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One of the most memorable figures in the wrestling world during the 1980s and 1990s, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, was so closely tied to WWE that his sudden shift to WCW as a manager for the New World Order created ripples of astonishment among fans and critics alike.
Interestingly, DiBiase himself was just as surprised by this transition. In a recent conversation with Monopoly Events, DiBiase admitted, "WCW was kinda like nobody saw that coming; I know I didn't see that coming." After wrestling for years, a neck injury led him to retire from the ring.
However, his passion for the sport had not dimmed, and soon he found himself growing resentful of being on the sidelines.
Ted DiBiase's Unexpected WCW Offer
This was when WCW extended an offer for DiBiase to join them as a manager.
The appeal of the role, especially considering it required only a day or two of commitment each week, was irresistible to DiBiase, who had been feeling the pinch of a full-time wrestling schedule. However, his excitement about the new role gradually dissipated once he experienced the WCW environment firsthand.
He reflected, "Hindsight being 20/20, when I look back at that now, when I got there, I wasn't impressed." His disenchantment stemmed from the lack of cohesive leadership he saw in WCW, likening the situation to having "too many chiefs and not enough Indians." Even in the early days of his WCW tenure, DiBiase foresaw the organization's impending downfall, doubting its capability to outshine Vince McMahon's WWE.
His prophecy turned out to be correct. DiBiase's stint at WCW was short-lived, lasting only three years. He parted ways with NWO in the spring of 1997, following Eric Bischoff assuming the financier role he had been serving.
He continued to manage notable wrestlers like The Steiners and the Big Boss Man before bidding farewell to WCW in 1999 upon completing his contract.
