Ted DiBiase Sr. had fun working as a commentator for the WWF during the New Generation Era, even if his time in the role made him nostalgic for his days as a Superstar.
On a recent edition of his “Everybody’s Got A Pod” podcast, DiBiase recalled working behind the desk and doing commentary with Vince McMahon at the 1994 Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. He said,
“As a result of that, he told me, he said, ‘Well, you did pretty good. He said, ‘I’m going to think about it, but if you’re interested, you may have another spot here.’ It was the WrestleMania right after that, Vince said, ‘I want you to come to the pay-per-view.’ So Vince told me that night, he said, ‘Okay, buddy, there will be a car waiting for you at the hotel in the morning to get started.”
DiBiase Sr. later admitted that while he was happy enough to commentate, being so close to the action made him miss his time as a wrestler. He said,
“I think by that time I was happy to be doing what I was doing, to be honest with you, because the grind of the road, I think when I first started for Vince we were on three straight weeks, three weeks, 21 days, 21 different cities, and then we would go home for a week and then we would do it again. So honestly, I was like, the only time, even now, the only time I miss being in the ring is when I see somebody and I recognize the talent in them and I go, ‘Wow, I wish I could get in the ring with that guy, I could help him.’”
DiBiase Sr. would later transition from a commentator to a manager before his departure from WWE in 1996 to join WCW. He would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.
Ted DiBiase Sr., a legendary figure in the world of professional wrestling, recently shared his experiences as a commentator for the WWF during the New Generation Era. Although he enjoyed his time behind the desk, it also made him nostalgic for his days as a superstar in the ring.
During a recent episode of his podcast, “Everybody’s Got A Pod,” DiBiase reminisced about his role as a commentator alongside Vince McMahon at the 1994 Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. McMahon was impressed with DiBiase’s performance and expressed his interest in offering him another position within the company. DiBiase recalled McMahon saying, “I’m going to think about it, but if you’re interested, you may have another spot here.” This led to an invitation to the WrestleMania pay-per-view event, where McMahon informed DiBiase that there would be a car waiting for him in the morning to get started.
While DiBiase was content with his role as a commentator, being so close to the action reminded him of his time as a wrestler and made him miss it even more. He reflected on the demanding schedule of being on the road for weeks at a time, performing in different cities every night. Despite the challenges, DiBiase admitted that he only truly misses being in the ring when he recognizes talent in other wrestlers and wishes he could help them by getting in the ring with them.
After his stint as a commentator, DiBiase transitioned into a managerial role before eventually leaving WWE in 1996 to join WCW. His contributions to the wrestling industry were recognized when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.
Ted DiBiase Sr.’s experience as a commentator during the New Generation Era provides a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of professional wrestling. It highlights the challenges and sacrifices that wrestlers make while on the road and showcases the passion and dedication that DiBiase had for the industry. Despite his nostalgia for his days as a superstar, DiBiase’s contributions as a commentator and manager have left a lasting impact on the wrestling community.