‘Million Dollar Man’ finds it all in Jesus
By Brian Koonce
Staff Writer
HOLTS SUMMITT – Ted DiBiase made himself famous with the phrase, “Everybody has a price.” He was billed in professional wrestling as “The Million Dollar Man” and a heel; a villain in gold-studded, dollar-sign-covered black-and-gold suit with a diamond-encrusted “million dollar belt.” He’s been featured in video games and his likeness was made into an action figure (not a “doll”).
A popular wrestler in the 1970s and 80s with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), DiBiase toured the world flying first class, staying in five-star hotels and dispensing $100 tips in an effort to maintain the illusion that he was a powerful, confident, self-made man with no needs he couldn’t meet on his own.
People snicker about the authenticity – and even the sanity – of professional wrestling and DiBiase freely admits that his character was pure fluff and the luxuries he enjoyed were handouts from his bosses. However, there’s no doubting the reality of DiBiase’s faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, his messages to two packed morning worship services at Union Hill Baptist Church, Holts Summit, April 13 were as blunt as a body slam.
“Bear fruit, or perish,” he said, referencing Matt. 7:19: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“That’s my story,” DiBiase said. “I have had all the things the world says are good. I was a success, a rags to riches story, and I had a lot of fuan. But I wasn’t content. Worldly success is a lie straight from Hell.”
Born into a Catholic family, DiBiase claimed to be child of God but “bore no fruit.” He grew up around professional wrestling his entire life. His stepfather was wrestler “Iron Mike” DiBiase. Shortly after his father’s death due to a heart attack during a wrestling match when Ted was 15, his mother slipped into depression and turned to alcohol. She and Ted moved into a little town in southern Arizona. After a few years in college, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and enter the ring. Through the trauma of his father’s death and his mother’s alcoholism, Ted remained faithful to the Catholic Church and even served as an altar boy.
Even though he knew of the things of God, he knew there was no evidence of Christ in his life. He knew that despite the million-dollar persona, he was worthless in his sin. Then one day while attending church with his wife, Melanie, he heard a truth that took him from the WWF to WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?).
“All those years of my life I’d been paying God lip service, but I had no relationship with Him. Why? Because I enjoyed being a self-serving egomaniac. My mouth said one thing, but my actions said something else. The Bible says in 1 John ‘For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.’ That’s who I was. That day I asked the Lord to forgive me; if there’s a price to pay then I’ll pay it. Today I’m a different man with Him guiding and leading me.”
DiBiase is no longer “The Million Dollar Man.” A neck injury in the early 1990s forced him to retire from wrestling. Although he has numerous championship belts, he now spends his time bearing fruit, preaching the Gospel and ministering through his Heart of David Ministry.
DiBiase’s messages at Union Hill did not fall on deaf ears. Pastor Frank Whitney told The Pathway that two people were saved after hearing DiBiase, and more than a dozen people rededicated their lives to Christ.
