Ted Dibiase

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Theodore Marvin (Ted) DiBiase Sr. (born January 18, 1954 in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American Christian minister and former professional wrestler known under the moniker "The Million Dollar Man".

Contents

Life Before Wrestling

Both DiBiase's mother and stepfather were wrestlers. His stepfather, "Iron" Michael DiBiase, died of a heart attack in the ring when Ted was only 15. This sent his mother Helen Hild into a deep depression. (Ted hardly knew his real father, except that he had been one of Tennessee Ernie Ford's backup singers. Ted's birth name was Ted Wills, but this was changed after Helen's marriage to Iron Mike.) With his mother no longer able to take proper care of him, DiBiase went to live with his grandparents in Arizona.

After graduating from high school DiBiase was offered and accepted a scholarship at West Texas State University. While there he was trained by Dory Funk, Jr., and had his first matches while a Junior. Eventually he dropped out of school in order to become a full-time wrestler in the Oklahoma area.

Wrestling career

Mid-South Wrestling

DiBiase spent a good portion of his career in Mid-South Wrestling, holding the Mid-South North American Championship 5 times and the Mid-South Tag Team title 5 times with four different partners. He did have a brief run in the WWF in 1979 where he was billed as the North American Champion only to lose the belt to Pat Patterson. That title was then dropped in favor of the Intercontinental Championship.

He has also been involved in several of the most memorable angles in wrestling history. In 1982, a face DiBiase stated he would defeat Bob Roop for the North American title or leave Mid-South. The Junkyard Dog won the title from Roop and had to face DiBiase, who was his best friend, with the stipulation still in place. During the match, DiBiase used a loaded glove to knockout the Dog and win the title turning heel in the process. DiBiase and fellow heel Jim Duggan later formed a team called 'the Rat Pack' and in a loser leaves Mid-South match, Duggan in a gorilla suit interfered to send the Dog packing.

DiBiase would later turn on Duggan which set up a Best Dressed Man in Mid-South angle between the two. DiBiase, who was carrying a baseball bat to defend himself from Duggan's 2x4, went outside the arena to confront Mid-South television director Joel Watts about the noise meters being used in the contest. He recognized Duggan's car parked nearby and promptly smashed its windshield. This later led to a series of cage matches, no-disqualification matches, and Tuxedo-and-a-Coal-Miner's-glove-atop-a-pole matches between the two.

Butch Reed was supposed to get a shot at Ric Flair's NWA title but Flair and Dick Slater injured Reed the week before. DiBiase was awarded the match. However, before the match started, Dick Murdoch came out to demand that DiBiase step aside and give him the match. DiBiase refused and Murdoch jumped him, bloodying DiBiase so much that the match had to be canceled (Flair said he was happy to get a night off). Eventually a bandanged DiBiase came back out to the fans chanting his name. He fought Flair and lost via count-out. Later, Murdoch came back out and gave DiBiase a brainbuster on the concrete floor. In his last match before making it big, DiBiase had a classic battle with "The Chest" Chris Ewell. Ewell suffered a career ending injury as a result of a botched splash. Dibiase won the match and as a tribute adopted Ewell's "I'm richer and better than you persona" that we all know DiBiase by today. DiBiase formed a foundation for Ewell and the two remain friends to this day.

World Wrestling Federation

In the World Wrestling Federation, DiBiase became one of the most hated heels of all time. He was known as "The Million Dollar Man," a millionaire who wore a gold-studded, dollar-sign-covered suit and, later on, a custom-made "Million Dollar Belt" around his waist as he entered the ring. He claimed, "Everybody has a price," demonstrating his "power" through a series of vignettes in which he did things such as bribe the manager of a local swimming pool to close for the day so he could have the pool to himself. Other skits featured DiBiase traveling in limousines, giving $100 tips to waiters, and using $100 bills in convenience stores for small purchases like chewing gum.

In other promotions, DiBiase would invite fans (including a young Rob Van Dam) into the ring or to the interview platform to perform humiliating acts (such as kissing his feet) for money. One of the more infamous of these skits was when he invited a young boy onto a stage and told him if he bounced a ball 15 times in succession, DiBiase would pay him $500. After the 14th bounce, DiBiase kicked the ball away, sending the boy home without pay.

DiBiase acquired a bodyguard, Virgil, who eventually grew tired of DiBiase's abuse and made an inspirational face turn at the 1991 Royal Rumble.

