Source: Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast
On episode 159 of Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast, pro broadcaster and pro wrestling enthusiast Sam Roberts interviewed WWE Hall Of Famer 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase. Among other things, DiBiase discussed his retirement from pro wrestling, working with Virgil, and his son, Ted DiBiase, Jr.'s decision to leave WWE.
According to DiBiase, he did not have a hard time calling it a career when he retired from pro wrestling, as he got more involved with his faith-based work. With that said, 'The Million Dollar Man' wishes that he had worked with Ted Jr.
"Yeah, I mean, I really didn't have any trouble because people ask me that all the time, they say, 'don't you miss it? I mean, man, you were the guy.' And it's like, I had a 19-year active career and overall I was in the industry as a full-time participant for 25 years. That's long enough. And when I transitioned out of this, into the ministry, the ministry began to consume me in the same way. And so, I kind of feel for the guys because there [are] a lot of guys that have a real hard time making that transition, but I didn't. I didn't. And people ask me all the time, 'don't you miss it? Don't you ever just wish you could get back in there again?' and I go, 'I really don't.' I say, 'now maybe if I see a really good match or I see a young guy and I see a lot of talent, I go, 'man, if I could get in there and have a match with him, it would help him a little bit.' Something like that. But wanting to be the guy again? No problem." DiBiase added, "there was one [up-and-coming star he regrets not working] for sure, my son."
On the subject of Virgil, DiBiase shared that he did not know Virgil before being paired with him by the office. DiBiase noted that Virgil was a decent guy who had a good look, but he was not very smart. Moreover, DiBiase indicated that they could have had a good run if Virgil was a better worker.
"Well, actually, I can't claim Virgil because I didn't even know Virgil until they introduced me to him in the office, so I'm not sure who found Virgil. But they hired Virgil. I mean, he had the look and he had the guns. And I guess that's about all I can say about that! Yeah, I mean, here's the thing about [Virgil]. He wasn't a bad guy. I mean, he showed up on time. He didn't smoke or drink or do drugs. I've been told that he likes to gamble, but other than that… But I did realize that [he] wasn't the smartest book on the shelf. No, not at all. And what we could've done if Virgil had some really, really good or decent wrestling skills, we could have had a heck of a run, but that wasn't in the cards."
Apparently, when Ted, Jr. was put with Virgil, 'The Fortunate Son' called asking his dad how he put up with Virgil.
"When he told me, 'they're going to put Virgil with me - it's very brief, very, very short,' but i think the idea was that they were trying to do a thing whereby he keeps saying, 'I'm not my dad,' but he keeps acting like me, right? And so, the first night Virgil is on TV with him, I'm watching the live show and it's over, well, I live in the central timezone, so it's over at 10 o'clock my time. At 10:05, my phone rings and it's Teddy. He said, 'dad, how did you put up with this idiot for as long as you did? He's driving me crazy!'"
Also during the interview, DiBiase indicated that he was very proud of his son for leaving WWE because it is the right thing to do for his family. DiBiase said his son understood that to be a top guy in WWE, he would have to put in time that he would otherwise be spending with his family.
"I was proud of him. I mean, he called me before, just before, and he said, 'dad, I just wanted you to be aware of something,' and he said, 'but before I tell you, the first thing you've got to promise me is you won't say those words.' I said, 'what words might that be?' 'I told you so.' And so he told me, he said 'my contract's about up and they want me to re-sign.' And he said, 'I'm not going to go back.' And I said, 'really?' And he said, 'yeah,' he said, 'because basically, you're right.'"
DiBiase explained, "nobody works harder in that company than Vince [McMahon], himself, and it's just going to be expected of you and he got that. He understood that, but that's also what he understood. He said, 'if I do that, it's not fair to my wife and it's not fair to my child.' And I said, 'I won't say those words!' And I said, 'but I'm glad you figured it out and I support you' and I know he bowed out gracefully. And, I mean, if he wanted to go back, he probably could."
On episode 159 of Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast, pro broadcaster and pro wrestling enthusiast Sam Roberts interviewed WWE Hall Of Famer 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase. Among other things, DiBiase discussed his retirement from pro wrestling, working with Virgil, and his son, Ted DiBiase, Jr.'s decision to leave WWE.
"Yeah, I mean, I really didn't have any trouble because people ask me that all the time, they say, 'don't you miss it? I mean, man, you were the guy.' And it's like, I had a 19-year active career and overall I was in the industry as a full-time participant for 25 years. That's long enough. And when I transitioned out of this, into the ministry, the ministry began to consume me in the same way. And so, I kind of feel for the guys because there [are] a lot of guys that have a real hard time making that transition, but I didn't. I didn't. And people ask me all the time, 'don't you miss it? Don't you ever just wish you could get back in there again?' and I go, 'I really don't.' I say, 'now maybe if I see a really good match or I see a young guy and I see a lot of talent, I go, 'man, if I could get in there and have a match with him, it would help him a little bit.' Something like that. But wanting to be the guy again? No problem." DiBiase added, "there was one [up-and-coming star he regrets not working] for sure, my son."
On the subject of Virgil, DiBiase shared that he did not know Virgil before being paired with him by the office. DiBiase noted that Virgil was a decent guy who had a good look, but he was not very smart. Moreover, DiBiase indicated that they could have had a good run if Virgil was a better worker.
"Well, actually, I can't claim Virgil because I didn't even know Virgil until they introduced me to him in the office, so I'm not sure who found Virgil. But they hired Virgil. I mean, he had the look and he had the guns. And I guess that's about all I can say about that! Yeah, I mean, here's the thing about [Virgil]. He wasn't a bad guy. I mean, he showed up on time. He didn't smoke or drink or do drugs. I've been told that he likes to gamble, but other than that… But I did realize that [he] wasn't the smartest book on the shelf. No, not at all. And what we could've done if Virgil had some really, really good or decent wrestling skills, we could have had a heck of a run, but that wasn't in the cards."
Apparently, when Ted, Jr. was put with Virgil, 'The Fortunate Son' called asking his dad how he put up with Virgil.
"When he told me, 'they're going to put Virgil with me - it's very brief, very, very short,' but i think the idea was that they were trying to do a thing whereby he keeps saying, 'I'm not my dad,' but he keeps acting like me, right? And so, the first night Virgil is on TV with him, I'm watching the live show and it's over, well, I live in the central timezone, so it's over at 10 o'clock my time. At 10:05, my phone rings and it's Teddy. He said, 'dad, how did you put up with this idiot for as long as you did? He's driving me crazy!'"
Also during the interview, DiBiase indicated that he was very proud of his son for leaving WWE because it is the right thing to do for his family. DiBiase said his son understood that to be a top guy in WWE, he would have to put in time that he would otherwise be spending with his family.
"I was proud of him. I mean, he called me before, just before, and he said, 'dad, I just wanted you to be aware of something,' and he said, 'but before I tell you, the first thing you've got to promise me is you won't say those words.' I said, 'what words might that be?' 'I told you so.' And so he told me, he said 'my contract's about up and they want me to re-sign.' And he said, 'I'm not going to go back.' And I said, 'really?' And he said, 'yeah,' he said, 'because basically, you're right.'"
DiBiase explained, "nobody works harder in that company than Vince [McMahon], himself, and it's just going to be expected of you and he got that. He understood that, but that's also what he understood. He said, 'if I do that, it's not fair to my wife and it's not fair to my child.' And I said, 'I won't say those words!' And I said, 'but I'm glad you figured it out and I support you' and I know he bowed out gracefully. And, I mean, if he wanted to go back, he probably could."
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