Profile of Ted DiBiase on Famous Like Me

Theodore Marvin DiBiase
Statistics
Stage names	Ted DiBiase Million Dollar Man
Height	6 ft. 3 in. (190.5 cm)
Weight	250 lbs (113.4 kg)
Born	January 18, 1954
Hometown	Omaha, Nebraska
Billed from	Clinton, Mississippi
Trained by	Dory Funk, Jr. Terry Funk
Debut	1974

Theodore Marvin DiBiase, better known as Ted DiBiase or The Million-Dollar Man (born on January 18, 1954 in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American former professional wrestler, and, currently, a Christian minister.

Career

Arguably the best wrestler to never to hold a major World Heavyweight title, DiBiase still had one of the most illustrious careers in professional wrestling. His stepfather, "Iron" Mike DiBiase, was also a wrestler, who died of a heart attack when Ted was only 15. His mother fell into a depression, and DiBiase lived with his grandparents. He was trained by Dory Funk, Jr. and stepped into the squared circle for the first time in his junior year.

DiBiase spent a good portion of his career in Mid-South Wrestling, holding the Mid-South North American Championship 5 times and the Mid-South Tag Team title 5 times with 4 different partners. He did have a brief run in the WWF in 1979 where he was billed as the North American Champion only to lose the belt to Pat Patterson. That title was then changed to the Intercontinental Championship.

He has also been involved in several of the most memorable angles in wrestling history. In 1982, a face DiBiase stated he would defeat Bob Roop for the North American title or leave Mid-South. The Junkyard Dog won the title from Roop and had to face DiBiase, who was his best friend, with the stipulation still in place. During the match, DiBiase used a loaded glove to knockout the Dog and win the title turning heel in the process. DiBiase and fellow heel Jim Duggan later formed a team called 'the Rat Pack' and in a loser leaves Mid-South, Duggan in a gorilla suit interfered to send the Dog packing.

DiBiase would later turn on Duggan which set up a Best Dressed Man in Mid-South angle between the two. DiBiase, who was carrying a baseball bat to defend himself from Duggan's 2x4, went outside the arena to confront Mid-South television director Joel Watts about the noise meters being used in the contest. He sees Duggan's car parked nearby and promptly smashes in the windshield. This would lead to a series of Cage, No DQ, Tuxedo Match, Coal Miner's glove atop a pole matches between the two.

DiBiase's face turn is considered by many the greatest angle of all time. Butch Reed was supposed to get a shot at Ric Flair's NWA title but Flair and Dick Slater injured Reed the week before. DiBiase (still one of the most hated men in wrestling) is awarded the match but before the match starts, Dick Murdoch comes out and demands DiBiase step aside and give him the match. DiBiase refuses and Murdoch jumps him, bloodying DiBiase so much that the match is to be cancelled. (Flair says he's happy he gets a night off.) DiBiase however comes back out with a bandage on and the fans chanting his name to fight Flair only to be counted out in the end and then Murdoch comes out and gives DiBiase and brainbuster on the concrete floor.

In the WWF, DiBiase became one of the most hated heels of all time. He was known as the "Million Dollar Man," a wealthy millionaire gimmick which included the wearing of a gold studded suit and a custom 'Million Dollar Belt' around his waist when entering the ring. He claimed "everybody has a price" and made it his goal to acquire the WWF Championship by buying it if he must. He frequently traveled around in limousines and gave $100 tips to waiters in restaurants. He also invited fans (including a young Rob Van Dam) into the ring or to the stage (platform where they did interview segments) to perform humiliating acts (such as kissing his feet) for money. One of the more infamous of these humilating acts was when he invited a kid onto a stage and told him if he bounced a ball fifteen times in succession, DiBiase would pay him lots of cash. After the fourteenth bounce, DiBiase kicked the ball away and the kid went home broke (In reality, the kid was preselected and was paid for doing the sketch). He acquired a bodyguard, Virgil, who eventually grew tired of DiBiase's abuse and made an inspirational breach of services at the 1991 Royal Rumble. The gimmick was so successful, it was later copied by Tiger Ali Singh and former WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield in separate angles.

