Ted DiBiase Discusses WWE Departure & Jump To WCW

On the latest episode of the podcast “Everybody’s Got a Pod,” Ted DiBiase discussed his departure from WWE and his decision to join WCW in 1996. Despite serving as a manager for various wrestlers, including Steve Austin, DiBiase regretted not directly communicating with Vince McMahon about his intentions to leave before making the switch, similar to Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.

DiBiase expressed regret for not having a conversation with Vince McMahon before leaving WWE, realizing the importance of discussing his decision directly with him. He said,

“In hindsight, if I had this all to do over again the one thing I didn’t do — I should have gone to Vince and just said, ‘Look, I wanna sit down and talk to you.’ And I didn’t do that. Instead, it was like, I gave — you had to give your notice in writing. And you know, I sent my notice in, but I didn’t have the conversation with Vince. And then if you fast forward to, let’s go years later when I went back. And I did go back, you know, after the whole shooting match. I had an opportunity to have that conversation with him and basically mend the fence, so to speak.”

DiBiase added that McMahon had mentioned that the door was always open for any issues, but DiBiase believed that since he had already returned to WWE in a non-wrestling role, his departure might not have been a significant concern to McMahon. Looking back, DiBiase acknowledged that he should have initiated a conversation with McMahon to potentially alter the outcome.

“He said it in a way like, he says, ‘I’ve always told you. If you have a problem, the doors open’ And I just said, ‘I know, but I feel like at this point,’ since I’d already been brought back in. I wasn’t wrestling anymore. I’ve been given this opportunity to do the voiceovers and this stuff, and then this thing comes up with Hall and Nash and everybody and Hogan jumping over to the other company. And just because — and again, this is my bad. Just because I didn’t, or wasn’t able, or wasn’t going to wrestle anymore, I should have. I should have had the wherewithal to just go to Vince and just say it outright. It might have ended up different.”

Reflecting on his mindset at the time, DiBiase recognized that Vince McMahon had numerous responsibilities and concerns beyond his individual situation and acknowledged that him staying or leaving WWE was not McMahon’s top priority, considering he was no longer considered a key player. However, DiBiase admitted that if given the opportunity again, he would have taken the initiative to sit down and discuss his decision with McMahon from the beginning.

“You know, it’s kinda like my attitude was, ‘Vince is running a show.’ And it’s kinda like my attitude was, ‘He’s got a lot more to think about than just me,’ you know? And so, it’s kinda like, ‘Whether I stay or I go is not his, his greatest concern at the time. I’m not one of his key players anymore.’ I don’t know. I mean, if I had it to do over again, I would’ve gone and sat down with the man and had that conversation. And that’s what I should have done in the first place.”

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