On a recent edition of his “Everybody’s Got A Pod” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed Will Ospreay’s reputation for being the best wrestler in the world, Rey Mysterio’s high-flying style, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On hearing talent be called best in the world such as Will Ospreay: “Okay well, here’s what I would say. And you know, this guy may be very good. But if he’s not a good storyteller, he’s not the best in the world. If he is the guy who has got the great body, and he takes a lot of really great bumps, and all that flying around, that doesn’t make a wrestler. And this is something I’ve talked about here before, and I will continue to beat the drum. Wrestling as I knew it and as I grew up in it — and I know everything changes, but what changed in — it’s kind of like, when you go to a movie, you know, what’s a movie when you walk in. You know it’s not real. But the actors in the movie, if they play their parts well, they draw you into the story they’re telling. They can make you laugh, they can make you cry and they can — and what I don’t see anymore is great stories, a great match. Just flying around the ring and taking pretty bumps — no matter how good they are, a triple somersault off the top rope and you’ll land on your feet and everybody goes, ‘Whoo!’ Okay, big deal. Tell me a story.
“In every story and every movie you watch, there’s — it’s it’s wrestling. There’s a good guy and a bad guy. There’s a good entity and a bad entity. And the movie is, the basic story is the bad guys screw up do whatever they’re going to do. And the rest of the story is about the good guys trying to come up and gradually get to a place where they can lower the hammer on the bad guys. I don’t see that anymore. You heard it right here, and I’ll go my grave [saying it]. And these conversations I’ve had with guys. I mean, Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr. who’s still alive. You know, several guys that, you know — and I asked them, I said, ‘Am I missing something? Or am I right?’ And they all said, ‘You’re right.’ Wrestling wasn’t meant to be a tumbling act.”
On Rey Mysterio doing it the right way: “That’s an excellent example. Because here’s a guy who could fly all over the ring. And man, he was great at it. But when he had his matches, he told the story. And the story that Rey Mysterio told was that most of the time, whoever his opponent was was much bigger than him. And the story was about, ‘How is this little guy is going to overcome this big guy?’ And that was the story. And Rey would sell for a good portion of the match. And then when it’s time for him to make that come back and start doing all that stuff that he does, then the people just pop and go crazy until he lowers the boom, 1-2-3. That’s a good example.”
On Ospreay needing to learn to tell a story: “That was the advice that you would give to a young performer like an Osprey. ‘Hey look, keep doing you, keep all your athletic, incredible moves. But maybe let’s just start to look to hone in on storytelling and selling.’”
In the world of professional wrestling, there is often debate about who is the best wrestler. One name that frequently comes up in these discussions is Will Ospreay. Known for his high-flying style and impressive athleticism, Ospreay has gained a reputation as one of the top performers in the industry. However, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. believes that being the best wrestler goes beyond just physical abilities.
During a recent episode of his podcast, DiBiase discussed the notion of talent being called the best in the world, such as Ospreay. He emphasized the importance of storytelling in wrestling and argued that if a wrestler is not a good storyteller, they cannot be considered the best. DiBiase explained that while impressive moves and acrobatics may entertain the audience, they do not make a wrestler. He compared wrestling to a movie, where actors draw viewers into the story they are telling. DiBiase believes that great stories are missing from modern wrestling and that it is essential for wrestlers to focus on storytelling rather than just performing flashy moves.
DiBiase used Rey Mysterio as an example of a wrestler who does it the right way. Mysterio, known for his high-flying style as well, always told a story in his matches. Despite being smaller than most of his opponents, Mysterio’s story was about overcoming the odds and defeating larger opponents. He would sell for a significant portion of the match, making the audience emotionally invested in his struggle. When it was time for him to make his comeback and showcase his impressive moves, the crowd would go wild until he ultimately secured the victory. According to DiBiase, Mysterio’s ability to tell a story alongside his athleticism is what made him a great wrestler.
Regarding Ospreay, DiBiase acknowledged his incredible athletic abilities but suggested that he needs to work on his storytelling and selling skills. He advised Ospreay to continue showcasing his athletic moves but also focus on honing his storytelling abilities to become a more well-rounded performer.
DiBiase’s insights shed light on an important aspect of professional wrestling that is sometimes overlooked. While athleticism and impressive moves are undoubtedly impressive, the ability to tell a compelling story is what truly sets apart the best wrestlers in the world. As the industry continues to evolve, it is crucial for wrestlers to remember the importance of storytelling and to find the balance between athleticism and narrative in their performances.