Dangerous Incorporated
11-19-2006, 12:00 AM
TED DIBIASE TALKS ABOUT LEAVING WWE, OPENING A WRESTLING SCHOOL, BEING CHOSEN FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN GIMMICK, JBL ADMITTING THAT HE STOLE IT
This week’s edition of JG’s Radio Free Insanity is on the air and available for download right now at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com. This week’s guest is “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase in his first post-release audio interview.
James begins the show by talking about how Ted and Tim Horner were released the same day. Tim was the guest on last week’s show (archive available at ClubWWI.com) and seems to share the same outlook on WWE that Ted does. They both genuinely loved working there and although they have left, they have no ill will towards the company. Guttman reminds listeners that Ted’s interview went on for 39 minutes and touched on many more subjects than are listed here. The full shoot with DiBiase, as well as the other RFI guests, is available on the Club.
JG then talks about TNA’s cancelled house shows in Connecticut and how WWE is being blamed for it. James sees how TNA can feel that way and says that if the same thing happened to ROH in Orlando, people would blame Total Nonstop Action. It’s natural. However, Guttman feels that it wouldn’t make sense for WWE to get such a small show canceled. He says that if they could do that, then they should be able to stop TNA from buying ad time during Raw too, but they don’t. James feels that it could be a matter of WWE, after promoting in the region so long, knowing how to take care of the right people in Connecticut to ensure their shows go on without a hitch, while TNA doesn’t. He also talks about the regimmicking of the New Age Outlaws as “Voodoo Kin Mafia,” their challenge to WWE, and more.
After that, Guttman plays a clip from Jeff Jarrett’s conference call. It’s the question James asked about what Jarrett feels was TNA’s biggest mistake creatively. Jeff’s answer is candid and pretty much what most people would expect. After that, JG does the weekly reader-voted Moment of Insanity.
Part Two of Radio Free Insanity begins with an endorsement from Dr. Tom Pritchard, followed by the unmistakable theme song of "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase.
JG welcomes DiBiase and asks what he's up to, following his recent stint as a producer for WWE. DiBiase says he will continue with his ministry and speaking engagements across North America. His two sons are training with Harley Race, which gave DiBiase the idea to open his own training camps and/or wrestling school in the Jackson, Mississippi area. He already has someone in mind for a trainer.
DiBiase says his primary focus now is the ministry, although he still loves the wrestling business. Wrestling schools today are mostly good for getting wrestlers "to a point where WWE's developmental territories will take a look at you." DiBiase's school would focus on that reality, backed by 30 years of experience in the business. A lot of schools DiBiase sees online are run by people with few, if any, credentials.
DiBiase adds that even by teaching students the fundamentals and moves, "until you get in the ring, in front a crowd, you're not going to learn". He also may get into the business of critiquing young wrestlers audition tapes.
WWE tried to use him in the "creative" aspect, but DiBiase never thought that was his niche. He prefers evaluating talent and helping them work though matches. He mentions that Sting, Lex Luger or Mike Bucci as possible names that could help evaluate his students in those aspects.
JG asks if wrestlers today are able to adapt their game plans mid-match based on crowd reactions. DiBiase admits that's a problem. In his entire career, he never put together an entire match beforehand, preferring to work out the start and the finish, and ad-libbing the rest.
Harley's school is described as a "boot camp" which is why he sent his children there. DiBiase prefers that approach, and warns potential students that they will get in shape if they attend his camps. He'll also ask students questions about the business to make sure their heart is in it.
DiBiase cites Chris Benoit and King Booker among others as people who can lead people through a match and teach them something. He says many of today's younger stars are "pretending to be wrestlers" instead of telling stories that will be memorable to the audience.
The conversation then turns to "scripted" promos and how it affects young talent. DiBiase says that wrestler's promos have to be extensions of their gimmick, such as his "Million Dollar Man" character in the WWF. JBL, whom DiBiase admires, has admitted that he stole that gimmick from him.
DiBiase recalled how, in his early WWF days, he was told to "live his gimmick", which he enjoyed for the most part. "It's like going to a good movie," he says. "The more that people believe; the more I can make you get into my character; the more I can make you believe that I'm really that guy… all the better."
To play into the gimmick, DiBiase once appeared on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", pretending that Vince McMahon's house was his own. Ted says that he was chosen for the character after WWF officials saw some of his tapes.
DiBiase compares the art of keeping kayfabe to magic. Even though someone may know it's not real, the mystique involved keeps people's interest. Promotions such as Mid-South did so well because the wrestling style was so believable. If DiBiase was to wrestle Hulk Hogan in the main event of a show, and they walked back to the dressing room together, it would kill the suspension of disbelief.
JG asks DiBiase if there was any backlash from crazed fans when, in 1988, he helped Andre The Giant end Hulk Hogan's four-year WWF title run. DiBiase said there wasn't really, but he had to be careful to avoid eating with his opponents in restaurants, getting out of the same car with them, etc. He says that if he went to a restaurant and saw an opponent there, he would either sit on the other side of the room or leave.
Anyone who is interested in attending DiBiase's school can contact him through his website - http://www.heartofdavidministry.com - and look under "Book An Event".
Source: PWInsider
This week’s edition of JG’s Radio Free Insanity is on the air and available for download right now at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com. This week’s guest is “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase in his first post-release audio interview.
James begins the show by talking about how Ted and Tim Horner were released the same day. Tim was the guest on last week’s show (archive available at ClubWWI.com) and seems to share the same outlook on WWE that Ted does. They both genuinely loved working there and although they have left, they have no ill will towards the company. Guttman reminds listeners that Ted’s interview went on for 39 minutes and touched on many more subjects than are listed here. The full shoot with DiBiase, as well as the other RFI guests, is available on the Club.
JG then talks about TNA’s cancelled house shows in Connecticut and how WWE is being blamed for it. James sees how TNA can feel that way and says that if the same thing happened to ROH in Orlando, people would blame Total Nonstop Action. It’s natural. However, Guttman feels that it wouldn’t make sense for WWE to get such a small show canceled. He says that if they could do that, then they should be able to stop TNA from buying ad time during Raw too, but they don’t. James feels that it could be a matter of WWE, after promoting in the region so long, knowing how to take care of the right people in Connecticut to ensure their shows go on without a hitch, while TNA doesn’t. He also talks about the regimmicking of the New Age Outlaws as “Voodoo Kin Mafia,” their challenge to WWE, and more.
After that, Guttman plays a clip from Jeff Jarrett’s conference call. It’s the question James asked about what Jarrett feels was TNA’s biggest mistake creatively. Jeff’s answer is candid and pretty much what most people would expect. After that, JG does the weekly reader-voted Moment of Insanity.
Part Two of Radio Free Insanity begins with an endorsement from Dr. Tom Pritchard, followed by the unmistakable theme song of "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase.
JG welcomes DiBiase and asks what he's up to, following his recent stint as a producer for WWE. DiBiase says he will continue with his ministry and speaking engagements across North America. His two sons are training with Harley Race, which gave DiBiase the idea to open his own training camps and/or wrestling school in the Jackson, Mississippi area. He already has someone in mind for a trainer.
DiBiase says his primary focus now is the ministry, although he still loves the wrestling business. Wrestling schools today are mostly good for getting wrestlers "to a point where WWE's developmental territories will take a look at you." DiBiase's school would focus on that reality, backed by 30 years of experience in the business. A lot of schools DiBiase sees online are run by people with few, if any, credentials.
DiBiase adds that even by teaching students the fundamentals and moves, "until you get in the ring, in front a crowd, you're not going to learn". He also may get into the business of critiquing young wrestlers audition tapes.
WWE tried to use him in the "creative" aspect, but DiBiase never thought that was his niche. He prefers evaluating talent and helping them work though matches. He mentions that Sting, Lex Luger or Mike Bucci as possible names that could help evaluate his students in those aspects.
JG asks if wrestlers today are able to adapt their game plans mid-match based on crowd reactions. DiBiase admits that's a problem. In his entire career, he never put together an entire match beforehand, preferring to work out the start and the finish, and ad-libbing the rest.
Harley's school is described as a "boot camp" which is why he sent his children there. DiBiase prefers that approach, and warns potential students that they will get in shape if they attend his camps. He'll also ask students questions about the business to make sure their heart is in it.
DiBiase cites Chris Benoit and King Booker among others as people who can lead people through a match and teach them something. He says many of today's younger stars are "pretending to be wrestlers" instead of telling stories that will be memorable to the audience.
The conversation then turns to "scripted" promos and how it affects young talent. DiBiase says that wrestler's promos have to be extensions of their gimmick, such as his "Million Dollar Man" character in the WWF. JBL, whom DiBiase admires, has admitted that he stole that gimmick from him.
DiBiase recalled how, in his early WWF days, he was told to "live his gimmick", which he enjoyed for the most part. "It's like going to a good movie," he says. "The more that people believe; the more I can make you get into my character; the more I can make you believe that I'm really that guy… all the better."
To play into the gimmick, DiBiase once appeared on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", pretending that Vince McMahon's house was his own. Ted says that he was chosen for the character after WWF officials saw some of his tapes.
DiBiase compares the art of keeping kayfabe to magic. Even though someone may know it's not real, the mystique involved keeps people's interest. Promotions such as Mid-South did so well because the wrestling style was so believable. If DiBiase was to wrestle Hulk Hogan in the main event of a show, and they walked back to the dressing room together, it would kill the suspension of disbelief.
JG asks DiBiase if there was any backlash from crazed fans when, in 1988, he helped Andre The Giant end Hulk Hogan's four-year WWF title run. DiBiase said there wasn't really, but he had to be careful to avoid eating with his opponents in restaurants, getting out of the same car with them, etc. He says that if he went to a restaurant and saw an opponent there, he would either sit on the other side of the room or leave.
Anyone who is interested in attending DiBiase's school can contact him through his website - http://www.heartofdavidministry.com - and look under "Book An Event".
Source: PWInsider