Jun 1st 2024 03:37pm

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Ted DiBiase: Phoenix 2010

Ted DiBiase:  Phoenix 2010

Posted: Apr 7th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Standing side-by-side, two legends of pro wrestling, Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase and Sgt. Slaughter fielded questions before the THQ Superstar Video Game Challenge at Reliant Center.

The legends are appreciative and respectful.

''It's an honor to see some of your moves named after you in a video game,'' said Slaughter, referring to the new THQ offering WWE Legends of WrestleMania.

When together, the legends are also funny.

DiBiase quickly replied to Slaughter's comment: ``I hope you're not referring to the fact that the Cobra Clutch got renamed The Million Dollar Dream.''

The move is the same, but the legend is different.

Slaughter is a deserving WWE Hall of Famer, inducted in 2004 by Pat Patterson, another WWE Hall of Famer. People take for granted DiBiase already as a WWE Hall of Famer. He did induct Sensational Sherri Martel in 2006, but he has not received that honor, an honor symbolic of him.

Like he said in his autobiography The Million Dollar Man, DiBiase, 55, put the match,the fans, the business before himself. He did not politic for a world title and said in an interview that if he did politic, he probably would have been a world champ. He was that good, and everyone knew it.

Backstage politicking is part of pro wrestling/sports entertainment but not part of DiBiase. He is a proud man, one of the best workers in history.

So why not.

DiBiase for WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.

WrestleMania 26 is in Phoenix.

? DiBiase's defining moments

``The defining moment for my career, I would say there were a couple. One was the first big main event in my life against Harley Race when he was NWA world champion at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, before the WWF got so big.

``If you went to St. Louis back then and you got over, then everybody in the country find out about you. That was my send-off. I went from there to New York for the first time.''

Race -- a WWE Hall of Famer, a tough combatant (one of the best ever) and a friend of DiBiase's father -- really helped Ted throughout his career.

``Another defining moment for me, I think, would be shortly after The Million Dollar Man came onto the scene, the first nationally televised network show Saturday Night Main Event, twin referees, to set-up WrestleMania IV, although I didn't wrestle that night.''

Remember: WWF champ Hulk Hogan against Andre the Giant. Fans learned WWF referee Earl Hebner had a twin, Dave, who duped Hogan of the title. DiBiase paid Andre to win him the championship, and after the surprising referee twist, Andre presented the belt to DiBiase.

? More Harley Race talk

''Ted and I had the privilege and honor to wrestle a lot with Harley Race,'' Slaughter said. `To me, he was the greatest ring general of all-time. Ted and I along with Harley did a lot of hour matches. For something like that to happen today, I don't know if the talent could hold the audience that long, but there are a couple out there I would like see try.

``We were talking about that on the ride over here. One of the first tests we had doing an hour match -- outside doing it with somebody who had been around longer than us -- was when we wrestled each other in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

``Another time Paul Orndorf and I, we were good guys wrestling for Mid-South Wrestling in Jackson, Mississippi, and [Promoter] Bill Watts [a 2009 WWE Hall of Famer] said I want you guys to go an hour tonight. We looked at each other. Up and until that point, I had done hour matches, but it was with a veteran. Now it was our show and another notch in the belt.''

? DiBiase has plenty of interest in today's wrestling/sports entertainment product, especially since his son Ted Jr. is a WWE star, competing with Ace Bob Orton's son, Randy and Dusty Rhodes' son, Cody, in the Legacy, featured on Monday Night Raw (9 p.m. USA Network).

``I'm extremely proud of my son. I have a younger son, Bret, who is in the developmental program at FCW [in Tampa]. I told them both you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Because of the name I have, I'm considered a legend in the business, whether the fans realize it or not, it's going to be harder for you to make it than anybody else. The expectations go up.

``The fact WWE gave me the opportunity to introduce [Ted Jr.] was pretty cool. I don't know if you remember that. When he was in front of the camera talking, I was standing behind him beaming. I was really beaming because he nailed it. I thought he did a really good job.

``Often times a father can be biased, but I try to be as level headed as I can. From what everybody has told me, all the way to the top, he has an incredible future ahead of him.

``I'm really proud of him. Big brother has set a high mark for little brother. It will be interesting to see what happens.''

? Discussing some old school workers

``The guys who really shaped me as a performer in wrestling. Terry Funk. A lot of people see the crazy, wild Terry Funk. They don't realize Terry Funk was one of the greatest workers to ever put on a pair of tights.

``Another guy who was a tremendous wrestler was Dick Murdoch. A lot of guys said the only reason Dick Murdoch never became world champion was because he was more interested in entertaining the boys than the crowd.

