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There's a video in the link I cant link. The original Creflo Dollar
From "Million Dollar Man" to preacher man
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Sep 14, 2016
MIDDLEFIELD, Conn. -- It is nearly 11 p.m. on a late-August evening, and we're up in the sanctuary at Victory Christian Church. The congregation that once filled the church is gone, and just four of us remain: a publicist, the pastor, myself, and the subject of the interview. I prop my camera up with a few books and DVDs that went unsold. We do a check for audio levels, and then it happens.
The quiet, humble man I had met only hours earlier unleashed it. He belted out that loud, diabolical laugh that only one man could deliver.
It was Ted DiBiase's alter ego, the "Million Dollar Man."
DiBiase's pro wrestling career spanned four decades, from 1974-2006, to be specific, with his most significant WWE years coming in the late 1980s and early 90s. Now, at age 62, DiBiase is deep into his second career, doing what he has done for the last 16 years.
"I'm preaching the gospel," DiBiase says. "The last thing I thought I would be doing is traveling the country and traveling the world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, but God had a plan and nobody is more surprised than me. A lot of people who knew me before have been equally surprised over the years."
On this warm summer night, DiBiase had just completed a one hour sermon, sharing his life story. In the speech, DiBiase was honest and vulnerable, traits contrary to his once popular heel persona. Afterward, DiBiase had an alter call, where he prayed and the congregation of 250 took an offering for him. It was the first of three sermons in three days, and DiBiase was paid $3,500.
He says he speaks at about 35 churches, conferences, seminars and workshops annually, with multiple days at each of those locations. He also speaks in prisons, schools and rehabilitation centers.
"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.
Ted DiBiase preaches to the congregation at Victory Christian Church in Middlefield, Connecticut. Ben Houser/ESPN
DiBiase was raised in Wilcox, Arizona, and growing up, DiBiase says he was a Christian. His father was a professional wrestler known by the moniker "Iron" Mike DiBiase in the 1950s and 60s and, like his father, Ted became a superb athlete. He went to West Texas on a football scholarship, but football wasn't ultimately in Ted's future; he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. He'd soon start training with Dory and Terry Funk, brothers and two of the most legendary competitors of the territory era. DiBiase's career began in the mid-1970s in Mid South Wrestling, followed by short stints wrestling for Vince McMahon Sr. and Jim Crockett, along with some time spent in Japan.
By 1987, Ted knew he needed to perform for the biggest wrestling organization in the world.
"WrestleMania 3 takes place, and on the front page of the newspaper, it says 'WrestleMania sets indoor world attendance record,' and right there I said, 'That's it, if I am going to stay in this business and make a living, I am going to have to work for this company in the United States,'" DiBiase says.
DiBiase says he made it known that he wanted to work for WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon's organization, at the time known as the WWF. Soon after, McMahon invited him to come to headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, to discuss a potential character.
"He said 'I got something for you,'" DiBiase says. "There have been so many things that have been done, but this has never been done, and just based on what I have seen from you, and your work, you can pull this off -- you are articulate. And I go, 'Awesome, what is it?'" DiBiase says. "And he goes, '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.' I'm like, 'Wow,' and I said 'Okay, I got to have a little time to think about this.'"
DiBiase flew home and discussed the opportunity with his wife Melanie, whom he had married in 1981, and his longtime friend and mentor Terry Funk. "Funk said, 'Teddy, if Vince McMahon has an idea, and he thinks you are tailor-made for it,' he said, 'pack your bag and don't look back. Go,'" DiBiase says.
In the spring of 1987, DiBiase agreed to work for McMahon and the WWF without knowing what he would be doing. He called McMahon and told him he was in, but McMahon wouldn't tell him the idea over the phone, so DiBiase flew back to Connecticut to meet with his new boss. It was then he learned about McMahon's idea.
"He said the one thing everybody hates is someone who by virtue of their wealth thinks they are better than everybody. You know, that cocky, arrogant, nose in the air, 'I am better than you,' looks down at people [kind of guy]. People like that are stuffy and think they can buy anybody and anything. I start chuckling and say, 'I hate people like that myself,'" DiBiase says. "He said, 'Now, we have not given this guy a name yet,' and just off the cuff I said, 'It sounds like a million-dollar man to me,' and Vince goes 'The Million Dollar Man he is.'"
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.
"In an effort to market this character, we are going to try to the best of our ability to make the public believe you are this Million Dollar Man," DiBiase says, recalling McMahon's sentiments on building a believable back story. "'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.
