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Demon Of The Ring Now Wrestles With The Angels

Posted: Sep 13th 2010 By: CMBurnham

The Million Dollar Man does not believe in evolution, but he himself has evolved. The longtime wrestling heel, better known as Ted DiBiase, is softer than he once was. He's chubby even.

His body, which spent decades wrapped in spandex tights, is today draped in a black T-shirt and suit. Notably, there are no dollar signs on his lapels.

After a long career as a pro-wrestling villain, DiBiase now serves another cause. He travels the world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Although he does weddings and conventions too.)

On Sunday, at the Church on 99th, near 67th Avenue, DiBiase, the Million Dollar Man, spoke the Word, three times

Between sermons, he sold signed photos -- $10 each, $5 for kids -- and posed with fans, only some of whom seemed to stick around for the Jesus bit.

Inside the worship hall, DiBiase stood with a mocked-up wrestling ring to his back. He performed no Million Dollar Dreams -- his signature choke hold -- and stuffed no bills in vanquished mouths -- his trademark gimmick.

Instead he told a mostly stock story of a superstar brought low by drugs, booze and women, then rescued by belief.

DiBiase was born into the wrestling game. His stepfather, "Iron" Mike DiBiase, wrestled professionally for years. After playing college football, the younger DiBiase got into the sport too.

He wrestled in smaller circuits through most of the 1970s. But his big break came in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation.

In the early 1980s, DiBiase said on Sunday that McMahon came to him with an idea for a character. Arrogant, rich and evil, the new role would make DiBiase the consummate heel, the wrestler fans love to hate. And thus the Million Dollar Man was born.

Over the next 15 years, DiBiase fought Hulk Hogan, Jake the Snake Roberts and other giants of the game. His shtick, the man who could buy anything, proved hilariously easy to loathe. In one storyline, he offered to buy the championship belt from Hogan. When that didn't work, he bought his own title.

Outside the ring, DiBiase said, he was living the high life: private jets, limousines and, though he was married, lots and lots of women.

The lifestyle came to a head after a big event in 1992. After a night of carousing, DiBiase called his wife to check in. She told him she knew everything.

And yet, despite a list of infidelities DiBiase said rivalled that of Tiger Woods, his wife took him back. He recommitted to his faith and changed his life. This New Year's the two will celebrate 29 years together as man and wife.

Up close, DiBiase is both bigger and smaller than you'd expect for a professional wrestler. He is not particularly tall -- you'd never mistake him for a basketball player. But his head is gigantic. In fact, it is almost indescribably large, like a boulder with a face. His body is not what it was in his wrestling days. He says he has added about 27 kilograms since he retired. He still has the well-known beard, though it's grey now instead of black.

DiBiase's talk Sunday was not all about his personal story. He also touched on Israel, which he supports ( "There's no rational explanation for why Israel exists except for God") and science, which he does not ( "If we've been around for six billion years like they want us to believe, there wouldn't be enough surface area on the earth for all the people.")

He also derided the idea of evolution and had unkind words for television evangelism: "There's a lot of television evangelists I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw."

Oh, and also, the Million Dollar Man performs miracles. It's true. He said so himself.

On a mission trip to India, alongside a group from Medicine Hat, DiBiase said he laid hands on orphans born hearing impaired and mute. He prayed and they were healed. But you know, no big deal.

After Sunday's final sermon, DiBiase was to hit the road. He is due in Lloydminster later this week. In the next month, he'll be at the Big Apple Comic-Con in New York, a wedding in South Carolina and a wrestling event in Moose Jaw, Sask. In between each are more religious events.

And if the idea of a pro wrestler as preacher seems a little far fetched, well, you don't have to tell DiBiase.

"The last thing Ted DiBiase ever thought he'd be doing," he said Sunday, "is preaching the word of Jesus Christ."

Tags: Ted DiBiase, Mike DiBiase, WWF, Jake Roberts