The Think Tank: The Real Million Dollar Man

By Pete Ellis

Ted Dibiasi once described what his life as a professional wrestler was like under the command of Vince McMahon. Dibiasi said Vince had him living like a real millionaire: Stretch limos, first class accommodations, and flawless grooming before every public appearance.

Perhaps McMahon felt this kind of living would help Ted develop a more convincing character, or perhaps he treated a lot of his top names to such a superstar lifestyle at one time or another. In any case, "The Million Dollar Man" will go down in history as one of the companies best villains.

The irony here is that McMahon himself is, of course, the true evil billionaire. He has been playing the role of a corporate shark since the late 1990s - and that position has served him well.

Any popular WWE hero can stand against Vince and be an instant success; Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and more recently John Cena and Bobby Lashley have thrived in the role of the hero pitted against a villainous billionaire and his endless resources.

Countless other wrestlers have played off of this angle, such as Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan and just about everyone in Vince's family who's been on camera. Despite his recent efforts to change his personality, I have a feeling (and a $50 bet) that says we'll see Vince and his "kiss my ass club" for years to come.

The real question, which may never be fully answered, is what McMahon is like in his personal life. No DVD special will ever be able to accurately paint the true picture. But perhaps he isn't all that different from what we see on TV?

What do you think?