The following are highlights of a recent Inside The Ropes interview with “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase:
On his past comments about Ultimate Warrior and his WWE Hall Of Fame induction: “I mean, I don’t hate the guy. It goes back to anybody that watched the DVD, The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior, that really tells the story. Obviously, if Vince has decided he needs to be in the Hall of Fame, I’m not going to begrudge that and obviously I’m going to be there. I quite frankly, don’t know how many of my peers believes he really deserves it because…it’s not just about being the star it’s about a number of things, it comes back down to the gratitude thing. None of us would be stars, when I was inducted I had a list of people that I needed to thank. Harley Race was there in the crowd and I pointed Harley out. I think that’s it, the overall lack of gratitude that the Warrior has shown over the years. Where it makes most of us go ‘Who do you think you are?’ Doesn’t he realise that none of this would be happening if it wasn’t for a lot of help from a lot of people. I think that’s pretty much the consensus. I don’t begrudge him. I’m not that kinda guy to hold a grudge. If I had to feel one thing towards Jim Hellwig, I guess it would be pity a little bit. I’ve heard other people say that he just generally has the attitude that it’s about succeeding in life and you’re going to have to do what you can to get ahead and if that means stepping on people along the way then so be it. That, in my opinion, is a very sad commentary and a very poor way to look at life. So am I going to begrudge him for going into the Hall of Fame? No.”
On Ultimate Warrior’s induction speech: “I often wonder if Vince has thought about that. Here’s his one opportunity to lay it all out there and vent out his frustrations on all of us who think he isn’t worthy. Hopefully he won’t do that. I heard that Linda McMahon is inducting him. You have to ask yourself why? Why is Linda McMahon inducting him? Maybe he couldn’t find anyone else to do it.”
On The Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak ending: “People ask me, I have mixed feelings. One part of me says leave the streak, it’s an honor to who he is, and how his character has endured and to Taker who’ll always be remembered. But you know, the other part of me think it’s like when Andre The Giant allowed Hulk Hogan to beat him at WrestleMania 3, he passed the torch. I feel that’s one of those things that has to happen. After all, it’s a business. You’ve got to have new stars and you need people to pass the torch to build those stars. I don’t know, but either way I’ll be happy.”
Check out the complete interview at Facebook.com/TheInsideNetwork.
