Ted DiBiase Opens Up About Professional Relationship With WWE Hall Of Famer
In a candid assessment that has wrestling fans talking, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase has shared his unvarnished thoughts on the late “Ravishing” Rick Rude, offering an evaluation that stands in stark contrast to the legendary status many fans ascribe to the iconic heel performer.
Speaking on the latest episode of his increasingly popular podcast “Everybody’s Got A Pod,” the Million Dollar Man reflected on the wrestling landscape of 1990 while delivering a surprisingly measured appraisal of his former colleague.
You know, I never got to know Rick real well. But ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude, the gimmick was good for him, and what have you.
Despite Rude’s reputation as one of the premier villains of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ted DiBiase’s assessment was notably restrained.
I thought he was okay, but I didn’t think he was the greatest thing that happened since apple pie, that’s for sure, had a great body.
This lukewarm evaluation might surprise many wrestling historians and fans who hold Rude in high regard. Known for his exceptional physique, provocative pre-match rituals, and masterful in-ring psychology, Rude engaged in memorable feuds with stars including Ultimate Warrior, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper during his WWE tenure.
Ted DiBiase specifically expressed bewilderment regarding WWE’s decision to feature Rude in a high-profile program against Ultimate Warrior, which produced several significant matches including encounters at WrestleMania V and at SummerSlam in 1989 and 1990.
At the time, apparently it worked. But I’ll be honest with you, I don’t really know what they were thinking [booking him against Warrior].
Rude, who passed away in 1999 at age 40, was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017, cementing his legacy as one of the golden era’s most memorable performers.
Ted DiBiase Names His Favourite Enhancement Talent To Work With
Also on his podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase has revealed his favourite enhancement talent he shared the ring with, giving the nod to Southern wrestling staple George South, but also giving a nod to Mario Mancini.
H/t to 411Mania.com