Ted DiBiase on What he Thought of Hulk Hogan's Work

'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!

[@tanmartselby6937]

Ted is 100% right. Hogan knew his character, he knew psychology and he knew the crowds. Hogan gave the match that the fans WANTED to see every time he wrestled back in those days. That formula worked!

[@DamitFeelsGoodtobeaRaider]

working a crowd IS business (selling tickets) and hulk was the best.@EBC-ENT

[@michaelkrolewski7406]

Then he'd top it all off with his posing in the ring after he won.

[@morrisvalentneflatlander4784]

I have never been a Hogan fan but Terry played that gimick to perfection and only he could do it. Flair may have styled and profiled flown private jets and worn alligator shoes but Hogan was larger than life and over the top a cartoon character come to life. The perfect hero for the 1980s

[@JasonL77]

First, look at Hogan in Japan. The man can wrestle. Second, why should he bust his ass taking crazy bumps in the USA when he can simply cup his hand to his ear and pose? If you can get a stadium to pop just by doing those two things, then why do anything else? The crowd is already hyped. It’s like the old saying, “Work smarter, not harder.”

[@donjohn2695]

Hulk in WWF WCW had a basic set move because that's what was required it was more about personality and attitude and charisma in Japan where they expect more Hogan definitely could wrestle

[@adamspark9259]

Hulk Hogan wrestled the way Vince McMahon paid him to. It had nothing to do with his capability. He executed his gimmick very well. VERY well.

[@wizard1687]

This x1000

[@jpbart1390]

Truer words were never spoken, brotherrr!! 💪🏽

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Exactly. It worked. Plus you don't want your golden goose to get hurt performing some unnecessary high risk move.

[@jpbart1390]

@@GameTime-yj6qv Point taken. I didn't think of that before.

[@Paul-wu7xd]

The gimmick he took from Billy Graham and completely copied his demeanor and mannerisms.

[@MafiaKingfishNOLA]

Hogan worked his gimmick and drew PLENTY money. Vince wanted Hogan to do exactly what he did. Hogan was a master at picking up on the crowd's reactions and taking them where he wanted them to go. I was never a Hogan fan but his character in the WWF was about as over as humanly possible.

[@jeffh278]

Watch Hulk in Japan pulling Inzuguris at 6’5 and close to 300lbs. Its unreal

[@kenterminateddq5311]

I watched Hulk's matches with Fujinami, Inoki and others. I'm Japanese and I'm a fan of Japanese wrestling but I wasn't impressed. It's not because Hogan is a big guy. Hansen and Brody are big guys but they were able to make the moves look believable.

[@bdot187um]

​@@kenterminateddq5311the wars he had with Hansen,andre & muta in japan were outta this world people don't give hulk his due!

[@lukec1651]

And he looked as green as grass while trying to do that.

[@bdot187um]

@@lukec1651 keeping in mind the fact that he was a super heavyweight who weighted anywhere between 280 to 330 it was good enough that he was able to pull it off!

[@lukec1651]

@@bdot187um laughable, especially when much bigger men were able to do that and more with ease.

[@RenatusChristoph]

The sheer antagony of this magnificent heel, Ted DiBiase, made me not realize what a great wrestler he was, when I was a kid. But now decades later, I sure do!

[@williampartridge4595]

Hogan's cage match with the Big Boss Man was EPIC!!!

[@Slaytanica666]

Superplex…boom

[@danielsavago5061]

Got to see that match at a house show in CT, they had good matches

[@hemantpatel2215]

One of his best.Way better than the rubbish of today

[@wesleysteeleiv]

He didn't need to use 100 moves to get over, so he didn't. The Rock said the same thing about himself and yet nobody cries that he stopped climbing the turnbuckle to do a crossbody

[@g7721]

The Rock was doing reverse leap frogs and top rope cross bodies really well for his size and inexperience when he first started. Similar to Hogan people do not look at the full picture.

[@jumbothompson]

And Ted's point is that if you're 6'7, 280 or whatever than you have to work like a big guy. If you're The Road Warriors for instance. Two big rough and tough dudes than it would be totally ridiculous to try to wrestle like The Midnight Express. You have to understand the gimmick.

[@gamevidsnstuff5805]

Ted Dibiase was one of my favourite wrestlers. Him and Virgil. Classic times.

