In a mail to WWE EVP Triple H, WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham revealed dire circumstances about his health that are forcing him to miss the WrestleMania 32 weekend festivities in Arlington, TX. Below is the e-mail that he sent to Triple H, informing him about his decision, courtesy of allwrestlingnews.com:
“Triple H, I will keep this email as brief and direct as I can. I have a potential life and death problem. One week ago I was in the gym training. I broke in half a bone graft that is some 10 years old. The bone started migrating upward and is trying to exit my thigh next to my left hip joint, extremely painful as you can imagine. I immediately drove myself to the world famous Mayo Clinic Hospital here in Phoenix.
The top orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo, Dr. Mark Spangehl is a hip replacement specialist. He saw in the x-ray of my left hip that the broken bone had moved upward about 4 inches from its original placement. He also saw that I am at risk of a dislocation. I have attached a photo of an x-ray of a total left hip replacement similar to mine for your reference.
The reason this is a potential life or death surgery that I must have is because I have high blood sugar and am taking medication to control it . Dr. Spangehl told me with the high numbers of my diabetes I am at risk of infection. He said if I get an infection after this upcoming surgery he will have to go in and cut the infection out. The 3rd time he said to save my life he would have to amputate my left leg at the hip.
I am on crutches and the doctor will not let me travel. So I am obviously going to miss this years Wrestlemania. I am very sorry about this of course, especially because of the fan axxess event and all of my fans who will not get the chance to meet me now. If there is anything I can do like sign autographs here and then send them back to the WWE office I would be more than happy to do that. I just feel horrible about this but there is nothing I can do. With great respect, Superstar.”
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has stepped in to replace him and he confirmed this with a tweet: