Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 24, 2014 20:07:51 GMT -6
Former WWE Superstar Ted Dibiase Jr. recently spoke to Raj Giri of
WrestlingINC.com to discuss his wrestling career and "The Price of
Fame" documentary. The film takes a look at Ted DiBiase Jr.'s journey
to learn his father's road to redemption, while spotlighting Ted
Dibiase Sr.'s life and wrestling career. The goal is to raise $30,000
by this Friday, April 25th to fund the project, you can support the
film and donate at Kickstarter at:
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Wrestling INC: You started training in 2006, signed a
WWE developmental deal in 2007 and less than a year after that, you
made your debut on the main roster. Did you think you were ready? It
happened really fast.
Dibiase: "I honestly never expected in a million
years for it to happen that fast. You know, I'm pretty gutsy. Was I
completely ready? I don't know, I mean I've seen, I think a lot of the
guys get put on the road before they're completely ready. The problem
is, there is not a lot of guys to learn from. The way you learn this
business is, you work with people who are better than you, you work
with the veterans. I wasn't working with any veterans and the only way
I was gonna work with veterans is if I go on the road. So, that's when
the real learning process began because you kinda plateau when you're
in the developmental, you feel like it's so far under you actually get
in ring with, you know, top guys. I was fortunate to work with Taker,
and Hunter, and Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton. So that was when I
really began to get a grasp of the art of what we do. But, I was ready
to go, man. I wasn't gonna tell them not I'm not ready, don't bring me
up."
Wrestling INC: It seems like when I talk to a lot of,
when talk to multi-generational wrestlers, they'll talk about how it's
easier to break into the business, but it's much harder to get pushed
or develop your own character, or get to the top because the
expectations are so much higher. A lot of people instantly see your
father, your grandfather. Is that kind of what you experienced?
Dibiase: "100%. I was actually offered a
developmental contract before I even stepped in a ring and I didn't
wanna do that because part of that, that stigma. I wanted to really
earn the respect of the guys, and hopefully fans that [thought], "Hey,
he did it the hard way." But, yeah, that is a little easier for us to
get our foot in the door, but it's like microscope is on you and
they're watching you. Everybody's comparing you to your father, and
mine just happened to be really good. They were watching me saying,
"Is he gonna be as good as his dad?" I'll be the first to tell you -
I'm definitely not as good as my dad, but my dad had 23 years of
experience and worked with some of the best. So, it's just hard, and
it's harder today to really learn the craft."
Wrestling INC: You were put into Legacy, and you were
talking about some of the guys you got to work with. Undertaker and
Triple H and Shawn Michaels. What were some of your favorite matches
during that time?
Dibiase: "I really enjoyed - I'm trying to think of
the year - maybe '09? We did SummerSlam, when Shawn came back and we
really started our feud with DX. The SummerSlam match, that was cool
and they come out on the tanks. I just remember that moment. We're
standing in the ring and I was telling Cody, I was like, "Dude, this
is real? Are we dreaming right now?" You know, the lights went dark
and the glow sticks just come out and I'm about to go toe to toe with,
you know the other childhood hero other than my dad, Shawn Michaels.
It was just a very surreal moment. So that was an awesome match. I
really enjoyed it.
"Then, I had a good match with Bryan Danielson - or Daniel Bryan,
whatever you wanna call him - in Survivor Series a couple of years
later. I remember that match was just a lot of fun. We had the crowd.
Then obviously wrestling in WrestleMania. Even though the time got cut
and I wasn't crazy about the match, but it was WrestleMania. You know,
74,000 people there in Scottsdale, Arizona. I think it was 26?
Wrestled Randy and Cody. It was just cool. I wrestled in WrestleMania,
I've filmed a movie. I've really done a lot; I've done everything
you'd wanna do. I mean, I wasn't a WWE Champion, but man, I did it.
It's like a childhood dream can true. So I don't feel like I've missed
out on anything."
Wrestling INC: You mentioned wrestling Daniel Bryan
at Survivor Series. What are your thoughts on how far he's come since
then, and did you see that coming?
Dibiase: "Did I see it coming? Kind of. I guess I
wanted it to happen for him so bad. I'm so happy for that guy. If
there's anybody in this business alive today that deserves what
they're getting, it's him. He's just an impeccable, amazing talent.
