer](/source/The_Charlotte_Observer)|page=28}}</ref> His body was found at his home in [New Haven, Connecticut](/source/New_Haven%2C_Connecticut), by friends who grew concerned after being unable to contact him.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 5, 1985|title=Pro wrestler McGraw found dead|work=[Austin American-Statesman](/source/Austin_American-Statesman)|page=28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=November 6, 1985|title=Rick McGraw, 30; professional wrestler|work=[The Morning Call](/source/The_Morning_Call)|page=42}}</ref> Fellow professional wrestler [Bret Hart](/source/Bret_Hart) noted in his autobiography that McGraw regularly consumed [Placidyl](/source/Ethchlorvynol) and suggested this resulted in his heart failing.<ref>{{cite book|author=Hart|first=Bret|author-link=Bret Hart|title=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling|publisher=[Ebury Publishing](/source/Ebury_Publishing)|year=2007|isbn=978-1-4070-2931-3|pages=130, 156}}</ref> He was survived by his wife, Lisa.<ref name="Benefit">{{Cite news|last=Sorensen|first=Tom|date=December 17, 1985|title=Hulkamania With A Very Soft Touch|work=[The Charlotte Observer](/source/The_Charlotte_Observer)|page=48}}</ref> On December 16, the WWF held an event to benefit McGraw's family, which was headlined by Roddy Piper.<ref name="Benefit"/><ref>{{Cite book|last=Piper|first=Roddy|author-link=Roddy Piper|title=In the Pit with Piper|title-link=In the Pit with Piper|last2=Picarello|first2=Robert|publisher=[Berkley Books](/source/Berkley_Books)|year=2002|isbn=978-0425187210|page=138}}</ref>

== Championships and accomplishments ==
*'''[Continental Championship Wrestling](/source/Continental_Championship_Wrestling)'''
**[NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship](/source/NWA_Alabama_Heavyweight_Championship) ([1 time](/source/NWA_Alabama_Heavyweight_Championship))<ref name="AlabamaTitle">{{Cite book|last=Will|first=Gary|title=Wrestling Title Histories|last2=Duncan|first2=Royal|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4|edition=4th|page=185|chapter=Alabama: Alabama Title}}</ref>
*'''[Lutte Internationale](/source/Lutte_Internationale)'''
**[Canadian International Tag Team Championship](/source/Canadian_International_Tag_Team_Championship) ([1 time](/source/Canadian_International_Tag_Team_Championship)) – with [Gino Brito](/source/Gino_Brito)<ref name="InternationalTag">{{Cite web|title=International Tag Team Title (Québéc)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/pv/pv-int-t.html|access-date=December 14, 2025|website=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
*'''''[Pro Wrestling Illustrated](/source/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated)'''''
**Ranked #'''485''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm|title=Wrestling Information Archive - Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years|date=June 16, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616064424/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm|archivedate=June 16, 2008}}</ref>
*'''[World Wrestling Association](/source/World_Wrestling_Association_(Indianapolis))'''
**[WWA World Tag Team Championship](/source/WWA_World_Tag_Team_Championship) ([1 time](/source/WWA_World_Tag_Team_Championship)) – with [Troy Graham](/source/Troy_Graham)<ref name="WWATag">{{Cite book|last=Will|first=Gary|title=Wrestling Title Histories|last2=Duncan|first2=Royal|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4|edition=4th|pages=97–98|chapter=Indianapolis: WWA Tag Team Title}}</ref>

==See also==
* [List of premature professional wrestling deaths](/source/List_of_premature_professional_wrestling_deaths)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|6726831|Rick McGraw}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGraw, Rick}}
Category:1955 births
Category:1985 deaths
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:First Family (professional wrestling) members
Category:Professional wrestlers from North Carolina
Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rick McGraw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_McGraw) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_McGraw?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.