During a recent episode of his podcast, “Everybody’s Got A Pod,” wrestling veteran Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed several interesting topics, including his departure from WWE, the inception of the WWE Intercontinental Championship during his initial tenure with Vince McMahon Sr.’s WWE in 1979, and more.
Here are some key points from his podcast conversation:
Regarding his initial decision to step away from WWE, DiBiase Sr. stated, “Well, it was all about timing. My journey started in 1975 right in the heart of Mid-South and continued there for a considerable period. I then returned to Amarillo, the place where I had met my first wife. Coincidentally, I had managed to make a name for myself in St. Louis around this time – a market which attracts talent from across the country. Despite formally being part of the Kansas City territory, St. Louis was quite unique. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before the New York wrestling circuit heard about me and I made my first trip there.”
Discussing the origins of the WWE Intercontinental Title, DiBiase Sr. shared, “Coming in as the North American Champion was interesting. When I informed Vince Sr. that Bill Watts and Mid-South Wrestling also had a North American Champion, they crafted a new narrative. Wrestling is all about stories, right? The storyline was about Pat Patterson participating in a tournament in Rio de Janeiro, with all competitors putting their titles at stake. The winner would then emerge as the Intercontinental Champion. And that’s how the title creation was set in motion.”
Reflecting on his brief association with the North American Heavyweight Title, DiBiase Sr. said, “I didn’t stay long enough. The timing didn’t seem right. Considering my short wrestling tenure of four or five years, it felt like the right move. I decided to leave for a while with the intention of coming back later. The exit wouldn’t damage my career as I wasn’t just an opening act. I was usually featured in the semi-finals or similar caliber matches. In due course, I handed down the North American Title to Pat Patterson during a match in Madison Square Garden.”