Ted Dibiase, The Million Dollar Man
Date: August 27, 1997
by RichInKC

Ted: Vince McMahon called me at home, said he had a great idea and thought that I was the man that fit the bill. He then flew my wife and I first class to New York City where a stretch limousine picked us up and took us to his office in Stamford, Connecticut. As I sat in Vince's office, he laid out this character in detail to me. "Ted, we're going to make you the most evil villain that wrestling has ever seen. You will be wrestling's J.R. Ewing, or Ebenezer Scrooge, if you will.

You will be filthy rich. You will throw money around like it's water. Throwing it at peoples' feet, laughing in their faces and telling them to get on their hands and knees and grovel for your money and then, I want the full visual effect. Ted, we're going to fly you all over the country wherever you go first class. Lear jets, if they are available. There will be a limousine to carry you everywhere, no matter where you are. I am going to make sure you have a wad of $100 bills, and even if you only buy a pack of gum, I want you to always use a hundred. You will stay at the finest hotels and we are even going to give you a bodyguard (Virgil, now the NWO's Vincent). On top of all of that, you're going to make a lot of money."

My response was disbelief. I couldn't believe this was happening to me. Without any hesitation, I said, "I am your man." With that, he then says, "I want you and your wife to take the limousine outside and I've made arrangements for a room at the Helmsley Palace in New York City, dinner at one of the finest restaurants in the city, and after that tickets to the theater. Ted, welcome aboard, go start being the Million Dollar Man. . . ."

RichInKC: In closing, is there anything you would like to say to your fans that have followed your career over the past two decades?

Ted: I have always appreciated the fans. The one thing that my father always taught me was whether I was performing in front of five thousand people or just five people, to always give it my best effort. Those five people who may have showed up when the weather was bad or the card wasn't particularly great are your loyalest fans and they deserve your best more than anybody. I have always tried to live up to that. Thank you all for your support, for without it I wouldn't be where I am today.