Ted DiBiase Sr. Quotes

Ted DiBiase Sr.

Profession : Wrestler

Birth : January 18, 1954

There's people that have labored and labored and it takes them a long time before they get that break and then they get it. Then sometimes, I've seen guys with a lot of talent never get it. It's the nature of the beast.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

Mid-South is what started my whole career.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

The owner of Mid-South Wrestling, 'Cowboy' Bill Watts was and is extremely intelligent and unbelievable at understanding the psychology of our industry and I probably learned more from him then just about anybody.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

When you talk about running big venues, obviously the WWE has sold out arenas all over the world throughout the years and it seems like every WrestleMania sets a new record. But, I believe l and I'm not mistaken that the first guy to run a dome was Bill Watts when he ran The Superdome.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

I was fortunate. I probably could have saved more money, too. But, it's like, even though I'm not really the Million Dollar Man, I have a retirement account, I saved some money, and I did some right things.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

By the time Vince McMahon called upon me to become this character, the Million Dollar Man, I had already been wrestling for 12 years.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

You look at all the athletes who come out of high school and college into professional sports. And they hit it big, they make money, and instead of saving their money, instead of doing the right thing, they go out and buy the biggest house, and the finest car, and then they get hurt, and it's gone.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

Wrestling is sports entertainment for sure. But to be really good at what we do you have to be both an athlete and an entertainer. And actually, if you're going to be lacking in one, then be more of an entertainer and less of an athlete.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

Wrestling is an art form.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

There's a lot of guys that made big money in wrestling because they just projected such a realistic character. And they weren't necessarily great athletes. Junkyard Dog played football, Junkyard Dog the wrestler, mechanically in the ring he was just not that good. His gift was, unbelievable work on the mic. He had charisma coming out of his ears.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

I understand the psychology of the business. I understand who I am and I know how I interact with other people, but that's a gift, the storytelling. Not everybody has that gift and it's kind of like the way I work.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

So I went to WCW for three years and quite frankly, it was the most miserable three years of my life in terms of business.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

I was supposed to be the mouthpiece and financial backer of the NWO but what really happened as this thing got hotter, Eric Bischoff saw where he could slip himself into the role that he hired me for. And that's what he did.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

My strength was my ability to talk and my work in the ring.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

I always looked like an athlete but I didn't look like Charles Atlas.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

I've been asked many times, do you regret never having been the world champion, you know? I kind of laugh. I say well, you know, this business is a work. It's like, none of those guys are ever really the world wrestling champion. The titles are props in this business.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

Yeah, the first television match that I'm going to have, I got put out there with Danny Hodge and I was scared to death.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

Reality is, I could have made Japan a career. I could have just gone to Japan and I'd have been great.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

I really spent the better part of the first 12 years of my career wrestling for Mid South. Fond memories, but a grueling territory.

Ted DiBiase Sr.

Well, I think everyone would agree that Vince McMahon, although he doesn't get it right every time, he gets it right most of the time, and he is a marketing genius.

Ted DiBiase Sr.