Ted Dibiase news

[brighty 0]

http://www.wrestlemag.com/interviews/dibiase.html

 

 

Being the son of a prominent wrestler, did most of the guys offer their help and advice when you first broke into the business, or did it have the opposite effect and hinder you?

 

Most of the guys were more than willing to help me. My dad had a good reputation and a lot of friends. I will say that when it became evident that I was going to go places in the business, good advise was harder to come by. This wasn't true of everybody, but a few guys looked at it as helping put themselves out of a job.

 

A lot of guys nowadays have a preference to map out their matches beforehand. Did you ever take this route, or did you prefer to call it all in the ring?

 

I always liked to call it in the ring. Matches look more real and less rehearsed when you do it that way. You also play off the crowd, not a script. This is the real art of pro wrestling and it's a dying art.

 

Your promo's and interviews in WWF were always bang on the money. Did talking and cutting promo's come easy to you?

 

Yes, but it was because of years of experience. I might be given an idea for an interview but I never, ever, had a totally scripted interview.

 

Throughout your career, who has had the most positive, and the most negative effect on you?

 

There are many people who helped my career along. It would be hard to put down just one name. If I had to choose one, it would be my dad. He wasn't around to tel me anything but my work ethic was his. But guys like Dory and Terry Funk, Harley Race, Bill Watts, Karl Kox, and Dick Murdock were the guys who I most learned from in my early years. I won't bother to talk about bad influences. If you can't say something nice, leave it alone.

 

What were some of the most memorable things you made people do for money during your WWF run? I remember reading about a show where you made a kid kiss your feet, only for this kid to grow up and become Rob Van Dam. Small World!

 

Yes it is. I look forward to meeting Rob again and asking how my foot tasted. ha ha! The most asked about thing was the kid dribbling the basketball for money. When I kicked the ball out from under him to make him miss, the crowd wanted to kill me.

 

Your life has changed since leaving WCW. You now work as a motivational speaker, and are heavily involved with the Church. How much more fulfilling for you is the work you do today compared with say 10 or 15 years ago?

 

The rewards are far greater. What I do now is help people change their lives for the better. Nothing in life is more rewarding than that.

 

WCW is no more, ratings are down, mainstream publicity is non-existent. What's wrong with WWE, and the business overall today?

 

I think the business has to get back to a clear line of good against evil, real hero's and real villians. We need more wrestling that illustrates a hard faught contest and a lot less soap opea. People are constantly telling me they don't watch wrestling to see a soap opera, they want wrestling.

 

If you were approached by Vince McMahon with a view to a return to WWE, on what terms would you consider returning to the company?

 

I am returning to the company and I'm doing so to help in a creative role for the SmackDown show and as an agent to help the young talent. It's on a trial basis to see if it works in with what I'm already doing and to see if I fit for them. It's going to keep me very busy for a while, that's for sure.

 

Finally, any thoughts or messages you'd like to share with your fans?

 

I'd just like to thank them for their support. Wrestling fans are very loyal. I want them to know how much that loyalty is appreciated. I also hope that I can have a positive influence on the direction of the business.

 

with him back in the fold, i hope that means he's the next HOF inductee

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

He deserved it sooner than Orton, IMO. DiBiase would make a great addition and add the the "Hogan" thing. Jeez, at this rate, I could see DiBiase, Iron Sheik, Vokoff, Piper, Orton, Orndorff, etc. all doing one last old school beatdown of "Hulkamanaia", with Hart turning heel and yelling "Keep on him, baby! Now you got 'em!" on the megaphone...and then a mega-Hulk Up ensues.

 

What was so great about Orton, BTW? Never saw a lot of his work but he always just looked like a henchman for Piper or Race.

[starvenger 0]

What was so great about Orton, BTW? Never saw a lot of his work but he always just looked like a henchman for Piper or Race.

C'mon, the guy wrestled for so long with a devastating arm injury. He NEEDS to be recognized for that.

[Youth N Asia 0]

Yeah, all gimmicks aside, if his brat wasn't in the company or still working lower card then the Cowboy would be out of luck.

 

Ted should be in no doubt

[Promoter 0]

Ted Dibase financially backing JBL's cabinet? That would be funny and entertaining, but you know how this creative staff is. Hopefully, Steamboat and Dibase can help with the match quality.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

JBL is a self-made millionaire. He doesn't need a backer, much less a preacher man backing him.