He became a tremendous enemy of fan-favorite champions from day one and became one of the most hated wrestlers by fans. Before WrestleMania IV, André the Giant defeated Hulk Hogan in a very questionable decision for the WWF Championship; Andre then turned and submitted the belt to DiBiase. The WWF refused to acknowledge DiBiase as the champion (since the title cannot be bought or surrendered) and declared the title vacant. DiBiase was runner up in the tournament held at WrestleMania IV to fill the vacancy, defeated by "Macho Man" Randy Savage. He was later involved in legendary feuds with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Dusty Rhodes. In 1990, he broke the "Iron Man" record by lasting over 40 minutes in the Royal Rumble.

In later years, DiBiase formed a very successful tag team, "Money Inc.," with Mike Rotunda, who wrestled as "Irwin R. Schyster" or "I.R.S." The duo were three-time WWF Tag Team Champions. DiBiase wrestled until late 1993 when a back and neck injury forced him to leave active participation in the ring for good, but he remained on as a manager in both the WWF and WCW.

Starting in 1994, DiBiase "purchased" the services of many wrestlers for his "Million Dollar Corporation" stable in the WWF, which over time included himself, I.R.S., Bam Bam Bigelow, Tatanka, Nikolai Volkoff, Kama, King Kong Bundy, Sycho Sid, and "The Ringmaster" (later Stone Cold) Steve Austin.

In WCW, he managed the nWo right after their formation in 1996.

DiBiase is arguably one of the best mic workers in the business, especially in his prime when few wrestlers had that kind of talent and charisma.

DiBiase is now a Christian minister who runs combined religion/wrestling events under the promotion, Power Wrestling Alliance. He frequently works with Nikita Koloff, another born-again Christian at these events. In 1999, he founded Heart of David Ministries.

In April, 2005, DiBiase was hired as a creative consultant and road agent for the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment.

DiBiase has three sons, John, Teddy, and Brett.

Profile

• Height: 6' 3" (190.5 cm)
• Weight: 250 lbs (113.4 kg)
• Birthday: January 18, 1954
• Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
• Resides: Clinton, Mississippi
• Trained By: Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk
• Professional Debut: 1974
• Previous Manager(s): Virgil, Sapphire, Sherri Martel
• Quotes: "Everybody has a price (evil laughter)."

Finishing and signature moves

• Million Dollar Dream
• Million Dollar Buster
• Million Dollar Knee Lift
• Flying Back Elbow Drop
• Million Dollar Fist Drop
• Sleeper Hold

Championships and accomplishments

World Wrestling Federation

• 3-Time WWF World Tag Team Champion (with IRS)
• 1-Time WWF North American Champion

National Wrestling Alliance

• 2-Time NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion
• 2-Time NWA National Tag Team Champion (with Stan Frazier and Steve O)
• 1-Time NWA National Heavyweight Champion

All Japan Pro Wrestling

• 1-Time AJPW International Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time AJPW United National Champion
• 1-Time AJPW World Tag Team Champion (with Stan Hansen)
• 1-Time PWF Tag Team Champion (with Stan Hansen)

Universal Wrestling Federation

• 4-Time Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time NWA Tri-State North American Champion
• 4-Time Mid-South Tag Team Champion (with Matt Borne, Jerry Stubbs, Hercules Hernandez and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams)
• 1-Time UWF Tag Team Champion (with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams)

Other Titles

• 1-Time Tri-State Tag Team Champion (with Dick Murdoch)
• 2-Time Central States Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time Western States Tag Team Champion (with Tito Santana)
• 1-Time Texas All-Star Heavyweight Champion

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 32 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked in three of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years". # 20 with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, # 24 with Stan Hansen and # 61 with IRS).

Books

• Autobiography: Every Man Has His Price, 1997, ISBN 1-57673-175-8
• Christian Wrestlers: Wrestling With God, 2001 by Chad Bonham

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Ted DiBiase