Grilling JR - Ted DiBiase [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today we’re going to be discussing someone you go a long way back with! The Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase!

Ted is turning 69 this week and was born on January 18th, 1954. Ted’s adopted father “Iron” Mike DiBiase and his biological mother Helen were both wrestlers! Talk about a heritage to follow JR!

Mike is most well known sadly for dying during a match in Lubbock, Texas - in a match against Man Mountain Mike his father took a bump out to the floor and collapsed. The story was that Harley Race rushed to ringside and performed CPR but was unable to revive him. Do you remember hearing this story and is this one of the first in-ring deaths you remember?

Ted goes to West Texas State university on a football scholarship but dropped out due to injury in his senior year and began to pursue a career in pro wrestling.

Quote from Terry Funk:

“Although he was offered a football scholarship at the University of Arizona, I steered him to West Texas State University. While I wanted to make sure he finished college and earned his degree, I also wanted Teddy in Canyon for selfish reasons: so that I could watch him play football.

What I didn’t realize about Teddy was that he came to West Texas State not only to play football and get a degree, but also to pursue a career in professional wrestling”

So many other wrestling greats came out of West Texas State including the Funk brothers, Dusty Rhodes, Stan Hansen, Tully Blanchard, Tito Santana and others. What a factory this was for talent JR!

Speaking of the Funks, Ted started training at age 20, learning from two of the very best Terry Funk and Dory Jr.

Similar to your early career path Jim, Ted started as a referee but in Amarillo in June 1974.

Ted goes to Mid-South in 1975 working for Bill Watts and Leroy McGuirk for about a year and this would be the first time you get to meet Ted, do I have that correct Jim?

His first match in Mid-South is actually a TV match vs. Danny Hodge. What a trial by fire that is!

Do you remember early Ted, work ethic, etc?

Ted is then wrestling for Bob Geigel’s Central States promotion and Sam Muchnick’s popular St. Louis-based group. Success came early for the young fan favorite and he soon won his first title, the Central States Heavyweight championship, from Drill Instructor Bob Slaughter (the future Sgt. Slaughter) on July 19, 1977.

Dibiase scored another Central States title in January of 1978, and followed that win by also capturing the prestigious Missouri Heavyweight championship a month later. It was as the Missouri champion that Dibiase began getting his first national write-ups in the wrestling magazines and the handsome young babyface quickly found himself in high demand across the country. Did you picture big things for Ted?

Ted went to the WWWF for about a year in 1979, billed as the first WWWF North American Heavyweight Champion, losing it to Pat Patterson, just before Pat became the first IC Champion winning the prestigious tournament in Rio de Janeiro wink wink. Was going to the WWWF at the time the biggest exposure you could get during this time?

His last match up north was losing to Hulk Hogan in Hogan’s Madison Square Garden debut appearance on December 17, 1979. It’s crazy how things happen isn’t it?

Ted goes back to Mid-South immediately after the WWF run and goes between Watts’ territory, back to St. Louis, to Georgia, and a bunch of tours for All Japan. Was Ted more polished and better when he left the WWWF?

DiBiase is wrestling everyone from Ric Flair, Paul Orndorff, Dick Murdoch, the Freebirds, and he and Stan Hansen are a regular team in Japan. How did Ted grow and evolve during this time?

Is this around the time you helped save Ted’s life?

He’s considered one of the best wrestlers in the world at this point is he not?

From the Observer:

“If Ric Flair hadn’t existed, he’d have almost surely gotten it. In 1981, when it was time for Harley Race to lose it, the plan was for Dusty Rhodes to get a short run, followed by rotating with Flair and DiBiase with the idea of recreating Funk Jr.-Brisco. But Flair ended up doing so well as champion and the politics of the NWA changed with the people who may have supported DiBiase (Sam Muchnick and The Funks) no longer wielding the power and Jim Crockett Jr. and Jim Barnett, both strong Flair supporters, being major influences. Plus, for Fritz Von Erich, when it came to what he was doing with his sons as challengers, Flair was clearly a better fit than DiBiase would have been.”

Do you remember hearing this or do you think Ted would’ve been a great NWA Champion?

In 1982 Mid-South booker Ernie Ladd asked Ted DiBiase for a favor. Since Ted wrestled for several promotions in the United States as well as competing for All-Japan, would Ted keep his eyes peeled for a new lead heel for him?

Ted agreed and came to Ladd shortly thereafter with a new lead heel for Mid-South Wrestling.

DiBiase presented himself for the role. The Big Cat was a bit skeptical at first. DiBiase had spent his entire career as a babyface. Could he really pull off the role? DiBiase insisted he could and Ladd decided to give it a go. This began a new and exciting chapter of Ted DiBiase’s career. How big a moment is this? Did you think it was a good idea?

One of Ted’s most memorable moments in Mid-South was when he turned heel against the Junkyard Dog and captured the North American Heavyweight Title from JYD in June 1982.

There was also the stipulation that DiBiase would leave the territory if he lost.

