Vinny Lupton
Superstar
From "Million Dollar Man" to preacher man
It wont let me embed the video, but it's good. The article too..some highlights:
Vince's Idea
[Vince said] I got something for you...There have been so many things that have been done, but this has never been done..Here is the deal -- you have got to sign a contract with me before I tell you.' And [McMahon] said, 'Here is why.' He says, 'If I tell you, and you don't sign, I have given away a great idea, and I can't afford to do that.'
Living The Gimmick
In order to protect the image of this character, McMahon wanted to dramatically change DiBiase's life away from the ring. That meant first-class travel, flights, limo service and cash.
"'Everywhere the public sees you they are going to see the appearance of wealth ... and then the flash cash.'
"I said, 'Flash cash?'"
"He said, 'You know how annoying it is if you walk in a store, you just bought a pack of gum, you throw down a hundred-dollar bill, and they have to make change? I want you to do things like that. Go to a restaurant, have Virgil with you, and just get up and announce yourself, and say, "Folks, it is your lucky day. I am the Million Dollar Man from WWF, and I'm picking up your tab." Have Virgil get everyone's ticket, throw down some hundreds, have Virgil get the receipt, bring the receipt back to the office, we replenish it.' I only did that a couple times."
At the height of his success, DiBiase was paid $500,000 to play the Million Dollar Man character that McMahon created. "If Vince was going to put on the tights and be a character in his own show, this is who it is, you are his alter ego," DiBiase says.
The Great Benevolent Vince
"If it hadn't been [for] what Vince McMahon did for me, I wouldn't be able to do what I do now. I wouldn't be able to go places," DiBiase says. you see it haters
Andre
"Andre's health was not good," DiBiase says. "There were nights when we would go to the ring, and Andre has his hand on my shoulder, and to the public it just looks like well, 'He is my buddy right?' He is balancing. I am his crutch. He hated drugs, and so the way Andre sedated himself was the alcohol. Everybody says, 'Well, he drank a lot.' Well, he did drink a lot, but in all the years I knew him and was around him, I never saw him stagger or stutter, and I never saw him out of control. Ever. Not one time."
"I think it was like four cases of beer on ice," DiBiase says.
"That is the most I ever saw him drink."
It wont let me embed the video, but it's good. The article too..some highlights:
Vince's Idea
[Vince said] I got something for you...There have been so many things that have been done, but this has never been done..Here is the deal -- you have got to sign a contract with me before I tell you.' And [McMahon] said, 'Here is why.' He says, 'If I tell you, and you don't sign, I have given away a great idea, and I can't afford to do that.'
Living The Gimmick
In order to protect the image of this character, McMahon wanted to dramatically change DiBiase's life away from the ring. That meant first-class travel, flights, limo service and cash.
"'Everywhere the public sees you they are going to see the appearance of wealth ... and then the flash cash.'
"I said, 'Flash cash?'"
"He said, 'You know how annoying it is if you walk in a store, you just bought a pack of gum, you throw down a hundred-dollar bill, and they have to make change? I want you to do things like that. Go to a restaurant, have Virgil with you, and just get up and announce yourself, and say, "Folks, it is your lucky day. I am the Million Dollar Man from WWF, and I'm picking up your tab." Have Virgil get everyone's ticket, throw down some hundreds, have Virgil get the receipt, bring the receipt back to the office, we replenish it.' I only did that a couple times."
At the height of his success, DiBiase was paid $500,000 to play the Million Dollar Man character that McMahon created. "If Vince was going to put on the tights and be a character in his own show, this is who it is, you are his alter ego," DiBiase says.
The Great Benevolent Vince
"If it hadn't been [for] what Vince McMahon did for me, I wouldn't be able to do what I do now. I wouldn't be able to go places," DiBiase says. you see it haters
Andre
"Andre's health was not good," DiBiase says. "There were nights when we would go to the ring, and Andre has his hand on my shoulder, and to the public it just looks like well, 'He is my buddy right?' He is balancing. I am his crutch. He hated drugs, and so the way Andre sedated himself was the alcohol. Everybody says, 'Well, he drank a lot.' Well, he did drink a lot, but in all the years I knew him and was around him, I never saw him stagger or stutter, and I never saw him out of control. Ever. Not one time."
"I think it was like four cases of beer on ice," DiBiase says.
"That is the most I ever saw him drink."
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