10 Wrestlers Who Have Become More Inspiring Since They Retired

8. Ted DiBiase

Jake Roberts
MillionDollarMan.com

Reading Ted DiBiase's book, 'The Million Dollar Man' is quite the eye-opening experience. In truth, it's hardly shocking that professional wrestling was a world laden with heavy drug use and alcohol abuse in the 1980's, because grapplers were akin to rock stars of the era, but DiBiase's tale is one also gripped by regret over how he started to believe his own hype.

Pretty much becoming the character he played on WWF television, Ted was actually living the 'Million Dollar Man' lifestyle on the road, and thus found it hard to live in reality, leaving his wife to pick up the pieces of their relationship back home.

Turning his life around in startling fashion, DiBiase kicked drugs and alcohol, embracing religion and trying to spread a message of tolerance, respect and always being thankful for what you have. Realising that it may seem rich for someone who had their fun to then turn round and tell others not to, DiBiase avoids being preachy, instead using his own experiences to warn young people around him.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.