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Million Dollar Memories

Million Dollar Memories

Posted: Mar 27th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Professional wrestling is full of legendary characters with legendary catchphrases. Only one of those catchphrases, however, was attached to a laugh. "Everybody's got a price, hahahahahaha."

"The Million Dollar Man," Ted DiBiase, will be inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame on Saturday, the night before WrestleMania in Phoenix, Ariz. DiBiase, who played football at West Texas State, took some time away from his duties as an evangelist to talk wrestling. DiBiase resides in Clinton, Miss.

What's it like being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame?

"To be inducted into the hall of fame is to be honored by your peers. I don't think that there is a greater honor you can have. This is not just a bunch of sportswriters who just talk about wrestling, these are the guys that did it with ya. These are the guys who've been down that road with you. They are saying that you are one of our best. It's a tremendous honor and it's humbling at the same time. It's one of those moments in my life where I wish my dad could be there."

What are your thoughts on TNA moving to Monday nights and going head-to-head with WWE?

"The WWE is a machine. It is a well-oiled, fine-tuned machine, and it's rolling. I have nothing against any of those guys over there (in TNA), I worked with a lot of those guys. I seriously think they don't have a chance. They do not have a chance of competing with the WWE. Their programming is not nearly as good. Nothing about the quality of that show is near the quality of the WWE. It's almost like they are trying to go back and relive the old wrestling wars. I'm 56 years old, I'm the same age as (Hulk) Hogan, and at some point you've gotta know it's over. I wish them well. Competition is always good for business, but to think you can actually compete with the WWE in the same hour, to me is just pretty naive."

Any specific Amarillo memories?

"The biggest wrestling memory that I have is not my own, it was my dad's ('Iron' Mike DiBiase). I was in the sixth grade when they had this Texas Death Match that went for three hours and fifteen minutes. I guess they would go back to the dressing room and take a break and come back out. Can you imagine two men able to hold a crowd for 3? hours. The match actually ended in a draw because the police came in and stopped the match because there was a curfew on the building."

What about one involving you?

"One of the most fun was a battle royal. In that battle royal were the Funk brothers and me, as well as others. I won the battle royal. The last three guys were me, Terry Funk and Dory Funk, Jr. They ultimately put me over. My winning that match really was kind of like them putting the stamp of approval on me. It brought me up a notch."

Any thoughts of stepping into the ring one more time, maybe with your son (Ted DiBiase, Jr.) next to you?

"Everybody's got a price, hahahaha. Never say never but my knees are shot, my shoulder is gone. I've had surgery on my neck. If it ever did happen you'd see me out there in a full body suit. I wouldn't want to embarrass myself."

Where did the idea of the Million Dollar Belt come from?

"There was some talk of me being WWE champion. What they came to me with was 'you're the Million Dollar Man.' The idea was you're so arrogant that you don't need the WWE title, you'll just create your own. The whole concept is you want the people to dislike you as much as they possibly can. The arrogance of a guy creating his own belt and wearing it to the ring every night, it worked. It was a great idea."

 

Tags: Ted DiBiase, WWE, TNA, Mike DiBiase

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Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
  • 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 09-20 to Sat: 09-26

  • 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Title
  • 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2025 Gideon Vane became the EPW International Champion
  • 09-20 2025 Miles Bane became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-20 2026 Neo Genesis def. T. J. Spade for the ASP WTF Title
  • 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-21 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-21 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-21 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-21 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-22 1971 Bill Watts def. Dusty Rhodes for the TSW North American Title
  • 09-22 2001 Jenna Love became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 09-22 2001 Justin Lee def. Dexter Hardaway for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-22 2012 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-22 2012 Kareem Sadat def. Crossfire Morrison for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-22 2023 Tommy Prince became the TexPro Dynasty Champion
  • 09-22 2023 Nashoba became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 09-22 2023 Skidz def. Nashoba for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-22 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-23 1974 Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine def. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 1975 Jose Lothario def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-23 2000 Grenade def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2016 Xavior became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-23 2016 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-23 2016 Psycho Mike def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-23 2017 Kikutaro def. Ryan Davidson for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-23 2017 Dusty Gold def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-23 2017 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-23 2017 Double D def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2017 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 09-23 2017 Xavior def. C. J. Ward for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2017 The Omega (O’Brien & O’Malley) def. The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 2023 Skidz def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-23 2023 Koko def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2023 Sweetness (Cappuccino Jones & Romeo Reese) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 2023 Killbane def. Leo Fox for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-24 2002 The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-24 2016 Ricky Starks def. Ky-Ote for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 09-24 2022 London Calling (Dutch Hagen & Richie Adams) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-24 2022 Martin Justice def. Tyler Watts for the EPW International Title
  • 09-24 2022 Logan Knight def. Kareem Sadat for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-24 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Danni Bee for the NCWO Women's Title
  • 09-25 1965 Don Kent def. Red McKim for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1981 The Great Kabuki def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1999 Big Daddy Moore def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1999 The Casualties of War (Malice & Shrapnel) def. Red Eagle & Night Hawk for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 09-25 1999 Kid Flash def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 2004 Michael Barry def. Brandon Groom for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 2010 Wage def. Bernie D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-26 1978 Terry Latham & Ricky Fields def. Seigfried Stanke & Kurt Von Hess for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-26 1984 Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor for the MSW Television Title
  • 09-26 2004 John O'Malley def. Mr. Brown for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-26 2009 Jeremy Quinn III became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-26 2014 Paul Puertorico def. Matt Majestic for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-26 2020 Brian Dixon def. Ethan Cole for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-26 2020 The Ritual (Samedi & Shadow Gemini) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-26 2025 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the BUW No Pressure Title
09-21
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  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Joe Jones Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • Connor Crunk Sep 24th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
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  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • BB Sep 26th
  • Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
  • Chris Matthews Sep 26th
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  • Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
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  • Scott Lee Sep 28th
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