Wrestling legend Ted Dibiase, known as the Million Dollar Man, wrapped up his Canada Crusade in Alberta last week, speaking at several events in St. Paul.
Dibiase spoke two nights at the Bethel Family Worship Centre, including a men's only service, and with the Full Gospel Business Men's Main Event on Feb. 21. Dibiase also spoke to students while in the area.
Dibiase, who has been in the ring with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage and Jake the Snake, started the sermon at Bethel on Feb. 19 with his recognizable laugh and catchphrase, “Everybody's got a price, for the Million Dollar Man."
Dibiase is a minister with Heart of David Ministry and has travelled around the world with his message for 20 years.
“The last thing I ever thought I'd be doing in my life is standing at the pulpit and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ," Dibiase told attendees at Bethel.
“I surrendered my life to Jesus when I was 38 years old," Dibiase said, before the event. “As I grew in my relationship with God, it became evident that he was moving me from wrestling to evangelism."
Dibiase took on ministry full time in 2000 with Heart of David Ministry. Since then, he's traveled through the United States, Canada and foreign countries sharing the gospel. In 2006, Dibiase spoke at a Promise Keepers Canada event in Regina and has been doing events since with the group across the country.
Dibiase said he's been called to minister to men and the issues men face, like pride, ego and being a good husband and father. “Most men chase after the world and all that the world has to offer," he said. “I'm there to say, look, I've been there and done that. I've had all the stuff you think is going to make you so happy and it's not.
“We have a nation of fatherless children. God called on men to lead. God called on men to be before the breadwinner, they're to be the priest in their home … You might still say I'm a wrestler, but I've got the greatest tag team partner in the universe now, Jesus."
Dibiase spoke to performing in front of tens of thousands of people at WrestleMania and how his success in the ring almost led to the end of his marriage. His first WrestleMania in St. Louis put his character and name on the map. It was the first time he wrestled to a sold out crowd at a main event, he recalled.
“St. Louis was a city at the time where if you made it there, then the whole world was going to hear about you, and it kind of put me on the map. That was even before the WWF."
Dibiase's favourite was Wrestlemania VI, where he wrestled Jake the Snake in front of 67,000 people in Toronto. Another memorable moment for the Million Dollar Man was performing in front of 80,000 in Wembley Stadium against the Road Warriors.
Dibiase is known for having purchased the championship belt from Andre the Giant and using his money for strategic advantage or amusement. He won the King of the Ring in 1988. Often after winning a match using his signature move, the Million Dollar Dream, Dibiase would stuff a $100 bill in his opponent's mouth.
The Million Dollar Man represented the essence of worldliness, he said. “The Million Dollar Man is everything God wouldn't want you to be. In playing that character, it was my job ultimately to get beat … Hulk Hogan or Macho Man Randy Savage or Brett Hart, or one of those good guys was going to kick my tail."
Dibiase was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.
The wrestling industry has changed since the Million Dollar Man's days in the ring, with a lot more drama, said Dibiase. Fans say it is more show business and the wrestling and characters aren't as good, he said. Dibiase said wrestlers in the ring today do not have the opportunity to learn the industry the way he did.
“When I started wrestling it was very regional … You learned this trade. It's an acquired skill, kind of like an apprenticeship." Now, with the WWE becoming so big, the farm system collapsed and disappeared, he explained. Dibiase said he was critical of the attitude era of wrestling, but in the last two years it has returned to a PG rated format.
“The atmosphere for the wrestlers is much better," he said, noting a strict drug testing policy. “There's a lot of accountability that wasn't there when I was there."
Dibiase said he doesn't miss being in the ring. “I've wrestled in front of 80,000 people, it's a big thrill. But to see one person walk down that aisle and surrender their life to Jesus Christ has given me more satisfaction than anything I've ever did in my life."
For a video from Dibiase's visit, see spjournal.com. For more information on Dibiase, see www.milliondollarman.com.
