Ted DiBiase on Older Wrestlers Continuing to Perform

'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase looks back at his Hall of Fame career, from Mid-South, to Japan, to WCW, to WWF, and everywhere in-between! Join Ted and Marcus every Friday at 6am ET on all podcast platforms or if you want early access, get it commercial free on Premier+ with Premier Streaming Network!

[@mikedeck8381]

If WCW was going to pay Piper 600,000+ a year plus getting him acting roles for a part time schedule you can't blame him for grabbing that. He only worked 30 matches for WCW. Flair went a lot longer than Piper. As far as the younger wrestlers that WCW had they didn't draw once Hogan, Savage and Piper left. That's a fact.

[@Messiah717]

Absolutely, who wouldn’t take that. Especially when you don’t have the heavy road schedule.

[@littletom1978]

Amazing how times change and athletes are better trained to take care of their health, more so wrestling as a culture changing overall for the performers. Piper and Flair then are same ages as Randy Orton and Aj Styles now, think about that.

[@jaybarnes8034]

Dominic DeNucci was close to 50 while wrestling.

[@1950Grendel]

Go until you can't go - the issue is knowing and accepting when you can't go. Jim Brown, Joe DiMaggio and Barry Sanders all retired when they still had some in the tank, but none of them regretted it. They weren't wrestlers, but they were still athletes and wanted to live into a healthy older age. Ted did the right thing.

[@HawklordLI]

Gordie Howe was still playing hockey in his early 50's.

[@easter_sunday]

If the opponent can't sell the move, the opponent can't sell the move.

[@rosario508]

It’s all about drawing, PPV and putting asses in seats. From a business perspective if you can still do all those things it doesn’t matter how old you are

[@user-qr8rb2on3b]

Thanks both

[@joedufek2810]

I’m surprised of the ages. When you LOOKED at Flair and Piper- PIPER looked 50and Flair looked 40 IMO

[@mikeschmidt3382]

Ted, straighten the dang frames out behind you already. Give me 100 bucks and I’ll do it for ya while dribbling a basketball.

[@CanthusOfCandE]

Aj styles just turned 47.

[@harinderrana9735]

Alot of guys are still wrestling in their 40s and 50s now training and nutrition is much better now than 25 years ago so guys can have longer careers now.

[@johneaston918]

The problem at WCW that older guys weren't working with younger guys for whatever reason booking creative control etc. Old guys vs old guys was horrid to watch Hogan vs Piper Hogan vs Savage etc. Young guys should have got to work with Hogan Flair etc in 96-98 not only to get the young guys over but to make the old guys look good by having the young guys bump for them. Hogan vs Booker T Flair vs Jericho etc. Having the young guys even trade wins and losses even if the old guys had to go over in the end would have helped build new stars for WCW.

[@thomascrown5953]

Ted really doesn't look 70. I had to look it up to verify it awhile back, as I noticed he didn't really look his age.

[@jpbart1390]

I thought Ric was at least 55 back then! Isn't he in his 80s now?

[@ValiantWrestling]

He's 75. But looks 85.

[@jpbart1390]

@@ValiantWrestling Maybe he really IS 85 & lies about his age. As it is, I think the Hulkster might've also dropped 5 years off his age.

[@petersmith5915]

I think his mentality was the moment he couldnt perform to his own very high standards he walked away, like u often find with the highest level athletes/performers, imo.

[@russellcampbell3500]

Anyone who went over pat patterson had to gounder pat Patterson first. Lol just a joke nerds so sheath those swords.

[@jamesgrassia844]

You definitely don’t look seventy fifty I would say.

[@jpbart1390]

Ted barely looks 50! Dude's aged well.

[@philiptamer8995]

There is a time to walk away or you MAY become a jobber like TO Y GAREA OR BUTCHER VACHON

[@redfoley9608]

Piper was really just a jobber/jabroni