Andre the Giant played a major role in some of the biggest moments of Ted DiBiase's life and wrestling career, dating all the way back to the earliest days of DiBiase's career in the late '70s in Amarillo, Texas (pictured). Provided by Ted DiBiase
The Million Dollar Man was born, and in May 1987, DiBiase debuted his new character at a house show in Houston, Texas. He wore shiny, gaudy suits, with dollar signs all over the front and back. His promos became must-see TV, often culminating with the slogan 'Everybody's got a price for the Million Dollar Man!' He would shove a hundred dollar bill in the mouth of his opponents after defeating them with a finishing move he dubbed, the "Million Dollar Dream." DiBiase thrived under McMahon.
"I am making appearances on the 'Tonight Show' and 'Regis and Kathy Lee,'" DiBiase says. "Action figures and video games, and Learjets and limousines, and wow, and that is just it. I got all caught up in that, and the pace. We were literally like rock stars: next town, next show, next show, next party, and, you know, the all rock 'n' roll [lifestyle] -- drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll."
It was during this period that DiBiase says he became unfaithful to his wife, Melanie. He says life on the road was lonely, and fame isn't what people perceive it to be.
"You go down to the bar, and you have a beer with the boys, and for some, the one turns into two-and-a-half dozen, and you get addicted to the alcohol," DiBiase says. "I like to drink beer, but I never had an alcohol problem, and I didn't like pot. I did some cocaine, because cocaine would keep me awake, would keep me going, like 'Okay, we got to go.'"
DiBiase says he never became an alcoholic or drug addict but did succumb to many women while he was on the road.
While life on the road was, at times, chaotic and destructive, DiBiase's star was quickly rising within the squared circle. His career was building to a moment that wrestling fans of the era can remember vividly: Feb. 5, 1988. It was a Friday, and on that night, the WWF aired a live show called "The Main Event" in prime time on NBC.
DiBiase was featured prominently in the episode, and the storyline was his biggest and most high-profile opportunity with the company to date. On this night, DiBiase planned to buy the WWF world heavyweight championship, and to get the job done, he hired Andre the Giant to defeat Hulk Hogan. It would be the first clash between Andre and Hogan since their legendary meeting at WrestleMania 3.
On this night, unlike most big matches of the era, Hogan was going to lose -- albeit because of some inspired trickery.
"The thing about that particular night, I didn't know what I was doing until I got to the building. They kept it a secret, and I didn't even know that Dave Hebner (the referee) had a brother, let alone a twin," DiBiase says. Back then, DiBiase says, the wrestlers didn't run through a formal rehearsal. Instead, they planned the matches backstage.
The match between the two played out in a fairly predictable manner until, eventually, Virgil grabbed Hogan's leg as he attempted to land his patented leg drop. With Dave Hebner distracted, Andre head-butted and then hip-tossed Hogan and covered him for the pin. In the confusion, among other distractions, another referee -- Dave's twin brother, Earl -- jumped in the ring and counted to three while Hogan's shoulder was clearly raised off the mat.
Andre was declared the new heavyweight champion among the chaos, and he immediately handed DiBiase the title belt making the Million Dollar Man the new champ, for the time being.
The live broadcast reportedly drew 33 million viewers -- at the time, a record for American-televised wrestling.
"Back through gorilla (the curtain) was excitement, like that was so good, that was so good," DiBiase says. "I remember we had to do post-match interviews, and I was just hot. I was on that night. That was a proud moment for me, one of the biggest moments of my career."
DiBiase got to wear the belt for a very short stint -- he says a week or so -- but then the win was nullified. The WWF championship was vacated, setting up a tournament to crown a new champion at WrestleMania 4. In one scenario, DiBiase says, it was discussed backstage that he would win that tournament and go on to feud with Hogan. While that didn't pan out, DiBiase did make the finals of the tournament, only for Hogan to return the favor and cost him the match against "Macho Man" Randy Savage.
Rather than having DiBiase as the WWF champion, another idea was hatched -- one that rang far truer for The Million Dollar Man.
"Pat Patterson approached me and said, 'Rather than do that which is the expected thing, you don't win it at Mania. In your arrogance, you create your own title,'" DiBiase says. "And as soon as he said it, I was like, 'That is the ticket!' That is going to make everybody hate my guts -- design my own belt and declare that I am a champion."