DiBiase was a skilled technical wrestler, and many fans desired that he turn face. His finishing maneuver was the 'Million Dollar Dream' (a modified STP/cobra clutch). After putting his opponents to sleep with this maneuver, he stuffed $100 bills down their throats, uttered his signature lines ("Everyone's got a price," and "Everyone's got to pay."), and laughed.

He was unpopular because he was an enemy of fan-favorite champions. On an episode of "WWF Superstars of Wrestling," he announced his plan to buy the WWF Championship and offered Hogan a large sum to surrender the belt. However, Hogan refused and said that DiBiase would have to defeat him in the ring for the belt; this sparked a memorable feud between the two. Hogan got the upper hand in a series of matches, and a frustrated DiBiase approached André the Giant to win the belt for him.

On February 5, 1988, on "The Main Event" (which aired live on NBC), André defeated Hogan in a very questionable decision for the WWF Championship; Andre then announced he was surrendering the belt and handed it to DiBiase. The WWF refused to acknowledge DiBiase as the champion (since the title cannot be bought or surrendered) and declared the title vacant. DiBiase was runner up in the tournament held at WrestleMania IV to fill the vacancy, defeated by "Macho Man" Randy Savage. He was later involved in popular feuds with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. In 1990, he broke the then-"Iron Man" record by lasting over 40 minutes in the Royal Rumble.

In later years, DiBiase formed a very successful tag team, Money Inc., with Irwin R. Schyster (IRS). The duo were three-time WWF World Tag Team Champions. DiBiase wrestled until late 1993 when back and neck injuries forced him to leave active participation in the ring for good, but he remained on as a manager in both the WWF and later its rival, WCW.

Dibiase introduced The Undertaker to the WWF at the 1990 Survivor Series, claiming the Taker as his protege.

In 1994, DiBiase tried his hand at commentating, announcing the 1994 Royal Rumble along with Vince McMahon. He was also a color commentator alongside the likes of Stan Lane and Gorilla Monsoon on WWF Wrestling Challenge. In addition, DiBiase also lent his announcing skills on matches that were taped exclusively for Coliseum Video releases. Later in 1994, DiBiase "purchased" the services of many wrestlers for his Million Dollar Corporation stable in the WWF, which over time included himself, I.R.S., Bam Bam Bigelow, Tatanka, Nikolai Volkoff, Kama, King Kong Bundy, Sycho Sid, 1-2-3 Kid, and "The Ringmaster" Steve Austin.

DiBiase's millionaire gimmick later influenced the characters of Tiger Ali Singh and John "Bradshaw" Layfield.

World Championship Wrestling

In WCW, DiBiase managed the nWo immediately after their formation in 1996, claiming to be financing the coup (thus playing on his "Million Dollar Man" gimmick which WCW could not legally use outright). Less than a year later, he left the nWo and made a shocking face turn, managing The Steiner Brothers against the nWo until Scott turned heel and joined the group. DiBiase also managed Ray Traylor for a while as an ally to the Steiners but eventually stopped managing altogether.

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Wrestlers Managed

Andre The Giant
Ted Dibiase's Undertaker
Nikolai Volkoff
Irwin R. Schyster (IRS)
Bam Bam Bigelow
Tatanka
King Kong Bundy
Supreme Fighting Machine/Kama
1-2-3 Kid
Sycho Sid
Henry Godwinn
"Ringmaster" Steve Austin
nWo
Steiner Brothers

Retirement from active wrestling

Continued involvement with WWE

Despite playing a character fans badly hated, DiBiase is fondly remembered, so much so that he was chosen as a legend fans wanted to see in the SmackDown! games, during a poll survey done by THQ.

In April 2005, DiBiase was hired as a creative consultant and road agent for the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment.

On October 3, 2005, at WWE Homecoming to the USA Network, DiBiase appeared with other WWE legends in a special legends ceremony. He eventually led the attack on Rob Conway who had come down to the ring to insult the legends.

DiBiase has lately been trying to get the copyrights to his original theme music "It's All About The Money". The reasons for this have not been revealed.

Dibiase inducted his former manager Sensational Sherri into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1, 2006, and made a cameo at WrestleMania 22, offering Eugene $1000 to dribble a basketball 100 times backstage. In typcal fashion he kicked the ball away at the last second.

DiBiase also appeared on RAW on April 17, 2006, after an Unlimited segment. The segment included Goldust and Gene Snitsky asking Candice Michelle to do "things" with a big chunk of Jarlsberg cheese. DiBiase was shown behind a newspaper doing his famous evil laugh as the camera went off air.

Health issues

On December 20, 2005 in Stamford, Conn., Ted DiBiase collapsed and lost consciousness. He later regained consciousness and was held overnight in a local hospital to undergo testing. He appears to have recovered and is back to work for WWE.

