WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr. recently spoke with Chuck Carroll of Turnbuckle Weekly to discuss a number of topics. Below are some highlights from the interview:
On what Vince McMahon told him when his “Million Dollar Man” character debuted: “In an effort to make people believe you really are rich, we’re going to fly you everywhere first class. You’re going to stay in first-class accommodations, and you’ll have limousine service daily.”
On how his character compared to Ric Flair’s: “I was never as flamboyant as [Flair]. And the other big difference… Ric’s [tab] was coming out of his own pocket.”
On comparing Eric Bischoff to Vince McMahon: “The difference between Eric Bischoff and Vince McMahon is Vince McMahon knows how to create a star. Eric took a company and took it down. I remember a conversation one night after one of the shows, and Eric said he was going to put Vince out of business. I just laughed at him and said ‘are you kidding me?’ Even if Vince retreats a little bit, he ain’t going away. I don’t think you or anybody else are going to run him out of business.”
– Former WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr. noted on social media recently that he interviewed WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels for his “Price of Fame” documentary that he has been working on for a couple of years. The documentary focuses on DiBiase Jr. and his relationship with his father, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr.
– NXT Champion Sami Zayn is featured on the latest edition of WWE’s “30 Second Fury,” which you can check out below.
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.”
WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr. recently took some time to participate in an exclusive in-depth interview with PWMania.com. DiBiase, now retired from active wrestling, serves the public as a minister for Heart of David Ministry and had a lot to say about his new profession, wrestling, his family and more including Vince McMahon, Steve Austin, The Undertaker, WCW and the attitude era. Here are some highlights from the interview:
Vince McMahon & The Million Dollar Man Character: “It all has to do with marketing. The greatest marketing is word of mouth. Nobody can disagree that Vince is extremely good at marketing. He has marketed WWE so well and even the name Wrestlemania is synonymous with events like the Super Bowl. Now, this past Super Bowl was terrible. But, it’s a brand, just like WWE is a brand. People will still watch that brand. Wrestlemania will sell out because of its strength as a brand.”
Grooming Steve Austin: “I was really happy for him. I told him when I managed him the reason Vince put me with guys is because he hoped I would groom them. I told Steve at the time to keep doing what he was doing because what it is believable. You may not get over as fast, but you will last longer than guys who get over real fast and then their popularity dies out. Once you get over, you can do whatever you want. I don’t think anybody expected his character would grow to be as big as it did.”
The Attitude Era & Steve Austin: “But, as far as still managing him if I was still there, I wouldn’t be with him. As a Christian, I had an issue with the Attitude Era. If Stone Cold’s character was the heel, I’d be okay with it. But because he was drinking beer, flipping the bird and cursing…and getting cheered for it? And he becomes a babyface? That sends a message to teenagers that it’s ok to do all those things. That didn’t sit well with me.. The same thing was true with the NWO because we were the bad guys. But the bad guys were becoming the cool thing to be. There are good guys and bad guys in wrestling and I feel the story that should be told is that the good guys in the end win. If we send that message to kids, we are sending the right message. The Million Dollar Man character always got his butt kicked in the end.”
The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Appearances: “Regarding his once-a-year Wrestlemania appearances, I can only think “Mark, how many times can you do this?” Every year I think he would be getting closer to the end. But the fact that he only makes this one-time appearance is great because fans of the Undertaker will be there and will look forward to seeing him. One of the reasons Elvis Presley was famous is because the only time you ever saw him was when he walked on stage. He would walk on stage, would perform and literally left the building. It adds to the mystique. The less you see something you like, the more you want to see it.”
“The Million Dollar Man” also spoke more on Steve Austin and Vince McMahon, his future plans, WCW, WWF/E, Ted DiBiase Jr., being a minister among several other topics. You can read the in-depth interview in its entirety at PWMania.com.
The following are highlights of a WGD Weekly interview with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr:
The differences in working for WWF and WCW: “…The major difference between WCW and the WWF is the WWF is a well-oiled machine that was run very well by Vince McMahon, who had his finger on the button all the time and knew what he was doing. I couldn’t say that for WCW, I’m sorry but they were the worst organization, in the time that I was there, it was kind of like too many chiefs and not enough Indians. There were times that we would go on the live show and they didn’t even know what they were going to do in the last segment yet…”
His thoughts on his son, Ted, Jr. parting ways with WWE last September: “…At a place and a time in my life, I was putting my life back together and I really came to understand that there was no amount of money that I could make that was worth being away from my family for any length of time, which is a decision that my son had recently made. I didn’t want my sons to wrestle. Not because I didn’t love wrestling and the lifestyle, but because of the demand that it takes from you in terms of being away from family…”
What is missing in today’s wrestling product: “…In my opinion, that’s the one thing today that’s really missing, and again, I’m not taking anything away from John Cena, Cena is a great guy, he is a consummate pro, he is one of the hardest working guys I have ever seen. But, it’s like every good run has it’s run and I think it’s run its course in terms of he has been there so long but what are they gonna replace him with? Where is that next bigger than life superstar? You had Hogan, then you had Austin, then you got the Rock, you had Shawn Michaels, but it’s like, where is that next star? That is the question that I’m asking…who is it gonna be?”