[@mikeplumer7687]

Hogan should be a great reminder to all the young goofs in AEW who care about 5 star matches but can't draw money. Connecting with the audience is the #1 skill needed in wrestling

[@shaolin1derpalm]

Hogan would do actual wrestling moves in Japan.

[@Dusterbugless]

I seen several of them. He was doing moves there that I never seen.

[@toddwebb7521]

Honestly one of the main reasons for Hogan's slow pace and limited moveset is because a lot of the opponents they paired him with were too big and to have a fast paced acrobatic act. I don't think anyone is going to have a fast paced match with Andre, King Kong Bundy, Earthquake, Yokozuna, Big Show etc

[@smyersfishingadventures]

Regardless of what you say Hogan was great in that gimmick. Also, realize it is exactly what Vince wanted as well. It is not like the joke current wrestling has become with glorified gymnasts standing waiting for their opponent to do some ridiculous looking maneuver.

[@agentallstar7]

So glad Ted made this podcast and just subscribed. This channel will definitely and deservedly grow !

[@TheMrBmurray]

I used to be one of those who was convinced Hogan couldn't wrestle. Then I saw his work in Japan... Holy shit... I didn't think the "brother" had it in him. I understand that he did dust off some unused moves with Ric Flair in his WCW debut. But immediately abandoned them when the crowd wasn't reacting the way he hoped.

[@ScotsGal]

Dibiase for me is on that list of wrestlers that should have been wwf champ but weren't along with Mr Perfect Curt Hennig , Owen hart , davey boy smith , vader and rick rude ...he was a machine in the ring ...his timing was perfect his mic work was awesome aswell

[@anthonydrosos8679]

I would’ve paid money to see the Hulkster pull off a middle drop kick

[@jaythor70]

you had one job....

[@shadowbear66]

Missile dropkick

[@PatricksCrazyPlace]

I've always said that it doesn't matter what you can do, but how you use what you can do and Hulk was a master of getting people to react to every little thing he did.

[@jasonamrhein9593]

It didn't take long for me to figure out that being a "good wrestler" involved more than acrobatics and being a walking encyclopedia of wrestling holds.

[@peterp2153]

Even the folks here complimenting Hulk’s Japan move set are missing DiBiase’s point. Being a good wrestler is about getting reactions from the fans, selling the drama, and being your ‘character’ to the hilt. Big Bossman was making $12K a week in 1989 - and that’s $30,000 in today’s money - against Hogan on the house show tours. Hulk would’ve made even more than that. That’s being a great wrestler. That Hogan would pull off the top of the cage superplex in some of those matches was just a bonus. And it should be noted that spot is still remembered today when most of the flippy shit nowadays is forgotten by the next commercial break.

[@hw5091]

@@peterp2153 yeah, these nerds don't understand it. they probably have fun watching the circus acrobats too.

[@MafiaKingfishNOLA]

This is something that guys like Bret Hart have NEVER understood. Guys like Hogan and Flair could do the same thing night after night because they were so over it didn't matter. Their promos alone guaranteed a packed house. Bret Hart was awesome IN THE RING. He could wrestle but that's where it ended. His personality was about a ZERO. If you had the closed captioning on your television when Bret Hart was giving a promo, all you saw was "zzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz".

[@Louis-xx2os]

Love Ted, one of the best of all time!

[@justingriffith735]

Same way with Warrior! He knew his character!! I'm not saying Warrior was a good worker, but he didn't have to at the same time.

[@ziggypop79]

Exactly but it’s not politically correct to say that. Makes me laugh when people critique an old school wrestler like warrior because he didn’t do wrist locks.

[@grawakendream8980]

UW's stuff was really flimsy compared to hogan though, which is why i think he failed

[@justingriffith735]

@richardschiffman6418 I personally loved the Warrior! I grew in the late 80's and early 90's! Even today WM6 is still my favorite match of all time!

[@zt1053]

The match with Rick Rude at Summerslam was pretty good.

[@grawakendream8980]

@@zt1053 it was all rude

[@FerretJohn]

When I measure a man's skill as a pro wrestler I don't ask how many suplex variations he knows or whether he can do complicated aerials off the top rope, I ask Do they know the Fundamentals, do they know their left foot from their right, can they do what they do without hurting themselves or their opponents significantly, can they work a match for 20 or more minutes and keep the fans engaged. In pure technicality, no, Hulk Hogan would never be confused with Ricky Steamboat or Ted DiBiase, but he knew how to be Hulk Hogan, and to my knowledge everyone who wrestled him said it was like a Paid Vacation, you got the good money and Hogan never hurt you.

