Ted DiBiase discussed his experiences with steroids during his time in Mid-South Wrestling and WWE on his podcast. DiBiase mentioned that he was cautious about using steroids and only tried them briefly, acknowledging that they helped enhance his physique. However, he emphasized that he wasn’t as reliant on steroids as some other wrestlers, citing the example of The Ultimate Warrior, whose physique was prominently associated with steroid use.
DiBiase also revealed that Vince McMahon, the chairman of WWE, indirectly encouraged him to look more visible in the gym, using cryptic language. While McMahon never explicitly mentioned steroids, DiBiase understood the message. DiBiase admitted to trying testosterone briefly but was cautious and didn’t continue using it due to personal concerns.
The discussion about steroids in professional wrestling is not new, and the industry has faced scrutiny over the years for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The WWE implemented a Wellness Policy, including drug testing, to address these concerns and promote a healthier environment for its talent. The WWE steroid trial in 1994, involving Vince McMahon, played a significant role in shaping the industry’s approach to substance abuse and testing. McMahon was acquitted of all charges, but the trial prompted changes in how WWE manages drug-related issues.
“When I was in Mid-South. I was very cautious because, especially when you start to stick things in your body and how it’s going to react to it and all that. I was fairly cautious, but yeah, a little bit. And I say a little bit because it just helped. It just helped enhance my look. But I wasn’t against a lot of guys. What or who am I thinking of? The Ultimate Warrior? Yep. Oh my gosh. And, of course, that’s all he had was a body. And I don’t know how much his steroid use had to do with his death.”
“At the beginning, I can remember the one thing Vince said to me as he said, ‘Teddy, I want to look a little more visible in the gym.’ And I got the message. I may have at the beginning taken some like testosterone, but I only took it as a kick of what I was doing, and I did not continue to take it. Just personally, I was afraid to do that. I don’t know, it’s kind of like You can do anything, and like you just said, that may have contributed to the Warriors’ death, I don’t know.”
