10 Storylines WWE Blatantly STOLE From Other Promotions
2. DiBiase Buys The Title
On February 5th 1988, an estimated 28.5 million people tuned into 'The Main Event' to watch André the Giant become WWE Champion... for about five minutes.
Following the screwiest finish of all time, André took the belt that he had just won from Hulk Hogan and sold it to 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase. We're not sure what his price was, but André wasn't very smart. It was probably some magic beans or something.
This set up WrestleMania IV, which played host to a very boring tournament to redistribute the vacant championship. Shocking as it was, however, this moment was not original.
Another prominent title belt sale had happened just a few years earlier. Larry Zbyszko had purchased the NWA National Heavyweight Championship for $25,000 from 'Killer' Tim Brooks. See, André. That's how you sell a title!
Much like DiBiase, Zbyzsko was also stripped of the belt for not winning it fairly. Unlike Ted, though, Larry would actually win the tournament designed to crown a legitimate champion.
While WWE scaled things up to include the top prize, Zbyszko beat DiBiase to the punch.