WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase was recently interviewed by ESPN about the Million Dollar Man gimmick, life after wrestling and more. Here are the highlights:
On becoming a Pastor After His Wrestling Career: “I’m preaching the gospel. The last thing I thought I would be doing is traveling the country and traveling the world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, but God had a plan and nobody is more surprised than me. A lot of people who knew me before have been equally surprised over the years.”
On How Vince McMahon Pitched Him The Gimmick: “[McMahon] said ‘I got something for you.’ There have been so many things that have been done, but this has never been done, and just based on what I have seen from you, and your work, you can pull this off — you are articulate. And I go, ‘Awesome, what is it?’ And he goes, ‘Here is the deal — you have got to sign a contract with me before I tell you.’ And [McMahon] said, ‘Here is why.’ He says, ‘If I tell you, and you don’t sign, I have given away a great idea, and I can’t afford to do that.’ I’m like, ‘Wow,’ and I said ‘Okay, I got to have a little time to think about this.’” “Funk said, ‘Teddy, if Vince McMahon has an idea, and he thinks you are tailor-made for it,’ he said, ‘pack your bag and don’t look back. Go.’”
On Coming Up With His Name: “He said the one thing everybody hates is someone who by virtue of their wealth thinks they are better than everybody. You know, that cocky, arrogant, nose in the air, ‘I am better than you,’ looks down at people [kind of guy]. People like that are stuffy and think they can buy anybody and anything. I start chuckling and say, ‘I hate people like that myself.’ He said, ‘Now, we have not given this guy a name yet,’ and just off the cuff I said, ‘It sounds like a million-dollar man to me,’ and Vince goes ‘The Million Dollar Man he is.’”
On The Creation of The Million Dollar Championship: “Pat Patterson approached me and said, ‘Rather than do that which is the expected thing, you don’t win it at Mania. In your arrogance, you create your own title.’ And as soon as he said it, I was like, ‘That is the ticket!’ That is going to make everybody hate my guts — design my own belt and declare that I am a champion.”
