As one of the ultimate villains of the WWF (World Wrestling Federation, now known as the WWE: World Wrestling Entertainment), Ted DiBiase, “The Million Dollar Man,” made a name for himself by proving that everyone could be bought for a price. He once purchased the championship belt from wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan and offered a hundred dollars to people in the audience to do humiliating things such as kiss his foot. But one night, with his life in tatters and his marriage in free fall, Ted realized that not everything can be bought.

Filling a Void
Wrestling had always been in Ted's blood. The son of pro wrestler “Iron” Mike DiBiase, Ted grew up watching matches first-hand. But the tragic death of his father in the ring due to a heart attack changed the 15-year-old's life forever. Overnight, Ted's mother tumbled into depression and turned to alcohol. The family relocated to the small town of Wilcox, Arizona, where his grandparents lived. His dreams of becoming a professional wrestler seemed destined to be constrained by small-town life.

Ted, however, was undaunted. The talented teenager soon obtained a full scholarship to play college football at West Texas State. “My life began to be filled with pride and ego,” Ted says, and eventually he dropped out of school to try his hand at a career in professional wrestling. He never looked back.

As a brash newcomer to the world of professional wrestling, Ted's Million Dollar Man persona was thought up by none other than WWF owner Vince McMahon himself. Wearing a custom-made, diamond-encrusted belt and sporting a gold-studded suit emblazoned with dollar bills, with a “bodyguard” in tow, Ted's outlandish stunts became notorious in the World Wrestling Federation. Soon, Ted was battling other superstars such as Hulk Hogan and Brett “The Hitman” Hart in stadiums and arenas around the world.

“God had allowed me to climb to the top—my life was made into action figures; I wrestled in front of 80,000 people—yet I still wasn't satisfied,” says Ted. “I was trying to fill a void in my life, like so many others have done in the entertainment world.” What Ted didn't know was that God, too, had a price for The Million Dollar Man, as he would soon find out.

“Who Are You?”
It was the morning following WrestleMania VIII in 1992. Ted telephoned his wife from the hotel lobby to check in after spending yet another night partying. On the other end of the line was Ted's wife, Melanie, with the news that made his world grind to a halt. Ted's lifestyle of adultery, drugs and alcohol had caught up with him: Melanie had found out and Ted could not buy his way out of it.

“I cried out to God, praying that He would forgive me and save my life,” Ted remembers.

He sought the counsel of a friend who was also a pastor. Hal Santos advised the wrestler to come clean. Ted confessed everything to his wife, not just to one fling but to multiple affairs. With tears streaming down her face, Melanie managed to get out the words, “Who are you, Ted?”

Down But Not Out
As a Christian, Melanie decided to give Ted one last chance to be the man that she thought she'd married. Their marriage was restored because of Melanie's patience, love and
forgiveness.

With Melanie and Hal's help, God brought Ted to a relationship with God for the first time in his life.
Ted retired in 1999 and, since then, has taken on new roles outside of professional wrestling. He is a spokesperson for the Sunshine Foundation, an organization that grants wishes for critically ill children, and has founded Heart of David Ministries. “I've come to wrestle with your hearts today,” he tells the people who come to hear him speak. He now speaks about God and his newfound faith in the same places that he once wrestled in.

“A lot of people remember my last match, they can remember what I wore, what moves I made and who won,” Ted reflects. “They know everything about me, but they don't know me. In many ways, that is how we as Christians are—we know everything about God … but we don't know Him.”

Ted makes appearances at autograph signings and wrestling events, and speaks at churches and schools about his faith in Christ, challenging students to stay away from drugs and pursue their dreams.

“The thing that's almost unbelievable about God is His grace and mercy,” he says. “We fail all the time, but there's no shame in failing—only in not getting up and keeping on.”

Top photo: Ted DiBiase in his wrestling prime, his “Million Dollar Belt” draped over a shoulder; Second photo: Wrestling for Hearts: Ted delivering his message of love and redemption

For more information on Ted DiBiase or to arrange a personal appearance, please contact Willowcreek Marketing at (905) 984-3168 or www.willowcreekmarketing.com