Ted DiBiase Read Free

everyone involved got their money. More important, they accomplished our goal of introducing to the wrestling world the Million Dollar Man character.
    I was now a full-fledged heel and my character was established as a person who could buy anything he wanted. In fact, I proclaimed the unthinkable: I told the fans that I was going to buy the World Wrestling Federation heavyweight title. To help me with this transaction, I was going to contract out Andre the Giant to beat the champion, Hulk Hogan. After Andre defeated Hogan, I would purchase the title from Andre. Since he was cheated out of the title by Hogan at
WrestleMania III
, Andre enthusiastically agreed to my terms.
    The stage was set for February 5, 1988. The night was a historic one, because it was the first time professional wrestling was being broadcast on live national network television since the 1950s. During the event, which aired during prime time on NBC as part of a special
The Main Event
, Hulk Hogan was set to defend his title against Andre the Giant. Of course, since I had purchased Andre’s services, I was going to be ringside.
    What followed was probably one of the greatest angles and finishes of all time.
    In a rematch from
WrestleMania III
and as the setup for
WrestleMania IV
, Hulk Hogan dominated the match. With my investment in trouble, I continually fussed and demanded that Andre win my title. Toward the end of the match, referee Dave Hebner got trapped between Hogan and Andre, and was knocked out cold. I quickly dragged Hebner out of the ring and signaled for a new referee. The crowd totally freaked out when none other than Dave Hebner’s identical twin brother, Earl, became the new referee.

    Unbeknownst to the crowd, and due to my influence and money, Earl was Dave’s “evil” twin. Andre quickly recovered and gave Hogan a huge body slam, then went to pin Hogan. Even though Hogan had one shoulder up, Earl counted “one-two-three” and called for the bell declaring Andre the new champion. The crowd was stunned! Hogan was furious and despite his plea, Earl proceeded to call for the championship belt. We entered the ring, and he raised Andre’s hand in victory. Andre was then given the championship belt.
    With a smile as large as life, Andre showed me the belt, then put it around my waist and declared me the new heavyweight champion. With my hand raised in victory, I was on top of the world.
    All of a sudden, Dave Hebner regained consciousness and reentered the ring. He argued with Earl about the match result. Andre and I rolled out of the ring as the two brothers argued. Meanwhile, Hogan was still steaming over the obvious con job and grabbed both men by their shirts. He glanced back and forth between them in disbelief. Everyone in the crowd, as well as Hogan, was stunned by what had just occurred. Nobody saw it coming.
    BRUCE PRICHARD:
    Ted’s purchase of the heavyweight title from Andre was a history-making event. We kept it real quiet and nobody knew about it except the talents involved. The goal of the angle was threefold: (1) to get a Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant rematch; (2) to move the Million Dollar Man character into the spotlight; and, (3) to plant the seed for the introduction of Ted’s Million Dollar Belt.
    I wrestled as the “champion” for some two weeks; however, my champion status would soon be challenged and questioned. The president of World Wrestling Federation, Jack Tunney, issued a proclamation: he was taking the title away from me.
    President Tunney was in a sticky situation. He couldn’t give the title back to Hulk Hogan, because technically he lost the match against Andre. Andre wouldn’t take the title because I had paid him off. And I couldn’t keep

    the title because I didn’t win it legitimately. The solution was to have a tournament at
WrestleMania IV
to declare a new champion.
    WrestleMania IV
was my first
WrestleMania.
The event was held at the Trump