Ted DiBiase Shares His Main Criticism Of Modern-Day Pro Wrestling

WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase has offered a blunt assessment of the modern wrestling scene, pointing to a lack of storytelling as its most glaring flaw.

Speaking on his podcast Everybody’s Got a Pod, Ted DiBiase took aim at the current generation of performers, criticising what he sees as an overreliance on flashy manoeuvres and high-risk spots at the expense of meaningful in-ring narratives.

“What’s wrong with wrestling today is that none of these young guys know how to go out in the ring and tell a freaking story,” DiBiase said. “They just think they’re in there to bounce around, and that’s enough to impress the people.”

DiBiase, a major figure in WWE during the 1980s and early 1990s, was celebrated for his charismatic “Million Dollar Man” persona and his ability to captivate crowds through calculated pacing and strong character work. For him, wrestling, much like acting, is about drawing the audience into a compelling story.

“It’s still about telling a story,” he said. “It’s like when you go to a movie, you know it’s not real, but if the actors are really good, they draw you into the story they’re telling. Well, if two wrestlers are really good, there’s a good guy, there’s a bad guy, they draw you into the story they’re telling.”

He continued, “But you don’t have to fall on a bed of nails to impress them.”

DiBiase’s remarks echo those of several other veteran performers who feel that while today’s wrestling showcases incredible athleticism, it too often neglects the emotional storytelling that once defined the industry.

What Did Ted DiBiase Say It Was Like To Wrestle Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat?

Ted DiBiase shared what it was like to be in the ring with Ricky Steamboat and recalled their string of matches on WWE’s house show circuit in late 1987, stating that being in the ring with Steamboat was akin to “being in heaven.” DiBiase and Steamboat had seven singles bouts between 16 November and 30 December 1987 and crossed paths in a Battle Royal during that timeframe.

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