[@dominicalberto2179]

If it wasn't for Hogan none of these guys would be on podcasts!

[@jd9119]

Except for Cornette.

[@ChadPlainview_]

Nash said it best, Hulk is Hulk man.

[@bcwbriancampbell3679]

Hulk Hogan is Good My Favorite

[@titansrule72]

Hulk could work. Just didn't need to do anything flashy because his style worked in WWE.

[@jcaff6963]

"It's like I've been telling ya, he had his price and you have yours, everyone has a price for the Million Dollar Man." Love Ted DiBiase.

[@jrupp8853]

Both Andre and Hulk showed great wrestling skills when working in Japan.

[@xziggy_stardustx6786]

Still laugh at Ted's skit where he kicks the kid's basketball away. A true pro and a masterful heel.

[@SonnyK248]

Hogans matches always got the biggest pops. So how can people say he wasn't a great worker if that's the entire point of a wrestling match? You can do a thousand high impact moves a night and if the crowd doesn't react it's meaningless. The fact that Hogan got he biggest pops by doing less makes him the best. Also he wasn't allowed to do anything dangerous. The entire company was on his shoulders so he needed to be protected.

[@atticusbeasley1458]

Hogan is legit...trained by Hiro Matsuda and Eddie Graham in Florida. Go look at his matches in Japan vs the greats. ...youtube them on here, there's a whole bunch. He does wrestle. As much as I hated his Hulkamania gimmick, dude can work and is legit.

[@Scorch1028]

Why was Ted DiBiase billed at 6'3" if he was actually 6'4"? That's very strange in pro wrestling where many guys' billed heights are exaggerated up, not down. For that matter, I think that Fred Ottman (Tugboat) was at least 6'5", but for some odd reason he was billed at 6'3".

[@freebachelor5060]

Fans: Hulk Hogan isn't a good worker. Hogan proceeds to blow the roof off with a bodyslam the most basic move ever while most guys have to break their necks doing flips to get less than half the reaction of Hulk's bodyslams. Explain to me how he doesn't know how to work again?

[@jd9119]

Hogan wasn't a bad technical wrestler. Watch his Japan stuff. He could do that. The reason why he didn't do that in WWF or AWA is because nobody was paying money to see him do that. The fans paid a lot of money to see Hulk wrestle Hulk's style. I wish Hogan would've had a better finisher than a leg drop though. It always struck me as weak. I mean he couldn't use a sleeper (like he suggested), because he was a face and faces don't usually have submission finishers unless they started off as heels and turned face.

[@nick56677]

Hogan put butts in the seats amd eyes on the tv. That's all that matters. U can do 1000 sharpshooters, but if the ppl aren't interested, it don't mean squat. Hogan knew how to work the crowds. That's what matters

[@BuJammy]

It's funny how many people bury Hogan but, when pushed, admit that he helped them or that they wouldn't be where they are without him.

[@jd9119]

Just being on the same card as Hogan meant you were going to get paid more than you otherwise would've. The dude sold out big arenas.

[@morse3850]

The people who complain about Hulk are either clueless smarks or jealous colleagues Hulk was the G.O.A.T

[@StarFlagMedia]

hogan in apan was a technical wrestler and pretty damn good

[@gregorykrug8034]

Most of us have seen Hogan's earlier work in Japan, the AWA, etc., where he actually had some good, athletic moves. That was not what cartoon-loving Vince wanted. I swear that the only champion's style that Vince loved more than Hogan's was Ultimate Warrior's.

[@knightlion6676]

In Japan Hogan was able to wrestle I have seen dropkicks he has done the thing was WWE would not let him do that

[@Myrridan19]

Psychology > Workrate

[@mikejejenich-pb5zx]

Hulks match. First few minutes the heel beats on him. Few minutes later he hulks up. Leg drop. Match over 💯

[@KevinT7274]

A simple formula that worked. Sometimes less is more.

[@hw5091]

no. first few minutes he'd be winning. next ten he'd be losing. next 2 minutes or so he comes back and wins. when he was hollywood, just flip that.

[@KevinT7274]

@@hw5091 Isn't that what most matches are like with a huge face?