Turning down an opportunity to work for the WWF in 1984: “…I went back to Atlanta in 1984. This was when Vince was starting to make his move. We did a television in Atlanta and in walks Pat Patterson and they get all the guys together and Pat makes this big announcement of what is about to happen that the WWF was now going to have its show on TBS…I remember pat saying to the guys there, ‘Now, I don’t want any of you to worry, nobody is losing their job, everybody has got a job. So, I got Pat off to the side, and I said, ‘look, with all due respect, you and I have known each other a long time…you and I both know there is a difference in having a job and having a position. I said, right now, I know you guys have your key guys in position, so I think I’m gonna go back to Mid-South and I am going to wait for a better time. So, I went back to Mid-South in 1984…”
The original plan for WrestleMania 4, him almost becoming WWE Champion, and how plans changed: “…The show with the twin referee’s at Market Square Arena; the set up for WrestleMania 4 was exactly what it was supposed to be. Andre puts the belt around my waist, basically signifying that he had sold it to me, and I actually wore the belt for about a week or two weeks, then they come out with the Jack Tunney announcement…so they vacate the title and that was the whole idea to set up WrestleMania 4. Now, originally, the thought was that I would in some underhanded way, win at WrestleMania 4. I think there were a couple of things. One thing, the Honky Tonk Man was the Intercontinental Champion and for whatever reason, he didn’t want to drop the belt to Randy Savage, which is I think what they originally thought about doing there. I remember Pat Patterson came to me and he said, ‘Ted, what would put more heat on you, if we do what we normally do, your built as a heel and in some underhanded way you get the title and you have the run with Hogan and of course you drop the title then he goes on with somebody else, or you don’t win the title at WrestleMania, and eventually, you create your own belt.’ In other words, I don’t need your title, I am gonna create my own title and I am going to defend it every night. So, I said, ‘That’s the ticket.’”
A classic story from his time on the road with Andre the Giant: “…The funniest story is, we were going to Japan. It is a fourteen hour flight from Atlanta, or New York, or Dallas, just about anywhere, to japan. Andre is sitting in first class, and Andre sitting in first class is like me sitting in coach now, you know, you’re jammed in the seat, you’re not comfortable. So, we get off the plane and now it’s another hour into the city, we check into the hotel and we drop our bags and we are going to go get something to eat. So, I push the button on the elevator and there is Andre, ‘Hey boss, let’s go eat’ and so as it starts down, it seems that this elevator stops on every floor and people just keep getting on. Japan is a very small country, with a lot of people, so what you and I would consider a full elevator, not over there. One thing about the Giant is he doesn’t like to be crowded, and he has just been on a fourteen hour flight, crammed in a little seat in a plane, and now he is in a Japanese hotel in a room that is by our standard normal, but in his standard not, and now, he is in an elevator and people keep getting on. He reaches over and taps me on the shoulder or the leg and I glanced up at him and he winked and he smiled. I said, ‘okay, something is going to happen.’ I’m looking straight ahead and all of a sudden, the Giant cuts the loudest, longest fart I believe I have ever heard in my life. I remember standing there thinking when is it going to end, it was like ‘oh my gosh,’ and it just kept going. The poor guy who is standing directly behind him, which obviously…this guy is right at butt level, so he is getting it full force. All I can tell you is this, when the elevator stopped and the doors opened, those people couldn’t get off the elevator fast enough, it was like the exodus. All you could hear was the Giant going, ‘Ho,ho,ho,ho, ho.” I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe…it was a classic Andre moment…”
A chance meeting many years after with the little kid that he kicked the basketball away from in one of his early “Million Dollar Man” spots on WWE TV: “…of all the stunts we did, the one people ask me the most about is that one…I just started saying and of course, this is twenty years later, that kid is five then, so he would be 25 or 26 years old now. I said what is probably gonna happen is I am gonna be walking through an airport and some guy is gonna tap me on the shoulder and he will be six foot six and look down at me and say, ‘hey, remember that kid and the basketball?’ Now, I said it jokingly, then a couple of years ago I flew into Omaha, Nebraska…and I rented a car and I walked out to get the car…So, I’m trying to find a car and this guy walks up, taps me on the shoulder, I turn around and I look up at him, and he is about six foot six, this guy is a monster. He says, ‘Mr. DiBiase, I’m the general manager here. I will help you find a car if you like and, oh, by the way, do you remember that thing you did with the kid and the basketball?’ I looked at him and I just went, ‘No.’ He just got the biggest grin on his face and he says, ‘Yep, it was me.’ I almost had a cow…”
– WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr. has officially pulled out of his booking at the Mid South Wrestling fan fest, which is set to take place during WrestleMania weekend. The reason DiBiase canceled the booking is because WWE has booked him for their WrestleMania weekend festivities. A replacement for DiBiase at the Mid South fan fest is expected to be announced in the near future.
