WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase recently appeared on an episode of his “Everybody’s Got a Pod” podcast, where he discussed a number of topics including the role of a heel World Champion.
DiBiase said, “A heel champion is a transitional champion. He’s going to have it for a short time, but then he’s going to drop it to the next babyface.”
On wanting to be the World Champion in the territory days:
“If wrestling hadn’t changed the way it did. You know, as an NWA guy, I would certainly want to be the world champion. Because back in those days, the world champion was a heel in every territory except the one he came from.”
On the importance of a heel NWA World Champion to a babyface:
“You groom a new babyface, and that territory got their hero. And they want to see their hero become champion. And thus, that’s why the world champion was always a heel, except in his own territory.”
On how a promotion would get out of beating the NWA Champion:
“99% of the time, it was a time-limit draw. But as the match ended, it ended in such a way that the people left going, ‘Dang our guy, if he just had five more minutes, or whatever, you know, he would have had him.’”
You can check out the complete podcast in the video below.
(H/T to 411Mania.com for transcribing the above quotes)