During the peak years of the "Million Dollar Man" character, Ted DiBiase was living the gimmick both in the ring and outside of it. Provided by Ted DiBiase
From "Million Dollar Man" to preacher man
play
Current Time0:02
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Duration Time2:20
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Sep 14, 2016
-
Ben Houser
MIDDLEFIELD, Conn. -- It is nearly 11 p.m. on a late-August evening, and we're up in the sanctuary at Victory Christian Church. The congregation that once filled the church is gone, and just four of us remain: a publicist, the pastor, myself, and the subject of the interview. I prop my camera up with a few books and DVDs that went unsold. We do a check for audio levels, and then it happens.
The quiet, humble man I had met only hours earlier unleashed it. He belted out that loud, diabolical laugh that only one man could deliver.
It was Ted DiBiase's alter ego, the "Million Dollar Man."
DiBiase's pro wrestling career spanned four decades, from 1974-2006, to be specific, with his most significant WWE years coming in the late 1980s and early 90s. Now, at age 62, DiBiase is deep into his second career, doing what he has done for the last 16 years.
"I'm preaching the gospel," DiBiase says. "The last thing I thought I would be doing is traveling the country and traveling the world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, but God had a plan and nobody is more surprised than me. A lot of people who knew me before have been equally surprised over the years."
On this warm summer night, DiBiase had just completed a one hour sermon, sharing his life story. In the speech, DiBiase was honest and vulnerable, traits contrary to his once popular heel persona. Afterward, DiBiase had an alter call, where he prayed and the congregation of 250 took an offering for him. It was the first of three sermons in three days, and DiBiase was paid $3,500.
He says he speaks at about 35 churches, conferences, seminars and workshops annually, with multiple days at each of those locations. He also speaks in prisons, schools and rehabilitation centers.
"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.
Ted DiBiase preaches to the congregation at Victory Christian Church in Middlefield, Connecticut. Ben Houser/ESPN
DiBiase was raised in Wilcox, Arizona, and growing up, DiBiase says he was a Christian. His father was a professional wrestler known by the moniker "Iron" Mike DiBiase in the 1950s and 60s and, like his father, Ted became a superb athlete. He went to West Texas on a football scholarship, but football wasn't ultimately in Ted's future; he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. He'd soon start training with Dory and Terry Funk, brothers and two of the most legendary competitors of the territory era. DiBiase's career began in the mid-1970s in Mid South Wrestling, followed by short stints wrestling for Vince McMahon Sr. and Jim Crockett, along with some time spent in Japan.
By 1987, Ted knew he needed to perform for the biggest wrestling organization in the world.
"WrestleMania 3 takes place, and on the front page of the newspaper, it says 'WrestleMania sets indoor world attendance record,' and right there I said, 'That's it, if I am going to stay in this business and make a living, I am going to have to work for this company in the United States,'" DiBiase says.
DiBiase says he made it known that he wanted to work for WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon's organization, at the time known as the WWF. Soon after, McMahon invited him to come to headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, to discuss a potential character.
"He said 'I got something for you,'" DiBiase says. "There have been so many things that have been done, but this has never been done, and just based on what I have seen from you, and your work, you can pull this off -- you are articulate. And I go, 'Awesome, what is it?'" DiBiase says. "And he goes, '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.' I'm like, 'Wow,' and I said 'Okay, I got to have a little time to think about this.'"
DiBiase flew home and discussed the opportunity with his wife Melanie, whom he had married in 1981, and his longtime friend and mentor Terry Funk. "Funk said, 'Teddy, if Vince McMahon has an idea, and he thinks you are tailor-made for it,' he said, 'pack your bag and don't look back. Go,'" DiBiase says.
In the spring of 1987, DiBiase agreed to work for McMahon and the WWF without knowing what he would be doing. He called McMahon and told him he was in, but McMahon wouldn't tell him the idea over the phone, so DiBiase flew back to Connecticut to meet with his new boss. It was then he learned about McMahon's idea.
"He said the one thing everybody hates is someone who by virtue of their wealth thinks they are better than everybody. You know, that cocky, arrogant, nose in the air, 'I am better than you,' looks down at people [kind of guy]. People like that are stuffy and think they can buy anybody and anything. I start chuckling and say, 'I hate people like that myself,'" DiBiase says. "He said, 'Now, we have not given this guy a name yet,' and just off the cuff I said, 'It sounds like a million-dollar man to me,' and Vince goes 'The Million Dollar Man he is.'"
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.
"In an effort to market this character, we are going to try to the best of our ability to make the public believe you are this Million Dollar Man," DiBiase says, recalling McMahon's sentiments on building a believable back story. "'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.