This was a babyface vs babyface match and JYD was the most over guy in Mid-South at the time.

From a recap of the show:

“JYD got a near-fall with a powerslam then DiBiase went for the figure-4, but Dog kicked him over the top, which was not a disqualification here in this no DQ match. JYD went out to check on DiBiase and helped him back inside the ring.

DiBiase reached into his tights, loaded up his white glove and nailed the Dog, who sold like death, and DiBiase pinned him to win the title.

There wasn’t as much heat as you would think for such an historic angle; the crowd just kind of gasped then sat there in a disgusted silence at what they had just witnessed.”

How important was Ted to the growth of Mid-South - as a babyface and a heel?

Another hot angle with DiBiase in Mid-South was with Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

At one point they were the closest of friends, part of “The Rat Pack”. In 1983 that all changed.  DiBiase made a deal to take on General Skandor Akbar as his manager.

How strong was the talent in Mid South back then?

As the Big Cheese of the Rat Pack, Duggan had committed some diabolical deeds, but joining forces with the anti-American Akbar crossed the line by insulting Duggan’s renowned Patriotism. DiBiase insisted that his dealings with Akbar would not affect his relationship with Duggan.

At Akbar’s behest, DiBiase sold out Duggan at the first opportunity. This led to one of 1983’s most violent and exciting feuds.

Mid South is always well remembered for the Cowboy’s stories when he would come back in the ring - but Duggan and DiBiase was big business was it not?

The feud came to a shocking end in June of 1983 when Hacksaw Duggan defeated Ted DiBiase in a loser leaves Mid-South match.

Ted had to leave a promotion he had dominated the last few years. Was this just one of those things that it was time for Ted to go away to make the story make sense?

In the fall of 1984, DiBiase returned to Mid-South in an almost as shocking manner as he had left. DiBiase assaulted Duggan in the parking lot of the Irish McNeil Boys Club before Duggan’s football helmet match with Dr Death Steve Williams.

Once again the feud was on.

The feud builds up for months culminating in the famous multiple gimmick match:

A Loser Leaves Town, Tuxedo, Coal Miner’s Glove on a Pole and Steel Cage match all rolled into one, with Duggan coming out on top in every town they ran.

What are some of your favorite memories and moments from DiBiase - Duggan?

Did you know that at some point in time DiBiase was going to be leaving for the WWF?

It’s reported at the time that Ted was deep in negotiations with JCP after Crockett purchased the UWF and the story is that he wouldn’t be told the gimmick with the WWF unless he signed. What do you remember about this at the time?

In 1987, Ted got the ultimate gig as “The Million Dollar Man” in the WWF.

Described as if Vince could go out and wrestle at the time himself - this would be the gimmick.

Vince also allows DiBiase to “live the gimmick” and be seen as the Million Dollar Man in public, so he gets to fly first class everywhere, be driven around in limousines etc.

There’s so much to break down on this gimmick. Between the laugh, the style, the title, what did you think of the presentation?

Were you surprised Vince saw himself in Ted?

It’s a big step to go from Mid South to the WWF in this form and fashion - did you have any expectations that he would be a failure in this role?

He has Virgil as his bodyguard too, of course named as a rib on Dusty Rhodes’ real name…supposedly that is! The whole gimmick - excuse the pun - but it just looks like money doesn’t it?

He has a tremendous six-year run with the gimmick as a wrestler. Pushed immediately in the limelight saying he’s gonna buy the WWF Title from Hulk Hogan, and heavily involved in the Andre vs Hulk match on the Main Event in February 1988 and the twin referees angle. You’re in JCP at the time but what did you think of this when you first saw it?

Is the twin referee angle one of the best you’ve ever seen?

In his first WrestleMania he gets the main event spot against Randy Savage in the tournament to crown a new WWF Champion, as well as getting a house show run on top vs Savage for the next 6 months afterwards. Were you surprised Ted was never given the WWF Title?

Could he had been a guy who wins the title and have Hogan chase?

Savage vs. DiBiase is a hell of a program - when you talk about two talents in their prime really having some great matches - did you ever get a chance to see those?

He’s then involved in high profile feuds with Jake Roberts, Dusty Rhodes, and Virgil once the two split up. His run on top isn’t as long as it feels like it was - once he is done with Savage & Hogan he does fall down the card. Do you think they could’ve done more with him near the top?

He gets Sensational Sherri as his manager for about a year here too, before he and IRS are put together as a tag team to form Money Inc and they become WWF Tag Team Champions almost immediately in February 1992 defeating the Legion of Doom. It ends up being a big role because when 1993 comes around and Hulk Hogan returns…its at WrestleMania where he’ll team with Brutus Beefcake taking on Ted & Irwin R. Schyster. Was Ted someone you were excited about working with when you came into the company?

What was it like seeing Ted for the first time in 6 years when you returned?

You don’t get to call many of his WWF matches Jim when you come in 1993, the most high-profile is probably at WrestleMania IX when it’s Money Inc vs Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake for the tag straps…did you get the feeling Ted was looking to wind down his career?