– Speaking of WrestleMania weekend cancellations, The Young Bucks have pulled out of their scheduled appearance in New Orleans during that weekend as well.
– The Philly.com website has a new story up regarding advice WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin gave NFL player DeSean Jackson when he was robbed of $250,000 in cash. You can check that story out online at Philly.com.
SESCOOPS.COM reader Peter Ferreri sent along the following:
Listen to the MILLION DOLLAR MAN talk about how the current state of the WWE, John Cena as a performer, RAW goes “old school,” his dislike of the Ultimate Warrior, his rivalry vs. Hogan, the POP he would get in Omaha, how to cut a good promo, telling one of the hosts Dr. Pete’s Mom “not to worry” and MORE!
The ROAD DOGG sits down the the hosts of SportsTownChicago to discuss his return to the WWE, the current state of the Tag Team Division, cutting promos, how he formed his tag team and had the “brass” to tell the WWE he didn’t like where his career was going, being a LEGEND, his return to Rumble last year, and MUCH MORE!
– The Newsday website has a new featured interview up on their website with WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, where he talks about saving money, what Ted DiBiase Jr. is up to and developing new WWE Superstars. Check it out at Newsday.com. (Thanks to Joshua Stewart for sending along the link.)
– WWE Superstar John Cena recently expressed his appreciation for so many fans signing up on Twitter for his “#ChangeTime” campaign:
– Jonathan Snowden recently published an interview he conducted with WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr. Fans interested in checking that out can do so online at BleacherReport.com.
– In Sunday’s New York Times crossword puzzle, WWE Hall Of Famer Captain Lou Albano was one of the answers. 94 across was “Wrestler Lou,” with the correct answer being “Albano.”
– WWE Hall Of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart will be appearing at The Wrestling Universe in Flushing, New York on February 22nd from Noon until 2pm E.T.
– WWE Hall Of Famer J.J. Dillon is scheduled to make a special appearance at the “Toys For Tots II” show in Newark, Delaware on Saturday evening. For more information, visit ECWAProWrestling.com.
– WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, along with former WWE Superstars and Divas The Godfather, Kelly Kelly and Maryse are all scheduled for the Comic Con event in Monroeville, Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit SteelCityCon.com. For photos of Kelly Kelly and Maryse feeling each other up during Friday’s Comic Con event, click here.
The following are highlights from a recent Miami Herald interview with WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase:
On WrestleMania XXX: “It’s very special. It really dates me a bit when I think, ‘This is WrestleMania 30, and my first WrestleMania was 4.’ It’s almost like, ‘Am I really that old?’ It’s a milestone year. What’s amazing is WrestleMania I, 10 and 20 were all in Madison Square Garden. WrestleMania 30, instead of being in New York, is going to be at the [Superdome] in New Orleans. That’s very special to me because I actually started my wrestling career in this area. Not the entire time, but the better part of the first 12 years of my wrestling career was spent in what was called Mid-South Wrestling. New Orleans was a very big part of that.”
On his sons being in the pro wrestling business: “Just as a father I really didn’t want my boys to follow me into wrestling. It’s not because of the wrestling itself, but because it’s a hard life. It’s really demanding, especially on family time. There are so many things out there. To the WWE’s credit, the atmosphere is much better and the accountability that they’ve built into it with their drug testing policy makes it a lot better. It is better, but it’s a hard thing on family. I was excited for my son. I never thought I was going to walk into a Toys “R” Us, and there is a twin pack of the ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase Sr. and Ted DiBiase Jr. I never thought I would see that. It was pretty wild. I was proud of him.”
