Ted Dibiase, the WWE Hall of Famer, recently discussed Vince McMahon’s desire to revolutionize professional wrestling on his podcast, Everybody’s Got a Pod. Dibiase revealed that McMahon aimed to elevate wrestling beyond its status as the “bastard child” of the entertainment industry by purchasing or eliminating competing territories in the 1980s.
In the interview, Dibiase expressed his disagreement with the notion that wrestling needed to be made more acceptable or classy. He firmly believed that wrestling is wrestling and should give the audience what they want to see – the match between two competitors in the ring. Dibiase argued that the focus should be on the in-ring action rather than the backstage or outside drama.
Furthermore, Dibiase shed light on the changes in the wrestling industry and how they affected the learning process for aspiring wrestlers. He explained that in the past, newcomers would start in the opening match, working with seasoned veterans who could guide them and help them improve gradually. However, with the decline of territories due to McMahon’s dominance, there were fewer opportunities for wrestlers to gain experience in different regions.
Dibiase reminisced about his own career, mentioning that he started in Mid-South and had the chance to wrestle against remarkable talents in Amarillo and Kansas City, such as Pat O’Connor and Harley Race. He emphasized the importance of exposure to diverse wrestling styles and experiences, which he believes are crucial for a wrestler’s development.
It is evident that McMahon’s ambition to transform wrestling into a national phenomenon had a significant impact on the industry. While some may argue that McMahon’s actions were detrimental to the diversity and regional flavor of wrestling, others acknowledge the opportunities that arose from the consolidation of power under WWE.
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