Christianity and wrestling

DiBiase is now a Christian minister who runs combined Christian/wrestling events under the promotion, Power Wrestling Alliance. He frequently works with Nikita Koloff, another born-again Christian at these events. In 1999, he founded Heart of David Ministries.

Of his more recent ventures, DiBiase made a special guest appearance at an IPW show in Newton, Iowa on July 14th, 2006, where he watched his sons' tag team match. While there, the "Million Dollar Man" would, ironically, charge fans $5 for autograph signings. The following day, he would except the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction for his late father, Mike, at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Other inductees included Bret Hart, Dory Funk Sr., Larry Hennig, Nikita Koloff, Tom Jenkins, and Bob Roop.

Personal facts

DiBiase has three sons, John, Teddy, and Brett.

Trivia

He is referenced in Nick Cannon's song, Feelin Freaky: ["...Million dollar thug like I'm Ted DiBiase..."]
He admitted in an interview conducted by Ign.com that his Million Dollar Championship title - a belt composed of real diamonds and gold - cost $45,000.
He has twice appeared in the WWE SmackDown! video games as a legend. He has since stated that he's honored and proud to have done the things he did during his WWE career, because the fans remember him by it and consider him as one of the legendary figures in WWE history.
He appeared on the Robin Leach TV Show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
He appeared in the 1978 Sylvester Stallone movie Paradise Alley

In Wrestling

Finishing and signature moves

Million Dollar Dream (Cobra clutch)
Million Dollar Buster (Half nelson legsweep)
Million Dollar Knee Lift (Knee lift)
Million Dollar Fist Drop (Fist drop)
Diving back elbow drop
Sleeper hold
Figure four leglock

Sherri Martel
Sapphire
Virgil

Nicknames

"The Million Dollar Man"
"Trillionaire Ted"
"Hombre de Un Millon de Dolares"

Quotes

"Everybody has a price, for the Million Dollar Man (evil laughter)."
"...because the Million Dollar man - always gets his way!"
"I'll see you...at the bank! (Evil laughter))."
"I stand real tall when I stand on my wallet."
"You don't stand on Superman's cape, you don't spit in the wind, and you DON'T climb in the ring with the Million Dollar Man!"
"I'm the Million Dollar Man and you will pay!!! ("Evil laughter"))."
"Some might cost a little, some might cost a lot. But I'm the Million Dollar Man, and YOU WILL BE BOUGHT! ("Evil laughter")

Championships and accomplishments

All Japan Pro Wrestling

*1-time AJPW International Heavyweight Champion

*1-time AJPW United National Champion

*1-time AJPW World Tag Team Champion (with Stan Hansen)

*1-time PWF Tag Team Champion (with Stan Hansen)

National Wrestling Alliance

*2-time NWA Central States Heavyweight Champion

*2-time NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion

*2-time NWA National Tag Team Champion (1-time with Stan Frazier, 1-time with Steve O)

*1-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion

*1-time NWA United States Tag Team Champion (Tri-State version) (with Dick Murdoch)

*1-time NWA Western States Tag Team Champion (with Tito Santana)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

*PWI ranked DiBiase # 32 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.

*PWI ranked DiBiase # 20 of the best tag teams of the PWI Years, with Steve Williams

*PWI ranked DiBiase # 24 of the best tag teams of the PWI Years, with Stan Hansen

*PWI ranked DiBiase # 61 of the best tag teams of the PWI Years, with Irwin R. Schyster

Texas All-Star Wrestling

*1-time TASW Heavyweight Champion

Universal Wrestling Federation

*4-time Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion

*4-time Mid-South Tag Team Champion (1-time with Matt Borne, 1-time with Jerry Stubbs, 1-time with Hercules Hernandez, 1-time with Steve Williams)

*1-time NWA Tri-State North American Champion

*1-time UWF Tag Team Champion (with Steve Williams)

World Wrestling Federation

*1-time WWF North American Champion

*3-time WWF World Tag Team Champion (with Irwin R. Schyster)

*1988 King of the Ring

*2-time Million Dollar Champion

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*He is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996)

*1981 Best Technical Wrestler

*1982 Feud of the Year (vs Junk Yard Dog)

*1984 Feud of the Year (vs Jim Duggan)

*1987 Best Heel

*1988 Best Heel

Championship succession

Books

Dibiase, Ted (1997) Every Man Has His Price, ISBN: 1-57673-175-8
Bonham, Chad (2001) Wrestling With God, ISBN 1589199359

External links

References

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