DiBiase’s last WWF match is at SummerSlam 93 losing to Razor Ramon, and DiBiase steps away from the WWF for a while.

DiBiase has publicly talked about the struggles of being on the road during this time and the effect it was having on his personal life at home…were you surprised to see him gone?

He started a lighter schedule back to All Japan in the fall of 1993 due to suffering neck and spinal injuries which forced him to retire from the ring.

Ted returned to the WWF at the 1994 Royal Rumble to work as color commentator for the show alongside Vince McMahon. Ted dabbles in commentary for a little while, and you two get to work together a few times. What was Ted like on commentary and how did you think he did?

DiBiase also had his own stable as the Million $ Corporation until 1996. He would start off with the likes of Nikolai Volkoff & Bam Bam Bigelow before bringing in a fake Undertaker to feud with the real Undertaker for SummerSlam 94’s main event. Ted in this role…as good as he was a talker…I don’t know it never clicked for me. What say you?

Ted is also in the main event spot as Bigelow’s manager vs. Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI. How important is Ted to help build this?

Was Ted someone who was an integral part of his creative - or was he just someone who would do as he was told?

Was he happy to still be on the road or do you think he wasn’t satisfied just being a manager?

He also has over time Tatanka, King Kong Bundy, Kama, Sid, the 1-2-3 Kid. What did you think of the Million Dollar Corporation?

Ted is part of the infamous - We’re Live, pal promo with Sid. Do you remember Ted’s reaction afterwards?

The final member of the Million Dollar Corporation is…the Ringmaster - better known as Stone Cold Steve Austin, but the pair is short-lived as DiBiase is written out of WWF storylines when Austin loses a Caribbean Strap Match to Savio Vega at In Your House: Beware of Dog in May 1996. Do you think this pairing was a benefit to Steve when he’s first introduced?

Was Austin happy to see DiBiase leaving so he could go out on his own?

DiBiase had given notice that he would be going to WCW when his contract came up for a lighter schedule and a higher paycheck. Do you know if Vince was sad to see him go?

Was it a contentious leaving, do you remember?

He joins WCW and the nWo in the Summer of 96, but it’s not as memorable of a run beyond the first few months. Did you ever talk with Ted about his time in WCW?

In 2013, DiBiase said about his time in WCW:

"Eric Bischoff doesn't know that much about wrestling", "Eric took credit for the nWo but that wasn't his idea, the nWo had already been done in Japan, so they had copied something that had already been done. It was a good idea, but originally I was supposed to be the mouthpiece of the nWo and reality is I think Eric saw how it was getting over and he saw how he could put himself in the role that he had hired me for.

As each week went by pretty soon Eric isn't the announcer anymore, he becomes part of the nWo and I just went to him one day and told him I'm not just going to walk out there and be Hulk Hogan's Virgil, you hired me to be the spokesperson for this, so if that's not what I'm going to do you can send me home. The reason I said that was because they had to pay me one way or the other because I had a contract where they had to pay me for three years".

Was Ted someone that if the ability to bring him back was available to Vince and the WWF during that time - he would be someone Vince would be interested in bringing back?

In 1999, DiBiase became a Christian minister, and devoted his life solely to that for several years after leaving WCW. Did you keep in touch with Ted as part of your role in talent relations?

What was your relationship like with him?

In 2004 he was offered a job with creative. How did that come to be?

What was he like while on the creative time?

DiBiase about his job in creative in WWE in 2005-2006:

“I said, 'you know, that's not really me'. I'm not Clint Eastwood. I'm not good on both sides of the camera. I'm good in front of it. And they wanted me to come back and at least try, so I did for about a year and a half and I guess it took them that long to figure out I was right".

He would transfer over to being a road agent - was that something he was better at?

Ted would have various appearances on TV including inducting Sherri into the Hall of Fame, WrestleMania appearances, but really Ted’s role is being the Dad introducing his sons, Ted & Brett to the business. What did you see in Ted Jr & Brett?

In May 2008, Ted DiBiase Jr. was introduced to WWE audiences for the first time by his dad - did you see a lot of Ted Senior in him?

He had a nice run for a few years, teaming with Cody Rhodes and paired with Randy Orton as the Legacy faction but it’s fair to say something was missing when comparing him to his dad, and besides a few independent shots DiBiase Jr. has stayed retired from wrestling since 2013. Do you think this was a missed opportunity for the company?

His other son Brett also wrestled for a few years but didn’t really make it out of developmental. Did you see any of Brett?

DiBiase was inducted into the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame in Phoenix by his two sons. What do you think his legacy in the business is looking back?

Also, the Cauliflower Alley Club banquet took place that year and Ted was given the Iron Mike Mazurki Award and in the same year you got the Art Abrams Award. That was a big honor for both of you wasn’t it?

He’s often talked about in the same breath as the Scott Halls and the Jake Roberts as being one of those people who never had a World Title run that should’ve. Do you think he needed a title run at any point in time?