``Harley Race had a tremendous impact on my career.

``Two guys, to this day, who had some of the greatest wrestling matches, classic old school wrestling matches, were Jack Brisco and Dory Funk Jr. When I was in college at West Texas State, there where many times when those guys wrestled matches. As far as a technician, that's somebody who could do just about anything, that would be Harley.''

? Working in WWE

'People ask me when you were in your prime in WWF, who did you enjoy working with, and I say, `Hulk Hogan.' They'd say, 'Why?' I'd say, 'Because that's who I made the most money with.' I am The Million Dollar Man.

``In my career in WWE, of course, I always enjoyed working with Terry [Hulk Hogan]. It was a thrill. Because he was so over, it was electric every time. It made it easier. I had tremendous matches with Jake Roberts. Despite all his problems, Jake was a tremendous wrestler.

'Another guy was Bret Hart. The first time Bret and I ever wrestled, we did a match taped in Odessa, Texas. It was for Coliseum video. We had never touched ever. When we came out of the ring after a 20-minute match, Pat Patterson said, `Man, you guys must had been working a lot together. Huh.' We looked at each other and laughed. We said, 'Pat, that's the first time we'd ever touched.' He couldn't believe it. I said, 'Second generation.' We grew up in it. We had that respect and worked the same styles.''

? Peers, fans and family respect DiBiase. He may have been overlooked when it came time to deem someone a world champion, but don't do the same when selecting WWE Hall of Famers in 2010.

 

Tags: Ted DiBiase, Sgt. Slaughter, WWE, NWA, WWF, Andre the Giant, Paul Orndorff, MSW, Bill Watts, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdoch, Jake Roberts

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

1
How Much Longer Can The Prince Rule The Roost?

How Much Longer Can The Prince Rule The Roost?

For almost 10 months, WAH Champion Romeo Reese has stood atop the WAH mountain. And he has looked down and found that he do... Read More

All News

Hulk Versus Andre: The Irresistible Force Meets The Immovable Object

Hulk Versus Andre: The Irresistible Force Meets The Immovable Object

On March 29, 1987, Hulk Hogan defended his WWF world title versus ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1953 Billy Raborn def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart became the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 1979 Jose Lothario & El Halcon def. The Spoiler & Mark Lewin for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 1981 Mike George def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 2003 Jef Tiger became the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 2008 Bad Boy became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2012 Tim Rockwell def. Brandon Walker for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. The Birds of Prey (Phoenix & Falcon) for the IZW Tag Team Champions