 

I would like to see Ted & Virgil meet up with JBL & Orlando once, though.

 

But by success, JBL & Orlando > DiBiase & Virgil.

 

Didn't outdraw them in money.

 

But JBL is in an announced WM Championship match, and WWE Champion, DiBiase can never say that.

[jester 0]

Actually, how frickin sad is it that Dibiase never was a world champ... but Bradshaw is?

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Ted Dibase financially backing JBL's cabinet? That would be funny and entertaining, but you know how this creative staff is.

That would be great. He could bring back the "Everybody's got a price!" catchphrase. Shoot, I bet Stephie would LOVE to have RVD kiss Ted's shoe again (or whatever it was).

 

Actually though, Ted was one of my favorite heels back in the day. It would be fun to see him on TV again.

[Myxamatosis 0]

But, as much as I like the guy, JBL will never be as over as Dibiase.

 

Never.

[spman 0]

Dibiase was supposed to win the belt at WM 4, but HTM used the fact that he had the IC belt as leverage during contract negotiations so he didn't have to drop the belt to Savage, so Savage got the world belt instead.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Dibiase was supposed to win the belt at WM 4, but HTM used the fact that he had the IC belt as leverage during contract negotiations so he didn't have to drop the belt to Savage, so Savage got the world belt instead.

HTM's refusal to drop the IC Belt had nothing to do with any contract negotiations. HTM didn't like the way the title change was presented to him, and refused to do the job.

 

And while DiBiase is not an official WWF Champion, I believe he was announced as champion at a house show the day after the Twin Referee angle. He came out with the belt, and the on-screen graphic declared him WWF Champion.

[spman 0]

Dibiase was supposed to win the belt at WM 4, but HTM used the fact that he had the IC belt as leverage during contract negotiations so he didn't have to drop the belt to Savage, so Savage got the world belt instead.

HTM's refusal to drop the IC Belt had nothing to do with any contract negotiations. HTM didn't like the way the title change was presented to him, and refused to do the job.

 

And while DiBiase is not an official WWF Champion, I believe he was announced as champion at a house show the day after the Twin Referee angle. He came out with the belt, and the on-screen graphic declared him WWF Champion.

I could have sworn I remember reading that Honky Tonk Man either working without a contract, or really close to the end of his contract, and was threatening to run off to NWA with the belt.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Dibiase was supposed to win the belt at WM 4, but HTM used the fact that he had the IC belt as leverage during contract negotiations so he didn't have to drop the belt to Savage, so Savage got the world belt instead.

HTM's refusal to drop the IC Belt had nothing to do with any contract negotiations. HTM didn't like the way the title change was presented to him, and refused to do the job.

 

And while DiBiase is not an official WWF Champion, I believe he was announced as champion at a house show the day after the Twin Referee angle. He came out with the belt, and the on-screen graphic declared him WWF Champion.

I could have sworn I remember reading that Honky Tonk Man either working without a contract, or really close to the end of his contract, and was threatening to run off to NWA with the belt.

I'm not sure of his exact contract situation, but he was in a position such that he was in the process of coming to terms with the NWA. However, the IC Title situation was the cause of that, not the consequence.

[Promoter 0]

I would like to see Ted & Virgil meet up with JBL & Orlando once, though.

 

But by success, JBL & Orlando > DiBiase & Virgil.

 

Didn't outdraw them in money.

Dibase is apart of one of the biggest angles in history that led to the main event of WM 4. He was not manufactured to be in the spot like JBL was. He was put there because he was a damn good heel. Virgil/Andre/Dibase triangle puts JBL's cabinet to shame. He's basically doing Dibase's schtick anyways. Dibase was the top heel with the exception of Andre in 1988 and Randy Savage in 1989. A time when the company was red hot. JBL is a top heel of a split roster and doing horrible numbers in comparison.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Not to mention DiBiase had a tremendous house show program with Savage, that did great business, and saw great matches.

[The Tino Standard 0]

This alone will earn SmackDown a spot on my weekly DVR schedule.

 

(Goes and cranks up the Million Dollar Man's theme song )

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

If you READ...I mentioned the money they drew. Ted/Andre was amazing. Even in the old WWF Superstars arcade game, once you got to face Andre and Ted it was like "Oh...shit".

