On a recent edition of his “Everybody’s Got A Pod” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed Harley Race’s gimmick in WWE, Vince McMahon’s influence in making that character a king, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Harley Race’s gimmick in WWE as king: “The people have seen this guy as Harley Race. In the make-believe world of professional wrestling, he’s a tough guy. In real life, he’s a tough guy, right? He’s a guy you do know — I would say it this way. If you had to walk down a dark alley at night and you knew there were a bunch of thugs in the alley. If you only had your choice of having one person to go with you, it would be Harley Race. But sometimes I wonder if that was like Vince — like a rib. Like, ‘Okay, this big, tough Harley Race, and I’m gonna make him king.’ Again — here’s the thing that’s hard for me too, and I think Jake would probably agree with me on this because we grew up in the old-school way. Our fathers were old-school wrestlers, and so this new thing with the WWF and trying to market towards children and stuff toys and stuff like that. Your bigger-than-life hero Hulk Hogan; and I’m like Snidely Whiplash, everybody’s got a price for me. Kind of cartoonish. And so, I have to keep that in mind in terms of what Vince would try for Harley. So, yep, swings both ways.”
On The Bushwackers transforming into the Sheepherders: “You know what, those guys were great. And I loved them. I mean, it was kind of like — their gimmick, they do the deal and they would get everybody to follow. But you know, aside from the gimmick and all the faces they can make and all that stuff, they were really great workers. I mean, it was like a night off because they were so easy to work with. You didn’t have to do much coaxing or leading. It was just natural. And so to have a tag match with those guys, I would always look forward to it. Vince brings them in, and they make this change. And again, it’s kind of like me. They’re gonna be good guys, but they’re gonna get the kids to like him because of all that crazy stuff they do.
“For me, the first time I went to the WWF, I was a baby face. So when Vince brought me back in, he brought me back in and the whole thing… the one thing everybody hates is somebody who by virtue of their wealth bullies people, the character of the Million Dollar Man. But it was always easy to work with these guys, because the kids love to — and of course it was especially, I had a lot of fun because being one of the most hated heels and wrestling with the Bushwhackers was, and they would do things to where, I’d be brought back up like this and when he comes to the ring, he just has taps me on the shoulder. And I turn around, and he just pokes me in the eyes. [laughs] And I just go down sell the heck out of it. Some of it was silly stuff, but you mix it with a serious match. It’s hard to explain, but they were great at it.”
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Harley Race is a legendary figure in the world of professional wrestling. Known for his tough persona and incredible in-ring skills, Race made a significant impact on the industry during his career. In a recent episode of the “Everybody’s Got A Pod” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed Race’s gimmick in WWE, Vince McMahon’s influence in making him a king, and more.
DiBiase began by acknowledging Race’s reputation as a tough guy both inside and outside the wrestling ring. He described Race as someone you would want by your side if you had to walk down a dark alley at night. However, DiBiase also wondered if McMahon’s decision to make Race a king was a playful rib or joke. McMahon, known for his sometimes eccentric ideas, may have seen humor in giving the tough Harley Race a regal character.
DiBiase also touched on the transformation of The Bushwackers into The Sheepherders when they joined WWE. He praised The Bushwackers for their entertaining gimmick and their ability to engage the audience. Despite their comedic antics, DiBiase emphasized that they were also skilled workers in the ring. He mentioned that working with The Bushwackers was always enjoyable because they were easy to work with and required minimal direction.
When DiBiase returned to WWE as the Million Dollar Man character, he had the opportunity to wrestle against The Bushwackers. He explained that their matches were a blend of silliness and seriousness, with The Bushwackers incorporating comedic elements into their performances. DiBiase recalled instances where they would playfully poke him in the eyes or engage in other humorous actions, which added an entertaining dynamic to their matches.
Overall, DiBiase’s discussion shed light on the creative decisions made by Vince McMahon and how they influenced the characters and gimmicks of wrestlers like Harley Race and The Bushwackers. McMahon’s desire to appeal to a younger audience and market wrestling as a form of entertainment led to the development of larger-than-life characters and storylines.
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