• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

Million Dollar Dad...DiBiases stay close through busy wrestling careers

Posted: Jun 16th 2012 By: CMBurnham

The newest father in the WWE has some big shoes to fill. Not only is his father a Hall of Famer and iconic character, but he believes he?s got the best father in the WWE.

?I have no doubt in my mind I have the best father,? Ted DiBiase Jr. said from his home in Mississippi, where he is finishing up recovery from a broken wrist and ankle, as well as a shoulder surgery. His father is, of course, ?The Million Dollar Man? Ted DiBiase.

?With me being gone as much as I was, I have a phenomenal relationship with my sons,? the elder DiBiase said.

While on the road during his career, he knew the schedules of his three sons and would always call them on the day of an important moment, be it a test or soccer game, to give them encouragement. Then, he?d follow up later to learn how the day went. ?Even though I wasn?t there, my boys knew I was thinking of them,? DiBiase said.

It helps that DiBiase was the child of wrestlers himself and understood what the children of wrestlers need. His mother was Helen Hild and his stepfather was ?Iron Mike? DiBiase.

?I was raised by a very loving stepfather,? DiBiase said. ?He took me in, loved me, gave me his name. ... I was grateful and I wanted to be just like him.?

Unfortunately, his time with Iron Mike was cut short when he died as the result of a heart attack he suffered during a match.

The younger DiBiase values the time he had with his dad while growing up and the lessons he taught him by example. The most important things he learned were to appreciate what he has and to give back to others.

?I hope I can do the same for Tate,? DiBiase Jr. said about his one-month-old son.

While he is eager to get back to work, and will, in fact, go to Florida for evaluations with WWE doctors and preliminary workouts next week, he is dreading missing those ?first? moments with Tate. The job of a WWE Superstar is life on the road, spending more time with the guys in the locker room than at home. He plans to take some of the advice his father gives in his ministry, Heart of David, and be more aware of his family time when he is home.

?I want to give him everything I?ve got,? DiBiase Jr. said. ?You learn to appreciate the value of time- it?s priceless.?

Fortunately, DiBiase Jr.?s parents and in-laws all live within 20 minutes of him and can fill in for him while he is on the road. Tate is DiBiase?s first grandchild with his wife, Melanie, and he is loving his new role.

?Being a grandfather, I?m over the top,? DiBiase said. ?It?s like God gives it to you again.?

DiBiase plans to make up for the time he missed with own boys, but his son claims he is going to need a little help. While his dad loves gadgets, he is not the outdoorsman he is and that he would like his son to be. He says he will be teaching his dad how to fish and hunt, so the skills can be passed down to Tate.

When he returns from his injury, DiBiase Jr. hopes the results of this weekend?s No Way Out pay-per-view at the Izod Center in East Rutherford work in his favor. One match he has his eye on is the Intercontinental Championship match in which the champion, Christian, will face DiBiase Jr.?s former tag team partner Cody Rhodes.

Although he would like to see Christian retain the title, a part of him wants Rhodes to win so he can face him when he returns.

?He cheated me out of my own chance for the championship,? DiBiase Jr. said. ?I want revenge.?

Rhodes and DiBiase worked well together in the past because they are both kids of wrestlers, Rhodes being the son of ?The American Dream? Dusty Rhodes.

DiBiase Jr. said a lot of people have a misconception that it?s easier for the sons of wrestlers to get a push in the business, but in reality it?s much harder.

?When you have such iconic fathers you will always be compared,? DiBiase Jr. said.

However, he would not make what he called a ?bold move? and change his name, like Joe Hennig, the son of ?Mr. Perfect? Curt Hennig, did. He likes his name and having the same name as his dad, even though they are completely different people. When he had the opportunity to carry the Million Dollar Championship, he was uncomfortable.

?I?m not my dad. I?m not a cocky and arrogant guy,? DiBiase Jr. said. ?I?d like to be remembered as a man of

the people.?
He started the DiBiase Posse, a tailgating party for his fans, as well as the Ted DiBiase Foundation, which helps makes the wishes of people with disabilities and life-threatening illnesses come true, similar to Make-A-Wish.

It also will offer a leadership program and fundraising for community causes. His dream is to use his celebrity and fame to provide more opportunities to others.

When DiBiase Jr. was little, he and his brothers dreamed about going into the business together and being tag partners, like The Rockers. They wrestled each other around the house, breaking lamps, vases and televisions in the process.

?That?s why we say, kids, don?t try this at home.?

One thing he tried, but could never successfully perform was his dad?s evil laugh. The laugh, he said, was so loud it would penetrate every wall in the house.

DiBiase Jr. did have Bret ?The Hitman? Hart?s character down, right down to the leather jacket.

?Dad was definitely my hero, but I was a big Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels fan.?

Unfortunately, both his brothers had career-ending injuries before making it to the WWE.

While DiBiase loved wrestling, he admitted it wasn?t something he wanted his sons to do. In fact, it wasn?t even something his stepfather wanted him to do. He said he is proud of sons, especially Ted for getting as far as he has and staying clean. He thinks Iron Mike would agree.

?If he could look at my son today and see that he?s been successful, he would be extremely proud,? DiBiase said.