Theodore Marvin DiBiase Sr. (born January 18, 1954)[2] is an American retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. He is signed to WWE as of 2023, where he works in their Legends program. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career. He is best recalled by mainstream audiences for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he wrestled as "the Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. He has been named as one of the best technical wrestlers,[4][5] and greatest villains,[6][7] in pro wrestling history.
Ted DiBiase
DiBiase at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2021
Birth name
Theodore Marvin Willis
Born
January 18, 1954 (age 69)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Melanie DiBiase (m. 1981)
Children
Mike DiBiase II
Ted DiBiase Jr.
Brett DiBiase
Family
Mike DiBiase (father) (adoptive)
Helen Hild (mother)
Website
milliondollarman.com
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
Ted DiBiase
The Million Dollar Man
Billed height
6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[1]
Billed weight
260 lb (118 kg)[1]
Billed from
Omaha, Nebraska[2] Seasonal residences (WWF)
Trained by
Dory Funk Jr.[1]
Terry Funk[1]
Debut
1974[3]
Retired
1993[2]
Among other accolades in the WWF/E, DiBiase was the first WWF North American Heavyweight Champion, a three-time WWF Tag Team Champion (with Irwin R. Schyster), a one-time WWE 24/7 Champion, and winner of the 1988 King of the Ring tournament. He held the WWF World Heavyweight Championship once, although recognition of this reign was withdrawn by the company. DiBiase also awarded himself the Million Dollar Championship, which was held by various associated wrestlers including DiBiase's onscreen proteges, Stone Cold Steve Austin and LA Knight. DiBiase headlined multiple WWF cards, including WrestleMania IV and the first-ever SummerSlam in 1988. DiBiase is a member of several professional wrestling halls of fame: he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame upon its inception in 1996, and headlined the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
Early life
Edit
DiBiase was born Theodore Marvin Willis in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the biological son of wrestler Helen Nevins and Ted Wills, an entertainer and singer.[8][9] He is the adopted son of wrestler "Iron" Mike DiBiase,[10][11] who married his mother when he was 4 years old. His adoptive father Mike died of a heart attack in the ring when DiBiase was 15. Seven-time NWA World champion Harley Race rushed to the ring and performed CPR, but was unable to save Iron Mike's life. In response, his mother suffered from depression and alcoholism, so DiBiase was moved to Willcox, Arizona, to live with his grandparents. He attended Creighton Preparatory high school in Omaha, Nebraska and attended West Texas State University on a football scholarship. While there he became a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. However, due to an injury in his senior year, he later dropped out of college to begin a career in professional wrestling.[12]
Professional wrestling career
Edit
Mid-South Wrestling (1974–1979)
Edit
Ted DiBiase was trained by Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk. He made his professional wrestling debut as a referee in June 1974 in the Amarillo territory owned by the Funks. He then went to the Mid-South territory of Bill Watts being promoted as the son of Iron Mike in 1975 where he wrestled for four years. His first match was a loss against Danny Hodge.[3] By February 1978, DiBiase would unseat Dick Slater to become Missouri State champion only to lose to Dick Murdoch after a few weeks on television.[13]
World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation (1979)
Edit
In the beginning of 1979, DiBiase came to Vince McMahon Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation. On February 13, 1979, the WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship was created, and Ted DiBiase would be awarded the North American Heavyweight Championship, becoming the title's first champion.[14][15]
In March 1979, Vince McMahon (Vince Jr.) purchased the WWWF and renamed it the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The newly established championship would be renamed the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship shortly after the company's name change. On June 19, 1979, DiBiase would go onto lose the North American Championship to Pat Patterson.
He was Hulk Hogan's opponent in Hogan's first Madison Square Garden match.[16]
National Wrestling Alliance and return to MSW / Universal Wrestling Federation (1980–1987)
DiBiase during a 1981 match against Dusty Rhodes
DiBiase also spent time in the Georgia area where he had an early face run.