On his son Ted DiBiase Jr. leaving WWE: “He did a tremendous job while he was there. He stared in a movie [The Marine 2], and I’m proud how he left there. There are a lot of guys who leave with a chip on their shoulder or feel they weren’t treated right or this or that. Basically what my son did was said, ‘Thank you very much. I appreciate the opportunity.’ He did it in a very professional way. I told him, ‘Don’t ever burn a bridge because you never know when you may cross it again.’ I was very proud of him on all levels. I think he is happy now. He has become quite the entrepreneur. He has a lot of things going. Before he went into wrestling, he got a college degree in business administration. He has a lot of things going for him. He loves being home with his family, but again, never say never. If the bug hits him again, then maybe he [would return]. For now he is quite happy where he’s at.”
On who he would pick as today’s “Million Dollar Champion”: “Alberto Del Rio is doing a pretty good job. His character is in line with that character. He is the rich guy flaunting his wealth. JBL [John Bradshaw Layfield], in my opinion, was the cowboy version of my character. I think he did it extremely well. You are this extremely wealthy guy, and by virtue of your wealth, you are looking down your nose at everybody. Much like a bully, when you’re confronted, you start backing off. Everybody hates guys like that. No matter how many times you get beat, you don’t mind seeing them get beat again. That’s what a good heel is in our business. I think JBL did it just as good as anybody.”
Due to the recent controversy in the NFL regarding bullying issues with the Miami Dolphins team, The Miami Herald spoke with WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase about bullying in sports and pro wrestling.
The following are highlights from the interview:
On bullying in general: “Whether it’s wrestling or football or whatever, when you are the rookie or the new kid, there are things they will put you through to break you in. Some of it I think is fine, but when it comes to bullying, and on the level this appears to be, there is no place for that.”
On work he does with the bullying issue: “I do school assemblies and talk to kids about bullies. Basically, in my opinion, most bullies are cowards because most bullies don’t pick on people their own size. They pick on someone smaller, or maybe not smaller like in this case, [rather] underneath you of rank. The whole I’m a veteran and you’re the rookie, and you’re going to smile and take it because I’m the veteran.”
On racism and name-calling: “There is no place for name calling. There is no place for racism, if in fact that is what is involved here. I don’t know what went on behind the scenes. Just from the stories I’ve heard, if I was owner of the team, I would have been appalled.”
The following are highlights from a recent “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase interview on Ring Rust Radio:
On the WWE Mid-South DVD release and his time with the organization: Well, I think the thing that will surprise some people is that, of course I haven’t seen it yet so I don’t know what matches they have of mine, but the better part of the early part of my career I was a babyface, or “good guy”, and, you know, WWE fans don’t remember me ever being a “good guy and, actually, I turned heel the first time when shooting an angle with Junkyard Dog. But I think one of the things that’s on the DVD is a match that Ric Flair and I had where I actually had been a heel for a very long time, and Bill Watts, in my opinion, his knowledge and psychology for the wrestling business are remarkable. I mean he turned me back babyface in one night. There was a scheduled match where somebody gets a shot at the World Heavyweight Champion and it ends up being me, and as this match is about to start, Dick Murdoch interrupts, and everyone knew that Dick Murdoch and me had a history where I was his protégé and he broke me into the business and brought me into Mid-South. So he comes up to me and says “hey kid, you know this is my time, this is not your time, you know.” And I said “your time? Your time is way past, pal. Hit the road.”
And of course he busted me open before the match starts, and so I go back into the dressing room and they tape me up and do the old spirit of ’76 thing where, I guess there isn’t going to be a World Title match tonight and then I come out to the ring and have this match and I’m bleeding and what really made it exceptional was I actually really hit myself pretty hard with the blade back when we were bleeding and the bandage actually came off and every time my heart would beat it would just shoot ha-ha. But anyway we get to the end of the match and, as a babyface; my finish was that I would do a Funk Spinning Toehold into a Figure Four Leg lock. And of course Flair’s finish has always been the Figure Four Leg lock as well so I go for this move and he kicks me off and I take this bump over the top rope to the floor and I get counted out but it’s like in the mind of the people it was the most valiant fight of my life and the whole thing with Murdoch turned me babyface and then Murdoch comes out and looks like he’s going to help me up off the floor and he picks me up and gives me a brainbuster on the floor on the outside, so it started another program. So it’s one of those matches where you just go “Oh my god, wow.”
