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Ted DiBiase

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Theodore Marvin DiBiase
File:MillionDollarMan.JPG
BornJanuary 18, 1954
Omaha, Nebraska
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Ted DiBiase
Billed height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Billed weight260 lb (118 kg)
Billed fromClearwater, Florida
Trained byDory Funk, Jr.,
Terry Funk
DebutJune 1975
Retired1993

Theodore Marvin DiBiase Sr. (born Theodore Marvin Willis on January 18 1954) is an American former professional wrestler who wrestled as the "The Million Dollar Man". He worked for World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown brand as a booker and Producer until 2006. He is also a Christian minister and a member of Alpha Tau Omega .

Life Before Pro Wrestling

Both DiBiase's mother, Helen Hild, and his famed stepfather, "Iron" Mike DiBiase, were wrestlers. DiBiase lived in Omaha until "Iron" Mike's sudden death in the ring in 1969 sent his mother into a deep depression, and necessitated DiBiase's moving to live with his grandparents in Arizona. (Later storylines had Ted's fortune coming from his father's will, but this was largely forgotten over time)

After graduating from high school, DiBiase was offered and accepted a wrestling scholarship at West Texas State University. While there he was trained by Dory Funk, Jr., and quickly dropped out of school to become a full-time grappler in Oklahoma.

Pro Wrestling Career

Mid-South Wrestling

DiBiase spent the bulk of his early career in Mid-South Wrestling, and also had a brief try-out run with the WWF in the late 1970s.

DiBiase also spent time in the Georgia area where he had an early face run frequently tagging with Tommy "Wildfire" Rich. The two would then feud, leading to a loser leaves town match which DiBiase won. But instead of Rich leaving the area he donned a mask calling himself "Mister R." The feud would culminate in a match between Mister R and DiBiase where DiBiase would control most of the match and just as DiBiase was about to unmask Mr.R, Tommy Rich appeared from back stage and distracted DiBiase. Mister R then rolled up DiBiase to get the win and unmasked as Brad Armstrong. Both DiBiase and Rich would leave the territory shortly thereafter.

In the early/mid 1980s DiBiase participated in memorable angles in various territories with the likes of Dick Murdoch, Ric Flair, The Fabulous Freebirds, Jim Duggan, One Man Gang, and the Junk Yard Dog. He also held various championships and made frequent trips to All-Japan Pro Wrestling until his eventual departure from Mid-South Wrestling (which by this point was now the UWF). missiouri heavywiegh champion about the same time as uwf champ While locked in talks with the NWA in 1987, DiBiase received an offer from the WWF. DiBiase was eventually convinced by the WWF to sign up despite the fact that he wouldn't be told his gimmick until after he agreed, under the promise that it was something that would receive a serious push, punctuated by WWF official Pat Patterson informing DiBiase that if owner Vince McMahon could go out to wrestle, which he did much later, then this would be the gimmick that he'd give himself.

World Wrestling Federation 1987-1996

DiBiase is considered by some, if not most, pro wrestling fans as one of the greatest "heel" wrestlers of all time. This view is mainly due to his work in World Wrestling Entertainment (at that time called the World Wrestling Federation). 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 reality, DiBiase's road travel was booked first-class for flights, into 5-star hotels for accommodations and was given a stipend of petty cash from the WWF Offices so that he could throw money around (i.e. pick up tabs and overtip, buy drinks for entire bars, actually pay for small items with a $100 bill, etc) in order to get the gimmick over.

Other times, 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 was a skilled technical wrestler, with his finishing maneuver being 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 gave his signature demonic laugh. The memorable "Million Dollar Rap" was used as his theme song.

DiBiase hired Virgil, whom he treated like a slave. Virgil would eventually grow tired of DiBiase's abuse and made an inspirational face turn at the 1991 Royal Rumble.

On an episode of "WWF Superstars of Wrestling," he announced his plan to buy the WWF Championship and offered Hulk 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 (Referee Dave Hebner's "evil" brother Earl counted Hogan for the three despite fact that his shoulder was up at two); 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 simply handed to someone else) and declared the title vacant. A tournament was announced to crown a new WWF Champion. DiBiase was runner-up in the tournament held at WrestleMania IV to fill the vacancy, defeated by "Macho Man" Randy Savage in the finals.