Andre the Giant played a major role in some of the biggest moments of Ted DiBiase's life and wrestling career, dating all the way back to the earliest days of DiBiase's career in the late '70s in Amarillo, Texas (pictured). Provided by Ted DiBiase
The Million Dollar Man was born, and in May 1987, DiBiase debuted his new character at a house show in Houston, Texas. He wore shiny, gaudy suits, with dollar signs all over the front and back. His promos became must-see TV, often culminating with the slogan 'Everybody's got a price for the Million Dollar Man!' He would shove a hundred dollar bill in the mouth of his opponents after defeating them with a finishing move he dubbed, the "Million Dollar Dream." DiBiase thrived under McMahon.
"I am making appearances on the 'Tonight Show' and 'Regis and Kathy Lee,'" DiBiase says. "Action figures and video games, and Learjets and limousines, and wow, and that is just it. I got all caught up in that, and the pace. We were literally like rock stars: next town, next show, next show, next party, and, you know, the all rock 'n' roll [lifestyle] -- drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll."
It was during this period that DiBiase says he became unfaithful to his wife, Melanie. He says life on the road was lonely, and fame isn't what people perceive it to be.
"You go down to the bar, and you have a beer with the boys, and for some, the one turns into two-and-a-half dozen, and you get addicted to the alcohol," DiBiase says. "I like to drink beer, but I never had an alcohol problem, and I didn't like pot. I did some cocaine, because cocaine would keep me awake, would keep me going, like 'Okay, we got to go.'"
DiBiase says he never became an alcoholic or drug addict but did succumb to many women while he was on the road.
While life on the road was, at times, chaotic and destructive, DiBiase's star was quickly rising within the squared circle. His career was building to a moment that wrestling fans of the era can remember vividly: Feb. 5, 1988. It was a Friday, and on that night, the WWF aired a live show called "The Main Event" in prime time on NBC.
DiBiase was featured prominently in the episode, and the storyline was his biggest and most high-profile opportunity with the company to date. On this night, DiBiase planned to buy the WWF world heavyweight championship, and to get the job done, he hired Andre the Giant to defeat Hulk Hogan. It would be the first clash between Andre and Hogan since their legendary meeting at WrestleMania 3.
On this night, unlike most big matches of the era, Hogan was going to lose -- albeit because of some inspired trickery.
"The thing about that particular night, I didn't know what I was doing until I got to the building. They kept it a secret, and I didn't even know that Dave Hebner (the referee) had a brother, let alone a twin," DiBiase says. Back then, DiBiase says, the wrestlers didn't run through a formal rehearsal. Instead, they planned the matches backstage.
The match between the two played out in a fairly predictable manner until, eventually, Virgil grabbed Hogan's leg as he attempted to land his patented leg drop. With Dave Hebner distracted, Andre head-butted and then hip-tossed Hogan and covered him for the pin. In the confusion, among other distractions, another referee -- Dave's twin brother, Earl -- jumped in the ring and counted to three while Hogan's shoulder was clearly raised off the mat.
Andre was declared the new heavyweight champion among the chaos, and he immediately handed DiBiase the title belt making the Million Dollar Man the new champ, for the time being.
The live broadcast reportedly drew 33 million viewers -- at the time, a record for American-televised wrestling.
"Back through gorilla (the curtain) was excitement, like that was so good, that was so good," DiBiase says. "I remember we had to do post-match interviews, and I was just hot. I was on that night. That was a proud moment for me, one of the biggest moments of my career."
DiBiase got to wear the belt for a very short stint -- he says a week or so -- but then the win was nullified. The WWF championship was vacated, setting up a tournament to crown a new champion at WrestleMania 4. In one scenario, DiBiase says, it was discussed backstage that he would win that tournament and go on to feud with Hogan. While that didn't pan out, DiBiase did make the finals of the tournament, only for Hogan to return the favor and cost him the match against "Macho Man" Randy Savage.
Rather than having DiBiase as the WWF champion, another idea was hatched -- one that rang far truer for The Million Dollar Man.
"Pat Patterson approached me and said, 'Rather than do that which is the expected thing, you don't win it at Mania. In your arrogance, you create your own title,'" DiBiase says. "And as soon as he said it, I was like, 'That is the ticket!' That is going to make everybody hate my guts -- design my own belt and declare that I am a champion."
During the peak years of the "Million Dollar Man" character, Ted DiBiase was living the gimmick both in the ring and outside of it. Provided by Ted DiBiase