On being in the new WWE 2K14 video game: Well, just have a good time. The amazing thing is, like you said, here I haven’t been in the ring physically to have a match in 20 years, and I’ll be 60 on my next birthday so I’m an over the hill guy, even though some of my contemporaries are trying to still go, and they’re almost 60 or older, but that’s another story. I’ll give you an example; it amazes me the marketing (for the game). I was in Scotland and I’m walking into their equivalent of a Walmart and I’m going to be there for a couple of weeks there’s going to be an Indy wrestling organization that I became good buddies with the owner, SWE, Scottish Wrestling Entertainment, and so this particular trip, this was a couple of years ago, and I was staying a couple of weeks so I went in to buy some things.
As I’m walking in, there’s a little boy and he’s got his grandmother by the hand and they’re walking out. And as they pass me I heard the little boy say to his grandmother, “that’s the Million Dollar Man”. I almost had a heart attack. I swung around wide eyed and with my jaw dropped open and I said “you know who I am?” You know, I don’t have blonde hair anymore, I’m 20 years older, I’m wearing glasses and about 30 pounds heavier and this kid recognizes me. He says yes, you’re the million dollar man. I said how do you know me? He said one word, video games. So it’s incredible the marketing and yes I’m thrilled I’m in the new game and, as the million dollar man says, everyone’s got a price and I’ll get a pretty nice royalty check. So, of course I’m always happy to know when they put me on a new game.
On managing Steve Austin and if he thought he’d become as big of a star as he did: No, I guess I’d say I don’t that anybody would say that they thought Steve Austin would become, in my opinion as a wrestling star, he’s the biggest guy we ever had. Now the Rock, of course the Rock went on to become an A list movie star and nobody’s going to deny that but in terms of worldwide recognition and popularity I don’t think anybody is going to top the Rock. But, as far as wrestling goes, yeah as a matter of fact the reason Vince put me with Steve basically because Vince, you know, he put me with several guys to more or less help groom them, give them advice and be with them what have you, and of course that rub also helps them because anyone that was put with me automatically was hated. I can remember some of the agents back at the time telling Steve he needed to spice up his TV matches and do more stuff and I told him no, don’t change anything. I said what you do is very believable, you go out there and wrestle and you’re not going to get over as fast as, say, some other guy, but the guys who get over real fast are the ones that die real fast, even though it’ll take you longer to get over you’re going to be over so solid you can do anything you want, and I think you’ll be one of the biggest stars we’ve ever had. I don’t think anybody realized it would be as big as it has been.
On being misused by WWE: Well, you know, I was a top heel in the company for a long time and whether I was moved over to a tag team with Mike Rotunda, you know, we were a top heel team. One of the things everybody asks me is it seems like you’ve been one of the all-time greatest heels but you were never the World Champion, whether it was NWA or WWE, and they say “don’t you regret that?” And I say well, you know I guess to be able to have the career that I had and to at one point say that I was the Heavyweight Champion of the World would be great, but here’s what you gotta understand. Wrestling is a business, it is show business and wrestling championships are props. Now, it’s true that, most of the time, the guy that’s wearing the World Heavyweight title is an extremely good wrestler, but again, the first Wrestlemania I had, Wrestlemania 4, initially the thought was that I would win that tournament somehow, underhandedly, you know, screw Hogan out of it, and have that run.
Of course at the end of that run with Hogan you would lose the belt and Hogan would be champion again and then a new heel comes in, it’s kind of like you go from the top to a simmering stage where you’re still there but you’re not the top guy, but it was presented to me this way, I think it was Pat Patterson, who said, “Ted, what’s going to give you more heat? What’s going to generate more heat and what’s going to generate more money? If we do what we would normally do, and been done a thousand times, and we go to this Wrestlemania and you underhandedly win the title and you have the run with Hogan and on and on you go. Or, you don’t win and somehow you get screwed out of it and then in your arrogance you declare to the world that you don’t need the WWE’s world championship belt you’ll create your own.” And I said that’s the ticket. For me to walk out every night with my own belt declaring myself champion, I mean, people would just absolutely loathe me and I’ve made more money with the Million dollar belt than I ever would have with the other one.
-TNA Knockout Velvet Sky was in fact at the TNA Impact Wrestling television taping in Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday. For whatever reason, despite being advertised, Sky was not used during the event.
-As noted, HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will run a feature that covers Diamond Dallas Page and his work with Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Scott Hall at 9pm on Tuesday night. The replay schedule for the show is as follows:
–August 20th at 3:10am
–August 22nd at 8:00am and 5:15pm
–August 25th at 9:00am
–August 28th at 1:00pm and 10:00pm
–September 3rd at 7:00pm and 2:25am
–September 7th at 10:30am and 12:30am
Additionally, the show will be available on HBO On Demand from August 26th through September 16th.
-WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase will be appearing at the Central Canadian Comic Con in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from November 1st through November 3rd.
-Current WWE Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Michelle Wilson recently sold approximately one-quarter of her shares of WWE stock on Friday, August 9th. Wilson sold 27,600 shares just four days after Stephanie McMahon sold two-thirds of her WWE stock. For more information on this story, visit DailyPolitical.com.
-WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase was recently interviewed by the Pougkeepsie Journal during an appearance he made at the Planet Wings establishment in the local area. In the interview, DiBiase talks about some of his upcoming projects, as well as his career in WWE. You can watch a video of the interview online at PoughkeepsieJournal.com.
-Former WWE Superstar Gene Snitsky will be working for the Canadian Wrestling’s Elite promotion as the headliner for their events in Neepawa, MB on Thursday, October 10th, Winnipeg, MB on Friday, October 11th and Selkirk, MB on Saturday, October 12th. For more information, visit CWECanada.ca. (Thanks to Danny Warren for sending that in.)
-WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin recently announced via Twitter that the next guest on his “Steve Austin Show” podcast will be current TNA Impact Wrestling star and Main Event Mafia member Samoa Joe. Austin wrote, “Heading into the #steveaustinshow studio to open a case of Audio Whoop Ass with a bad ass cat, @SamoaJoe. #strongstyle.”
Speaking of the Steve Austin Show, part two of Scott Hall’s appearance on the show was added to the official website recently. You can listen to that episode online for free at PodcastOne.com.
-WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase has an upcoming international ministry appearance scheduled in the United Kingdom on Sunday, August 25th. For more information, visit EveningExpress.co.uk.
– WWE.com has a new article looking at Ted DiBiase Sr.’s Million Dollar Championship belt. After much speculation about how much the belt cost to create, DiBiase reveals that it cost $40,000 (back in 1988) and is covered in 700 cubic zirconia stones.
– Monday’s WWE RAW scored a Trendrr.tv social media socre of 268,154, down 9% from last week.
– Santino Marella tweeted the following on Tuesday about his ongoing neck injury:
I've never really missed work from an injury before, damn it sucks! Can't wait to get back in the ring!
“HOW MUCH MONEY DID THEY SPEND ON THE PLASTIC SURGERY??!”
Those infamous words were uttered by Hulk Hogan on national television 25 years ago today. And astonishingly, Hulk wasn’t referring to his (now ex) wife and her friend when he said that. No, you see, he was referring to the evil trio of Ted DiBiase, Andre the Giant and… EARL HEBNER! What? Earl Hebner, evil? Bret Hart would find out years later exactly how evil Dave Hebner’s baby brother really could be, but let it be known that Hulk Hogan was the original Screwjob victim way back in 1988 when INXS had the #1 hit single in America and the Road Warriors made it cool to wear Zubaz pants.
Here in 2013, Chris Daniels and Frankie Kazarian are trying hard to make Zubaz cool again, but it’s just not the same.
So, why then was the Hulkster ranting and raving like a mental patient about plastic surgery? Let’s set the stage. The date was February 5th. The WWF had been airing taped “Saturday Night’s Main Event” specials on NBC for a few years by this point. As a young wrasslin’ fan, I have fond memories of those shows. The sight of Andre the Giant sneaking up behind an unsuspecting Hogan, following his victory over King Kong Bundy, and wrapping his massive hands around Hogan’s throat, squeezing the life out of him, gave me nightmares. But this show was different. This show, dubbed simply “The Main Event”, aired live on Friday night (back when Friday was perhaps the best night for television) and would feature the first singles meeting between Andre and the champion since their epic encounter at WrestleMania III the previous year.
WWF and NBC hit a homerun that night. The show would do a 15.2 rating, good for 33 million viewers (that number is a bit skewed and likely also includes international viewers, so figure half that number were watching in the U.S. – still impressive), making the Hogan vs. Andre sequel the most watched wrestling match in history, a record that still stands today. Hulk Hogan had headlined as WWF champion for four consecutive years and was arguably at his peak of popularity. Andre, on the other hand, was clearly in physical decline and had long past his peak. In fact, he was barely mobile. One memorable spot from their match saw Andre simply fall face down in what the announcers could only describe as an attempted headbutt (he missed). And maybe it was, but it looked terrible. In fact, as a wrestling match, this pretty much sucked. But with these two guys in the ring, it was never about workrate. That’s what guys like Savage and Steamboat and Santana were there for.
