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WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase, known for his famous catchphrase "Everybody's got a price," recently expressed dissatisfaction with WWE's approach to scripted promos during his NXT run. Returning to the company in the summer of 2021, DiBiase played a pivotal role in NXT's Million Dollar Championship storyline.
At NXT Takeover: In Your House 2021, LA Knight emerged victorious in a ladder match against Cameron Grimes, securing the Million Dollar Championship. However, Knight's celebration took an unexpected turn when he attacked DiBiase, prompting Grimes to intervene and save the Hall of Famer.
As a consequence of Knight's assault, he was compelled to defend the Championship against Grimes at NXT Takeover 36. If Grimes failed to win, DiBiase would have become Knight's butler. Fortunately for DiBiase, Grimes triumphed, saving him from the undesirable fate.
In a gesture of respect, Grimes returned the Million Dollar Championship to DiBiase on the subsequent episode of NXT.
DiBiase's Frustration with Scripted Promos
Throughout the feud, DiBiase was given scripted promos to deliver, a departure from his previous experience as one of WWE's most notorious heels during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Known for his confrontational interviews and insults toward fans, DiBiase was frustrated with the constraints imposed by scripted lines. In a recent episode of Everybody's Got a Pod, the three-time WWE Tag Team Champion admitted his disdain for the practice.
"They do these scripted interviews nowadays, and I can't stand it!" DiBiase exclaimed. Having enjoyed a lengthy and diverse career in professional wrestling, which included managing "Stone Cold" Steve Austin during his early WWE days and being part of the NWO, DiBiase possesses a wealth of experience in captivating WWE audiences.
During his time on NXT in 2021, he clarified to the staff that he wanted the promos to feel more authentic. "I said, 'Look, I'm going to look this over, and I'm going to say what the message is here, but it's not going to be word-for-word what you've written,'" DiBiase recalled.
"It's gotta be me. The more me it is, the more real it is to the people." As for the current status of the involved superstars, LA Knight is now setting his sights on WWE's next Premium Live Event and the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
With his ladder match experience from 2021, Knight aims to win the Championship contract and has issued a warning to champions across WWE and NXT. Meanwhile, Cameron Grimes recently moved to SmackDown as part of the 2023 WWE Draft, where he emerged victorious in his first singles match against Baron Corbin, marking an impressive start on the new brand.