 

It's weird, if you matchup JBL and DiBiase in any category, DiBiase wins...except one.

 

Theme Music: Ted

Finisher: Ted

Outfits: Ted

Main Event Matches: Ted

Opponents: Ted

Overness: Ted

Money-Drawing Programs: Ted

Heel Heat: Ted

Stables (Andre/Virgil or hell, even the awful Corporation): Ted

WWE Titles: JBL

[tbondrage99 0]

If you READ...I mentioned the money they drew.  Ted/Andre was amazing.  Even in the old WWF Superstars arcade game, once you got to face Andre and Ted it was like "Oh...shit".

 

It's weird, if you matchup JBL and DiBiase in any category, DiBiase wins...except one.

 

Theme Music:  Ted

Finisher:  Ted

Outfits:  Ted

Main Event Matches:  Ted

Opponents:  Ted

Overness:  Ted

Money-Drawing Programs:  Ted

Heel Heat:  Ted

Stables (Andre/Virgil or hell, even the awful Corporation):  Ted

WWE Titles:  JBL

Thats quite sad when you think about it.

 

EDIT: You can also add this one

Making little kids cry: Ted

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Don't forget...

 

Purchasing Dusty Rhodes' polka-dot wearing #1 fan and apparent gold-digging trash: Ted

Handing Dusty & Dustin their ass at the same time on PPV: Ted

Popping a NYC crowd like CRAZY during a match with VIRGIL: Ted

 

 

Better mic skills? DiBiase (88-91) or JBL (Survivor Series '04 - present)

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

JBL has improved on the mic, but he's still not in DiBiase's league.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

I agree. Man, that "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" out of nowhere was just perfect.

 

Plus, in storyline, Ted DiBiase is responsible for The Undertaker's Debut, Kama The Supreme Fighting Machine, The Hebner Clone, Hogan's 5-Year Title Reign Ends, and Turned Babyface Tatanka Heel.

 

JBL has thus far produced: Amy Weber.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Add in Fakertaker as well.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Hopefully DiBiase won't have too much issue with the content of WWE programming and can stick around. Amazing that he was one of the most over heels even during his later years with Money Inc. (which was such a logical tag team to make) and all that. He made a program with frickin' VIRGIL pure gold.

[deancoles 0]

Plus, in storyline, Ted DiBiase is responsible for The Undertaker's Debut, Kama The Supreme Fighting Machine, The Hebner Clone, Hogan's 5-Year Title Reign Ends, and Turned Babyface Tatanka Heel. 

He also paid off Howard Finkel and was the guy who financed the Brother Love show.

 

Edit: He also helped Bossman,Jimmy Hart and Hercules turn Face.

Edited March 4, 2005 by deancoles411

[Art Sandusky 0]

I'd mark out just to hear "making his seasonal residence in Palm Springs..."

 

Man, DiBiase was the first guy I loved to hate when I was a wee one. Also, his music oddly doesn't sound as outdated today as the other 80s-rific music used at the same time.

[Precious Roy 0]

This is great news, but I don't think it will last. Not because Dibiase doesn't meet expectations, but because the 'E won't meet his. Hope I'm wrong though.

[Promoter 0]

You guys forgot one category:

 

Managed the only wrestler to lose to a retired football player in the main event of WrestleMania.

 

You can't win them all I guess

 

JBL is becoming scary good on the mic though. The test comes when the title is not on him and he can't use that as a crutch.

[deancoles 0]

I'd mark out just to hear "making his seasonal residence in Palm Springs..."

I liked it when he'd use the Netherlands Antilles.

 

Edit: I think he had Hyannis Port as well.

[Kardo 0]

So says Honky...

 

The meeting about dropping the IC title only focused on Savage and McMahon basically stated they had nothing for Honky to do after he lost the title so Honky said he'd only drop it to McMahon or Hogan.

[Precious Roy 0]

So says Honky...

 

The meeting about dropping the IC title only focused on Savage and McMahon basically stated they had nothing for Honky to do after he lost the title so Honky said he'd only drop it to McMahon or Hogan.

But why was Honky in position to call the shots in the first place? Since when does holding the IC Title make you the captain of your fate? There was no reason for McMahon to let him dictate change in major booking plans, unless he was indeed on the verge of leaving the company or something like that. It's not like Honky could talk his way out of getting squashed by Warrior.....