Bryan was actually the one, he was in Japan the first time I went, and
really held my hand and showed me the ropes and then WWE turned him
away twice after I had debuted and I think they fired him before that.
And, it was like, how is guy dude never gonna get a shot? Then he
comes and he just kept grinding, you know? He's the ultimate underdog.
He's just the nicest guy. He's just a great guy. For somebody, like
the success he has right now he deserves it more than anyone. Because
he's extremely good.
"One of the matches I had, I think it was in Paris maybe. It was not
televised, but I remember Christian got hurt and Arn Anderson asked me
and Bryan to put in a little more time. And we did, like, 42 minutes
one night. I just remember he just called everything. I just went
ahead a listened to him and we had the most fun. It was one of those
nights where the crowd was just reacting to everything. But he just
knows. He knows how to tell a good story and he's just so humble about
it. You know, he's very humble, which I have a lot of respect for. So
happy for him. I can't stand his beard, he is one ugly dude. But, man
he's a good guy. Good friend."
Wrestling INC: I believe we first saw the trailer for
The Price of Fame this past November, right?
Dibiase: "Yeah. My buddy Pete [Ferriero] put the
trailer up on his Facebook page. It wasn't even me. I didn't even send
it out right at first, it was just him and it generated quite a bit of
buzz. I think we had like 60 or 70 thousand views in two days. And,
that was just off of his Facebook. I had tweeted it out that we got a
call from a film festival in Maine and Free Mantle media who does
American Idol and America's Got Talent. They had seen it and they
called and we had a couple conversations with them. They were asking
about if we were interested in doing a reality show. I was like, "I
don't know." None of those things are out of the question. Yeah, it
generated buzz and we kept working on this thing. It does cost money.
There is a lot of traveling and there is a lot of license fees and you
got to build websites and do editing and sound. A lot goes into it. A
lot more that you don't realize. That's why we started the kickstarter
campaign."
Wrestling INC: When you started in November, about
how complete was the movie? Or had it just started?
Dibiase: "We had really just started on it. And, I
was amazed, I really got excited when I saw how well Pete did putting
that trailer together. I flew up to Wilcox, Arizona. I've never been
there with my dad, although I'd always heard stories. We filmed some
stuff for a few days and then by the time I landed in Jackson,
Mississippi the next day, he'd already put together that trailer. I
was like, "Pete, this is really good!" And he said, "You think I
should post it?" I said, "Yeah man, definitely. Let's see what kind of
feedback we get." And it was all really positive. We've got a few more
things we need to film as well. Some more interviews. We've got a
couple other things that we need to put into this so it's going to
take a little more time but we're close to the finish line on this."
Wrestling INC: Fans can go to kickstarter and support
the project. With the money, what is it going to be used for? Is it
going to be used to do more interviews and things like that, or just
overall production?
Dibiase: "Yeah, the overall production, the editing
is a lot of time. A lot of time goes in the editing, a lot of studio
hours, license fees, lawyer fees. Just to get trademarks and looking
at a lot of travel. We wanna go to some cool places. We went to
Caesars Palace, we're trying to book Madison Square Garden, take my
dad back there where he wrestled Hulk Hogan. We really want to make
this a real intimate film. Not only for the fans as much as it is for
people that are watching this film that had struggles.
"If you know the story, if you've heard my dad speak, you know that he
gets extremely long-winded so I apologize on his behalf. You know, my
family was almost torn apart by the decisions my dad made outside the
ring. I've never had these conversations with my dad about his
infidelity, nor have I talked to my mom about it. So, it is an
opportunity for me to have those first-time conversations. And they're
tough. They're really tough conversations. So it's very real, and
people can relate. So, the fans are going to love it, people that go
through struggles and trials and tribulations, they're going to relate
with what the DiBiases went through. I mean, we're real people. So I'm
really excited to tell this story."