Week of Sun 05-26 to Sat: 06-01

  • 05-26 1989 Eric Embry def. Super Zodiac for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-26 2007 Matt Garza def. Mitch W. Carter for the IZW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 05-26 2018 MVP def. Jack Swagger for the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-26 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Skyler Fayden for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-26 2018 Alex Royal def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-27 1970 Luke Brown & Danny Hodge def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-27 1977 Jimmy Snuka def. El Gran Goliath for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-27 2003 Chris Matthews became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-27 2017 Dane Griffin def. Jerry Bostic for the IWR Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-28 1964 Louie Tillet def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-28 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-28 1973 Dennis Stamp & Dewey Robertson def. Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-28 1974 Red Bastien def. The Great Mephisto for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-28 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Dale Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-28 2005 Tommy D def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-28 2005 Angel Williams became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-28 2005 The Forsaken (Faith & Halo) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-28 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Buster Cherry for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-28 2019 Elias def. R-Truth for the WWE 24/7 Champion
  • 05-28 2019 R-Truth def. Elias for the WWE 24/7 Champion
  • 05-28 2022 Tego def. Adrian Vega for the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 05-28 2022 Tyler Watts def. Sweet Cakes for the EPW International Champion
  • 05-28 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) def. The Entitled (Justin Grey & Father Padge) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-28 2022 Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) def. The Change (Drake Gallows & Muerte Silencio) for the AIWF Tag Team Champions
  • 05-28 2022 Maddox Jones became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-28 2022 Logan Knight def. Striker for the EPW All-American Champion
  • 05-29 1959 Mike DiBiase def. Angelo Savoldi for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-29 1970 The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & & Dale Valentine) def. Luke Brown & Danny Hodge for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-29 1972 Blackjack Mulligan def. Blackjack Lanza for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-29 1978 Paul Orndorff def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-29 2010 Josh Evans & Buddha def. Born Again Sunday (Kam & Koz) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-29 2010 Bobby Starr def. David Kyzer for the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 05-29 2010 Shane Sanchez became the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 05-29 2010 Rick Russo def. Shane Sanchez for the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 05-29 2021 The Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) def. DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-29 2022 Striker def. Maddox Jones for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-30 1955 Ali Bey def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-30 1970 Killer Kowalski def. The Spoiler for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-30 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. The Assassin & Angel [1st] for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-30 1983 The Mongol def. King Parsons for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-30 1986 Terry Gordy became the UWF Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-30 2008 Dane Griffin def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 05-30 2015 Aaron Neil def. Jordan Jacobs for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. The Jet-Jitsu Dojo (J. J. Hefley & Jimmy Lorenzo) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Maddox Jones became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Warren Powers & Karnage def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Karnage def. Warren Powers for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 05-30 2020 El Greengo Loco def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Elijah Sparks def. El Greengo Loco for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Bobby Joe Bristow def. Elijah Sparks for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Karnage def. Bobby Joe Bristow for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 05-30 2020 Giganto def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 05-31 1954 Tor Yamato def. Rocco Perez for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 1968 Grizzly Smith def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 1971 Tom Jones & Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-31 1981 The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) def. Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-31 2003 Anthony Jackson def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2008 Slam Shady became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2008 Brent Albright became the NWA-OK Universal Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2008 Xavior def. Sage for the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 05-31 2008 3rd Rail def. Damon Windsor for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2008 Lady Venom def. Dominique LaReaux for the SWCW Womens Champion
  • 05-31 2014 Cody Burns def. Sam Stackouse for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2014 Matt Majestic def. MHM, Inc. (Ray Martinez, Alabastair Hunt & K. P. Moore) for the SRPW United States Champion
  • 05-31 2014 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. The Sexy Camachos (Vinnie Camacho & Roberto Camacho) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-31 2014 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-31 2024 Sgt. Slice def. Miranda Gordy for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 05-31 2024 The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) def. The Canadian Rez Devils (The Canadian Red Devil & Koko) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-31 2024 Nathan Estrada def. Merc for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2024 Merc def. Nathan Estrada for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-01 1953 Billy Raborn def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-01 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart became the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 06-01 1979 Jose Lothario & El Halcon def. The Spoiler & Mark Lewin for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 06-01 1981 Mike George def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 06-01 2003 Jef Tiger became the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-01 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-01 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-01 2008 Bad Boy became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 06-01 2012 Tim Rockwell def. Brandon Walker for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-01 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. The Birds of Prey (Phoenix & Falcon) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
06-01
  • Bobby Burns Jun 1st Today!
  • James Storm Jun 1st Today!
  • Ross Von Erich Jun 1st Today!
  • Anna Jackson Jun 1st Today!
  • Violet Payne Jun 1st Today!
  • Brandon Groom Jun 2nd
  • Tornado Gomez Jun 2nd
  • A. J. Styles Jun 2nd
  • Killista Jun 2nd
  • Leo Voss Jun 2nd
  • Thomas Knight Jun 3rd
  • Jeff Exotic Jun 3rd
  • Duke Clemons Jun 4th
  • Tarzan Baxter Jun 4th
  • Danny Miller Jun 5th
  • Igor Putski Jun 5th
  • Shawn Shields Jun 5th
  • Mitch Onyx Jun 6th
  • Larry Booker Jun 6th
  • O. D. B. Jun 6th
  • Travis 12 Gage Jun 6th
  • Tony Rocco Jun 6th
  • Rip Hawk Jun 6th
  • Rick Sweetan Jun 6th
  • That Handsome Devil Jun 6th
  • Mick Foley Jun 7th
  • Steve Hartley Jun 7th
  • Gideon Vane Jun 7th
  • Morgan Levay Jun 7th
  • Eddie Sullivan Jun 7th
  • Stevie Caballero Jun 7th
  • Rick Vyper Jun 8th
  • Michele Leone Jun 8th
  • Mustafa Bin Akbar Jun 8th
  • Dutch Savage Jun 9th
  • Mark Wilson Jun 9th
  • Jamie Jun 9th
  • Jim Barnett Jun 9th
  • Dick Listener Jun 9th
  • Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th
  • Dick Dunn Jun 10th
  • Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
  • Mathmagician Jun 11th
  • Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
  • King Parsons Jun 11th
  • J. D. Richards Jun 11th
  • Baby Blimp Jun 12th
  • Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
  • Steven Dane Jun 12th
  • Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
  • Zac Royal Jun 12th
  • Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
  • D'Licious Jun 12th
  • Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
  • Geronimo Jun 13th
  • Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
  • Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
  • Bill Ash Jun 13th
  • Neo Genesis Jun 13th
  • Mikey D Jun 13th
  • John Pfanz Jun 13th
  • Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th

More Look Back In History

Most Active Members

  • Striker
  • Michael York
  • The Mayne Event
  • cphs_sweethearts
  • Talon