As the match drew to a close, Andre grabbed Hogan and flung him around in the worst excuse for a hip toss I’ve ever seen in my life. As he covered the champion and the referee began to count, Hogan got his shoulder up off the mat, but Hebner kept counting. Just like that, Hogan’s run came to a screeching halt at 1,474 days and Andre was awarded the title.
I guess in hindsight, CM Punk’s 14-month reign ending on a People’s Elbow doesn’t seem nearly as ludicrous.
After the match, Gene Okerlund interviewed Andre, who inexplicably talked about winning the World tag team championship (?!!) and proceeded to surrender the tag team title (don’t look at me, that’s what he said) to Ted DiBiase. And I must say, the title looked awfully good around DiBiase’s waist. I believe he got to defend the title at some house shows in the days that followed before Jack Tunney officially declared the title vacant, but it really is a shame he never had a run on top.
As Hogan stood flabbergasted by what had just taken place, THE GOOD HEBNER emerged to confront his evil twin. It’s funny because, while Dave and Earl do look very much alike, I never had much trouble discerning one from the other, even as a kid. Dave was always the pudgier one. Maybe he was simply big-boned. Whatever the case, when Hogan turned around, he could not believe his eyes, nor could he tell one from the other. He figured it out when Earl knocked his brother to the mat and caved in his ribcage with a wicked kick (supposedly breaking a rib legit). Now, Hogan figured it out. He hoisted Earl high above his head, got a running head start, and proceeded to overshoot his target by a country mile, sending Earl SOARING into the aisleway over everyone’s head (including Andre, and he was a giant!). They were supposed to catch him, but hey, shit happens.
Backstage with Mean Gene, Hogan was a wreck. He was so distraught, he was literally in tears over this grave injustice that had just been committed. It’s too bad The Shield came 20 years too late. Maybe they could have helped prevent all of this. As Hogan whined and cried about plastic surgery, he talked about seeing both Hebners for the first time, exclaiming, “When I turned around, they were identical. IDENTICUUUUULLLL!!!!” Moments later, as they showed a replay in slow-mo of the finish, Hogan desperately tried pointing out to us all the hundred dollar bills falling out of the referee’s pocket. Okerlund didn’t have the heart to tell the big guy that, in fact, there were no hundred dollar bills. As hilarious as this all was, Hogan was a pathetic mess here. Between this and his temper tantrum at the 1992 Royal Rumble when he helped Flair eliminate Sid (who did nothing wrong!), I’m not sure how I was ever a fan of this man.
By the way, there’s a little “easter egg” of sorts to watch for on this show. Prior to his title defense, WWF shot to a pre-taped Hulk Hogan interview backstage. In it, he can be seen wearing what has since been dubbed as the “Hogan ‘87” belt. Yet moments later, when he emerges from the curtain, he’s wearing the Winged Eagle belt that would become synonymous with the company over the next decade. Not sure if the ’87 belt held out for more money before Hogan walked out or mouthed off to the wrong person, but it was never seen again.
A quarter century ago on this date, history was made. Hogan lost his smile. The plastic surgery was bought and paid for. And Andre won the tag team title. A memorable night, indeed.
– Silvervision has released WWE’s promotional trailer for its upcoming nWo DVD and Blu-ray release, nWo: Revolution. The video features soundbytes from Booker T, Arn Anderson, Dusty Rhodes, Eric Bischoff, Sean Waltman, Big Show, Cody Rhodes, Kevin Nash and “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase weighing in on the rise and fall of the group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=216wbicjYzs
The title will be released in North America on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
– The official WWE website has announced that John Cena will appear as a guest on “The Chew” and cook with Chef Michael Symon. The program airs Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. ET.
– Tickets for WWE’s SmackDown taping on Wednesday, Dec. 19 in Rochester, New York at Blue Cross Arena go on sale this Friday via Ticketmaster. (Ticket Information)
– Arda Ocal of The Baltimore Sun has compiled photos of the WWE T-Shirts John Cena has donned through the years on television, which now stands at 25. Ocal notes that Cena has debuted five shirts at WrestleMania, five at SummerSlam and four at Survivor Series.
– Unlike most WWE Divas, Layla is still on the market. In response to a tweet asking whether she’s single, the former Divas Champion wrote Wednesday, “Yes!!”