Dibiase also discussed how hard it is to get a spot on the
WrestleMania card, part-timers getting top spots at WrestleMania, his
father not being happy with his decision to enter the business, why he
decided to leave WWE, if he would return and much more. You can read
the full interview at:
www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0417/574280/ted-dibiase-jr-talks-leaving-wwe-and-if-hed-return/
WrestlingINC.com to discuss his wrestling career and "The Price of
Fame" documentary. The film takes a look at Ted DiBiase Jr.'s journey
to learn his father's road to redemption, while spotlighting Ted
Dibiase Sr.'s life and wrestling career. The goal is to raise $30,000
by this Friday, April 25th to fund the project, you can support the
film and donate at Kickstarter at:
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Wrestling INC: You started training in 2006, signed a
WWE developmental deal in 2007 and less than a year after that, you
made your debut on the main roster. Did you think you were ready? It
happened really fast.
Dibiase: "I honestly never expected in a million
years for it to happen that fast. You know, I'm pretty gutsy. Was I
completely ready? I don't know, I mean I've seen, I think a lot of the
guys get put on the road before they're completely ready. The problem
is, there is not a lot of guys to learn from. The way you learn this
business is, you work with people who are better than you, you work
with the veterans. I wasn't working with any veterans and the only way
I was gonna work with veterans is if I go on the road. So, that's when
the real learning process began because you kinda plateau when you're
in the developmental, you feel like it's so far under you actually get
in ring with, you know, top guys. I was fortunate to work with Taker,
and Hunter, and Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton. So that was when I
really began to get a grasp of the art of what we do. But, I was ready
to go, man. I wasn't gonna tell them not I'm not ready, don't bring me
up."
Wrestling INC: It seems like when I talk to a lot of,
when talk to multi-generational wrestlers, they'll talk about how it's
easier to break into the business, but it's much harder to get pushed
or develop your own character, or get to the top because the
expectations are so much higher. A lot of people instantly see your
father, your grandfather. Is that kind of what you experienced?
Dibiase: "100%. I was actually offered a
developmental contract before I even stepped in a ring and I didn't
wanna do that because part of that, that stigma. I wanted to really
earn the respect of the guys, and hopefully fans that [thought], "Hey,
he did it the hard way." But, yeah, that is a little easier for us to
get our foot in the door, but it's like microscope is on you and
they're watching you. Everybody's comparing you to your father, and
mine just happened to be really good. They were watching me saying,
"Is he gonna be as good as his dad?" I'll be the first to tell you -
I'm definitely not as good as my dad, but my dad had 23 years of
experience and worked with some of the best. So, it's just hard, and
it's harder today to really learn the craft."
Wrestling INC: You were put into Legacy, and you were
talking about some of the guys you got to work with. Undertaker and
Triple H and Shawn Michaels. What were some of your favorite matches
during that time?
Dibiase: "I really enjoyed - I'm trying to think of
the year - maybe '09? We did SummerSlam, when Shawn came back and we
really started our feud with DX. The SummerSlam match, that was cool
and they come out on the tanks. I just remember that moment. We're
standing in the ring and I was telling Cody, I was like, "Dude, this
is real? Are we dreaming right now?" You know, the lights went dark
and the glow sticks just come out and I'm about to go toe to toe with,
you know the other childhood hero other than my dad, Shawn Michaels.
It was just a very surreal moment. So that was an awesome match. I
really enjoyed it.
"Then, I had a good match with Bryan Danielson - or Daniel Bryan,
whatever you wanna call him - in Survivor Series a couple of years
later. I remember that match was just a lot of fun. We had the crowd.
Then obviously wrestling in WrestleMania. Even though the time got cut
and I wasn't crazy about the match, but it was WrestleMania. You know,
74,000 people there in Scottsdale, Arizona. I think it was 26?
Wrestled Randy and Cody. It was just cool. I wrestled in WrestleMania,
I've filmed a movie. I've really done a lot; I've done everything
you'd wanna do. I mean, I wasn't a WWE Champion, but man, I did it.
It's like a childhood dream can true. So I don't feel like I've missed
out on anything."
Wrestling INC: You mentioned wrestling Daniel Bryan
at Survivor Series. What are your thoughts on how far he's come since
then, and did you see that coming?
Dibiase: "Did I see it coming? Kind of. I guess I
wanted it to happen for him so bad. I'm so happy for that guy. If
there's anybody in this business alive today that deserves what
they're getting, it's him. He's just an impeccable, amazing talent.
