Ted DiBiase Recalls His Bloody 1985 Match with Ric Flair

On the latest episode of Everybody’s Got a Pod, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase talked about a November 1985 Mid-South Wrestling television match between himself and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. DiBiase looked back at the bloody encounter, the double-turn with his mentor Dick Murdoch that set it up. You can check out some highlights below:

On DiBiase being awarded a title shot after Butch Reed was injured: “Everybody knew the story about me and [Dick] Murdock. Basically, him bringing me in. I mean, He tells the story himself. ‘I helped bring you in, kid. This match should be my match.’ And I said, ‘Dick, I love you buddy. But hey, you had your shots. It’s my turn.'”

On the effectiveness of the blood for the angle: “[I was bleeding buckets] every time my heart beat. Obviously, I didn’t mean to do that, but it got over.”

On the match being the first time he’d hit that artery: “Yeah, obviously. Usually it’s just right here, right in the middle of your head. But you don’t want to get up near that artery.”

On where the match ranks for him: “I guess it would be up there somewhere. But I mean, it was TV. So I mean, when I think about great matches, I’ve had several hour-long Broadways where the bell rings, and it’s over but nobody wants to leave. So, I think I’ve had some other matches that might top that. But no, for what it was, it was great.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Everybody’s Got a Pod with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.