[@ironman2326]

Hogan vs Andre at WM 3 would've been a better match if Hogan did a moonsault and Andre did a plancha over the top rope during it.

[@GManxxoo54]

What fans need to understand at the end of the day you got to sell tickets. Butts have to be put in the seats. Wrestling alone is not gonna make that happen. If wrestling was all you needed the Kurt angle is the goat period. Hogan put butts in the seats. Some people don't like it. But I GURANTEE IF YOU STARTED A PROMOTION TOMMORROW AND INVESTED EVERYTHING YOU HAD I GURANTEE YOU ARE GONNA WANT TO PUT BUTTS IN THE SEATS AND NOT CARE WHO IS THE BEST WRESTLER. WWE WWF IS A BUISENESS FIRST NEVER FORGET THAT. CHAD GABLE CAN WRESTLE HIS BUTT OFF BUT YOU CANT BUILD A WRESTLING COMPANY AROUND HIM.

[@barfo281]

Come on. A lot of people say Ric Flair was the greatest and he was totally a routine guy.

[@lifeasafanpodcast9529]

Hulk in japan if you watch those matches was way better than in the United States same with andre

[@undertakerfanz628]

Andre 👉 Boss

[@jamescathcart4762]

He drew big money. He put asses in the seats. Will be top 5 of all time. Ever! Give the guy a break.

[@Wheels8504]

WWE knows how to have their guys and girls too really, know how to work safe. That's why Hogan worked how he did. The same goes for Cena. Look at Hogan's work in Japan.

[@SonOfKong33]

Hogan could work, but he knew he didn't have to because that's not what the fans wanted. Check out his matches in Japan. He could go.

[@iii5091]

Gimme the old school wrestling psychology over the current constant over the top spots which is boring and circus'ish.

[@michaelkrolewski7406]

One big thing Hogan had going for him was charisma, not to mention his 24 "pythons.

[@ballabovealllll6056]

Conrad Thompson

[@SonOfKong33]

Ted DiBiase was a great worker....Better than Bret Hart by far. He's also honest.

[@chadjustice8560]

Better than Bret? The guy who made tom McGee look like a future star? The guy who is arguably the greatest worker of all time and most actually wrestlers have said this and you think someone is better than that? Love the million dollar man but let go of the Bret hate.

[@SonOfKong33]

@@chadjustice8560 I wouldn't put Bret at number 2 either. Or 3...Or 4....It's not hate. I couldn't careless about him one way or the other.

[@sleazyfellow]

Everything teddy said here can be applied to the guy he hates. The ultimate warrior....and sorry I cant name 1 classic ted dibiase match off the top of my head. The top wrestler of the 1980s was randy, no question about it. Teds a little late to the podcast game, after being busted stealing money. Go heel and laugh about it in the classic laugh, hell is waiting for the man who made money off gods name.

[@jd9119]

You guys know who the really bad workers are/were? Go turn on today's WWE or AEW and watch all those people doing their flippity moves and having their trampoline gymnastics matches. It looks so fake and so obvious of the cooperation (you can clearly see the opponent trying to catch the guy as he's flying off the top rope to save his life). That is worse work than anything Warrior ever did.

[@Jralford8]

Hulk played to his gimmick, but the Ultimate Warrior didn't?

[@reallymakesyouthink]

The other thing to consider is that guys would show consideration to other guys on the card. Now a days everyone wants to "get their stuff in" but then it meant the bigger guys doing less so the smaller guys could get over with wrestling or high flying moves.

[@ralphpayne4884]

Make your bed Ted

[@devmag52]

If people had better access to Hulk's Japanese matches, they would change their opinions about his ring abilities.

[@stylechyld7780]

this is not why people say hogan can't wrestle, the simple answer is he does the same thing every match. his moves are very limited and lack of innovation.

[@hollywoodmkx]

And people loved it because he was the good guy vanquishing evil opponents. It didn’t matter in 1989 because no one cared about that.

[@bobnewfart7630]

Yeah but Ted, he looked like he did not know any moves in the ring a closeline and a leg drop. lol

[@adamenriquez7291]

Ask about the scheme.

[@pablocuneo4611]

If Ted says, Hulk is a great wrestler, then you have to say Warroir was a great wrestler, because both of them punched and kicked while doing power moves.

[@jd9119]

Hell Austin pretty much only punched and kicked when he did the Stone Cold character. It's all about working your gimmick.

