Vince McMahon would have been iconic WWE character if he wrestled in the 80s, legend says (Exclusive)
Vince McMahon transformed WWE into a global entertainment brand after taking over the company from his father in 1982. In an exclusive interview, Ted DiBiase Sr. gave his take on McMahon's WWE exit, legacy, and role in creating his iconic wrestling persona.
DiBiase Sr. was among WWE's top bad guys in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Known as The Million Dollar Man, he flaunted his money and thought he was superior to everyone else. The arrogant character was McMahon's brainchild and based on the former WWE Chairman's real-life personality.
Sportskeeda Wrestling Senior Editor Bill Apter and host Dr. Chris Featherstone recently spoke to DiBiase Sr. about McMahon leaving WWE amid misconduct allegations. The 2010 Hall of Famer addressed whether he ever thought the 78-year-old would depart his own company:
"No," DiBiase Sr. replied. "That's really hard for me, even today, to understand that he is no longer associated with the organization that he built. I mean, say what you want, good and bad, we all have our issues, but the one thing Vince did was he changed the wrestling industry forever and made it mainstream. Before, pro wrestling was pretty much a blue-collar crowd form of entertainment." [5:56 – 6:29]
In 1987, Vince McMahon booked Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan in one of the biggest WrestleMania matches of all time. DiBiase Sr. recalled how that blockbuster bout altered his mindset regarding the wrestling business. He also referenced how McMahon created his Million Dollar Man character shortly after the event:
"I can remember I was in Japan on a tour, picked up the paper, 'WrestleMania 3 sets indoor world attendance record, 93,000 people at the Pontiac Silverdome,'" DiBiase Sr. said. "And I went, 'Well, what I know is if I'm gonna stay relevant in the United States, I'm gonna have to go to work for Vince McMahon.' And I tell everybody, they say, 'What about The Million Dollar Man?' That whole concept. I said, 'If Vince McMahon could have been a character in his own show, he would have been The Million Dollar Man.'" [6:39 – 7:11]
Although he ran WWE when DiBiase Sr. worked for the company, McMahon had not yet started wrestling. He made his in-ring debut in 1998, 11 years after The Million Dollar Man gimmick was born.
Ted DiBiase Sr. on his career before working for Vince McMahon
Between 1974 and 1979, Ted DiBiase Sr. worked for legendary promoter Bill Watts in Mid-South Wrestling.
DiBiase Sr. said he learned a lot during that time, particularly from Dick Murdoch and Killer Karl Kox. He also had a good relationship with the polarizing Watts.
"That was the best move I ever made," DiBiase Sr. added. "I was just grateful that I made it. And, again, Bill Watts in my estimation was one of the greatest minds in wrestling at the time because his understanding of the psychology of what we do." [3:57 – 4:14]
DiBiase Sr. held his own custom title, the Million Dollar Championship, twice in WWE. He also won the 1988 King of the Ring Tournament and the tag title three times with IRS.
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