He was later involved in popular feuds with Savage, Jake Roberts, Big Boss Man, and "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. In 1990, he broke the then-"Iron Man" record by lasting over 40 minutes in the Royal Rumble after entering as the #1 entrant. He was eliminated by The Ultimate Warrior.

DiBiase has the distinction of introducing The Undertaker for the first time to the WWF at the 1990 Survivor Series as his "mystery teammate," claiming the Taker as his protege (Taker, however, had Brother Love as his manager when he came out).

In later years, DiBiase formed a very successful tag team, Money Inc., with Irwin R. Schyster (IRS). The duo were three-time WWF 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.

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, now acting as a manager, "purchased" the services of many wrestlers for his Million Dollar Corporation stable in the WWF, which over time included I.R.S., Bam Bam Bigelow, Nikolai Volkoff, Kama, King Kong Bundy, Sycho Sid, 1-2-3 Kid, and in a most surprising heel turn, Tatanka. DiBiase also renewed his connection with the Undertaker after the latter's six-month hiatus after the January Royal Rumble. Saying that he had brought the Undertaker to the WWF, and he was going to bring him back, DiBiase debuted a new Undertaker under his control. (This Undertaker however proved to be a fake Undertaker played by Brian Lee and was subsequently defeated by the real Undertaker at SummerSlam.)

DiBiase would also have a place in the main event of WrestleMania XI as the manager of Bam Bam Bigelow in his match versus Lawrence Taylor. Also surrounding the ring were members of DiBiase's corporation to offset Taylor's entourage of NFL All-Pros on the opposite side of the ring. After Taylor defeated Bigelow, DiBiase would publically refer to Bigelow as an embarassment, culminating in Bigelow quitting The Corporation after DiBiase fired him after Bigelow was unsuccessful in defeating Diesel for the WWF Championship. Bigelow would align himself with Diesel in a feud versus members of DiBiase's corporation.

As a manager, DiBiase would also later introduce "The Ringmaster", who would eventually become Stone Cold Steve Austin, to the WWF.

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

World Championship Wrestling 1996-1997

In WCW, DiBiase managed the nWo immediately after their formation in 1996, claiming to be financing the group (thus playing on his "Million Dollar Man" gimmick which WCW could not legally use outright; instead, he was referred to as "Trillionaire Ted", a play on the "Billionaire Ted" nickname of Ted Turner). 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.

Retirement from active wrestling

Continued involvement with WWE 2005-2006

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. He was also seen in a segment involving Mae Young where he offered her money to stop "flashing" backstage.

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 typical 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.

DiBiase made a special guest appearance at an IPW show in Newton, Iowa on July 14, 2006, where he watched his sons' tag team match. The following day, he would accept 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 "The Hitman" Hart, Dory Funk Sr., Larry Hennig, Nikita Koloff, Tom Jenkins, and Bob Roop.

DiBiase also appeared at the RAW Family Reunion on October 9, 2006 aiding Ric Flair in his match with the Spirit Squad. On October 26 2006, Ted DiBiase was released from his WWE contract by World Wrestling Entertainment.

He will be running wrestling clinics across the country on delivering promos and storytelling.

Health issues

On December 20 2005 in Stamford, Connecticut, 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 was back working 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.

His religious involvement along with his wrestling career is featured in an article of a recent ESPN Magazine.

Trivia

  • Two of his sons are now pro wrestlers.
  • He admitted in an interview conducted by Ign.com that his Million Dollar Championship title - a belt composed of real diamonds and gold - cost $145,000, although DiBiase has mentioned that he had to carry documentation for the belt whenever he went through customs.*His likeness has appeared in all three Legends Of Wrestling video games, and has appeared twice 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 in the 1978 Sylvester Stallone movie Paradise Alley.

In Wrestling

Finishing and signature moves

Managers

Wrestlers Managed

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)."
  • "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!"
  • "You don't stand on Superman's cape, you don't spit in the wind, and you don't make out checks that you don't have the funds to cover."
  • "You don't get the money! (Evil laughter)."

Championships and accomplishments

  • Regional
  • 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
  • TASW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Note: The Million Dollar Championship isn't an official championship recognized by World Wrestling Entertainment. It is a championship created entirely for the promotion and storyline of Ted DiBiase's "Million Dollar Man" character.

Books

  • DiBiase, Ted (1997) Every Man Has His Price, ISBN 1-57673-175-8
  • Bonham, Chad (2001) Wrestling With God, ISBN 1-58919-935-9

External links

References

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