[@ProBloggerWorld]

I disliked everything about Hulk Hogan and this Hulkamania crap. So hypocritical. Hollywood HH was awesome. On the other hand I side with Ted. HH did a great job selling, telling the hero story. There are some old videos of showing that HH got quite a good arsenal of moves. HH kept his wrestling style very simple. Face scratching, clotheslines, leg drop and the crowd waited for it.

[@MissterX]

Ted has sleep apnea?

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

Well done not answering the question. Psychology isn't addressing his physical wrestling work, the point of the question.

[@jeremy3770]

Watch footage of Hulk wrestle in Japan. You would be suprised. Hulk can wrestle. He didn't have to in America because that's not what the fans were looking for.

[@williamwells8341]

So in other words "Hulk" wasn't a great wrestler. "Terry" however could wrestle.

[@Desertson67]

Hogan couldn't work.

[@thgm2]

All these smarks here and not one of them has the first clue wtf they talking about.

[@KentaObscuro]

Chri$tian grifter

[@elarrayhesohit4479]

Look at Ted in that big house paid by our tax dollars.

[@vernongrant3596]

Hulk Hogan was nowhere near 6 foot 7. Just look at pictures of him with Sylvester Stallone in later life. Stallone is 5 foot 9 at best.

[@wwfnbafan]

As Hogan got older he shrunk from the damage to his spine from the Leg Drops every night.

[@vernongrant3596]

@@wwfnbafan wonder if he could sue Mcmahon for shrinkage?

[@curthennig9448]

@@vernongrant3596 He'd have to sue Pat Patterson first regarding that issue.

[@CP-kb1du]

Andre was a Bully hardly Sold

[@savagedick1462]

Dibiase has good interior decoration skills like Greg valentine

[@rockyruane9379]

Hogan was atrocious in the ring lmao

[@ziggypop79]

And a terrible liar and human being

[@hw5091]

@@ziggypop79 how long are you finger nails? or do you have the really short ones?

[@curthennig9448]

@@ziggypop79 He gets his fair share of young blondes though!

[@daviddoyle8956]

He was a large guy but he could not take a hit or anything a guy that big would have just looked at you and laughed than put you on your ass like Kane or Braun Stroman he'd take a hit to the head from a person as large or smaller than him than hold his head and walk the ropes. I know they sale stuff and there is theatre involved but come on this is why wrestlers are tried out in public. Some wrestlers make it look so phony they hardly get touched and act like they have been hit with a base ball bat. For a guy called Hulk he could not take punishment he was for kids. Wrestlers do take punishment there not exactly movie fighting in there.

[@slthjawa5062]

The " big guys can't be athletic " mentality is pure stupidity. It's such a limiting, closed minded thought process.

[@craigdavies1747]

I've seen guys a lot bigger than Hogan pull off more moves so that's bullshit.

[@SamSamSamJ]

Hulk was Eddie before Eddie in real life. Hogan would lie, cheat, and steal to keep his position at the top.

[@davel7791]

And draw more money than anyone else, which is the real reason he stayed on top for so long, despite what the haters say.

[@SamSamSamJ]

The Undertaker would disagree.

[@davel7791]

@@SamSamSamJ About what?

[@SamSamSamJ]

@@davel7791 The Undertaker told a story about Hogan. Something that happened in "91" and from that day forward he knew Hogan didn't do business the right way.

[@c.l.freeman7654]

Bullshit. He didnt need to. That is a Meltzer narative because he wouldnt stooge

[@johngulbunny8652]

Hulk hogan is one of the top 10 worst workers in the history of the squared circle. He drew no money whatsoever based on wrestling skill or ability.his opponent was the real draw,and as usual Vince Fred every one of them on pay

[@arrowheadtelecom6561]

Lol leave it to Ted to do a podcast and use his bedroom. Whaddya bet that is a real nice write off?

[@curthennig9448]

Ted files taxes? I thought he used the Church Exemption!

[@Mahinskerrr]

That room looks pretty nice. Wonder how he paid for it…..

[@nathanbuck8352]

Lol that’s awesome

[@HighFalutinTootin]

Money money money money moneeeeyyyy ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaa

[@kevinbrooks1104]

Government subsidies, via the state of Mississippi and the good people in the church via donations

[@FreeRoyalPowerHour]

Did you weirdos come to this page just to say stupid shit?

[@RatedRcny]

He's the million dollar man duh lmao