– SmackDown General Manager Booker T appeared on Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer to promote his recently released autobiography, From Prison to Promise: Life Before the Squared Circle. The six-time world champion recalled the hardships he encountered growing up in Houston, Texas, breaking into professional wrestling, his time in World Championship Wrestling, accepting a contract buyout to join WWE when WCW ceased, and more. The audio interview is available here.
– WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
In an all-new 10 Count currently airing on WWE Classics On Demand, Matt Striker counts down the ten greatest Superstars to never win a recognized World Championship. The rankings are as follows:
10. Arn Anderson
9. Chief Jay Strongbow
8. Paul Orndorff
7. Nikita Koloff
6. Junkyard Dog
5. Scott Hall
4. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
3. British Bulldog
2. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
1. “Rowdy” Roddy Roddy Piper
WWE Hall of Famer Killer Kowalski and Lance Storm were also listed as honorable mentions.
Matches featured in the piece include Arn Anderson vs. NWA World Champion Barry Windham (WCW Slamboree, May 23, 1993), Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Superstar Billy Graham (WWF at the Philadelphia Spectrum, November 25, 1982), Paul Orndorff vs. WWF Champion Hulk Hogan (Saturday Night’s Main Event, January 3, 1987), Nikita Koloff vs. Sting (WCW Great American Bash, July 14, 1991), Junkyard Dog vs. NWA World Champion Ric Flair (Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush; June 13, 1990), Scott Hall vs. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting (WCW Uncensored, March 15, 1998), Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude (WrestleMania IV, March 27, 1988), British Bulldog vs. WWF Champion Shawn Michaels (In Your House: Beware of Dog; May 28, 1996), “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase vs. WWF Champion “Macho Man” Randy Savage (WWF at Madison Square Garden, April 25, 1988), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. WWF Champion Hulk Hogan (WWF The Wrestling Classic; November 7, 1985).
— A “major” viral campaign will be starting imminently on WWE.com. It will be pushed strongly beginning next Monday.
— Everything taking place on tonight’s Raw SuperShow was approved at the last minute. The episode’s content had changed three times since creative heads arrived to Greensboro, North Carolina, the site of tonight’s show.
— WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase appears for 3XWrestling on June 8 in Grimes, Iowa and June 9 in Boone, Iowa. (Event details)
— Smith Hart remembered his late brother Owen via Twitter: “Today marks the anniversary of my brother Owen’s birth. I like to take this time to remember the wonderful moments we had together.”
— WWE.com is advertising a Six-Man Tag Team match for tonight’s episode of SmackDown on Syfy as World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus, Randy Orton and The Great Khali will join forces against Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan and Mark Henry. Other matches airing include AJ vs. Natalya, Brodus Clay and Hornswoggle vs. Camacho and Hunico, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Darren Young and Titus O’Neil, Ryback vs. James Lerman and Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio.
— Brodie Lee, who recently signed a developmental contract with WWE, will report to Florida Championship Wrestling shortly. He concluded his independent wrestling commitments over the weekend.
— WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase has changed his Twitter handle to twitter.com/MDMTedDiBiase.
— Former WWE star Johnny Stamboli turns 35 years old today.
— Live Audio Wrestling says Survivor Series is expected to take place on Sunday, November 18 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
— Mick Foley has been announced to appear on WWE’s “Old School” themed live SmackDown episode on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. on Syfy. Other legends appearing include Dusty Rhodes, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Hillbilly Jim, Howard Finkel, Jimmy Hart, Mean Gene Okerlund, Pat Patterson, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and Tony Atlas.
Foley said of the appearance Friday on Twitter, “I WILL be on Super Smackdown, where Hacksaw Jim Duggan and I will prove, once and for all, that we are not the same person.”
Piper added, “I’m also going to do Smackdown on Tuesday!! I think it’s time to step up to the plate!”
— Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s WWE.com profile is now listed among both Raw Superstars and WWE Alumni.
— Rikishi was in attendance at Tuesday’s WWE television taping at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in support of sons Jey and Jimmy Uso. He watched the event from a luxury box.
— Former WWE performer Shad Chad Javier Romane Chittick Gaspard (a/k/a Shad) was displeased that a scene he took part in for Tuesday’s episode of The Game on BET was cut.
He tweeted, “Feel like shit right now and almost punched my dog. My Scene from @thegamebet was cut out and i’m pissed off.”
Gaspard, however, cooled off an hour later. He wrote, “Well my scene got cut, but i got the credit on my resume, experience that I needed, & a good friend in @billewoodruff. Still winning!!!”
— WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase turns 58 years old Wednesday.