Bryan was actually the one, he was in Japan the first time I went, and
really held my hand and showed me the ropes and then WWE turned him
away twice after I had debuted and I think they fired him before that.
And, it was like, how is guy dude never gonna get a shot? Then he
comes and he just kept grinding, you know? He's the ultimate underdog.
He's just the nicest guy. He's just a great guy. For somebody, like
the success he has right now he deserves it more than anyone. Because
he's extremely good.
"One of the matches I had, I think it was in Paris maybe. It was not
televised, but I remember Christian got hurt and Arn Anderson asked me
and Bryan to put in a little more time. And we did, like, 42 minutes
one night. I just remember he just called everything. I just went
ahead a listened to him and we had the most fun. It was one of those
nights where the crowd was just reacting to everything. But he just
knows. He knows how to tell a good story and he's just so humble about
it. You know, he's very humble, which I have a lot of respect for. So
happy for him. I can't stand his beard, he is one ugly dude. But, man
he's a good guy. Good friend."
Wrestling INC: I believe we first saw the trailer for
The Price of Fame this past November, right?
Dibiase: "Yeah. My buddy Pete [Ferriero] put the
trailer up on his Facebook page. It wasn't even me. I didn't even send
it out right at first, it was just him and it generated quite a bit of
buzz. I think we had like 60 or 70 thousand views in two days. And,
that was just off of his Facebook. I had tweeted it out that we got a
call from a film festival in Maine and Free Mantle media who does
American Idol and America's Got Talent. They had seen it and they
called and we had a couple conversations with them. They were asking
about if we were interested in doing a reality show. I was like, "I
don't know." None of those things are out of the question. Yeah, it
generated buzz and we kept working on this thing. It does cost money.
There is a lot of traveling and there is a lot of license fees and you
got to build websites and do editing and sound. A lot goes into it. A
lot more that you don't realize. That's why we started the kickstarter
campaign."
Wrestling INC: When you started in November, about
how complete was the movie? Or had it just started?
Dibiase: "We had really just started on it. And, I
was amazed, I really got excited when I saw how well Pete did putting
that trailer together. I flew up to Wilcox, Arizona. I've never been
there with my dad, although I'd always heard stories. We filmed some
stuff for a few days and then by the time I landed in Jackson,
Mississippi the next day, he'd already put together that trailer. I
was like, "Pete, this is really good!" And he said, "You think I
should post it?" I said, "Yeah man, definitely. Let's see what kind of
feedback we get." And it was all really positive. We've got a few more
things we need to film as well. Some more interviews. We've got a
couple other things that we need to put into this so it's going to
take a little more time but we're close to the finish line on this."
Wrestling INC: Fans can go to kickstarter and support
the project. With the money, what is it going to be used for? Is it
going to be used to do more interviews and things like that, or just
overall production?
Dibiase: "Yeah, the overall production, the editing
is a lot of time. A lot of time goes in the editing, a lot of studio
hours, license fees, lawyer fees. Just to get trademarks and looking
at a lot of travel. We wanna go to some cool places. We went to
Caesars Palace, we're trying to book Madison Square Garden, take my
dad back there where he wrestled Hulk Hogan. We really want to make
this a real intimate film. Not only for the fans as much as it is for
people that are watching this film that had struggles.
"If you know the story, if you've heard my dad speak, you know that he
gets extremely long-winded so I apologize on his behalf. You know, my
family was almost torn apart by the decisions my dad made outside the
ring. I've never had these conversations with my dad about his
infidelity, nor have I talked to my mom about it. So, it is an
opportunity for me to have those first-time conversations. And they're
tough. They're really tough conversations. So it's very real, and
people can relate. So, the fans are going to love it, people that go
through struggles and trials and tribulations, they're going to relate
with what the DiBiases went through. I mean, we're real people. So I'm
really excited to tell this story."
Dibiase also discussed how hard it is to get a spot on the
WrestleMania card, part-timers getting top spots at WrestleMania, his
father not being happy with his decision to enter the business, why he
decided to leave WWE, if he would return and much more. You can read
the full interview at:
www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0417/574280/ted-dibiase-jr-talks-leaving-wwe-and-if-hed-return/