Ted DiBiase On How Roman Reigns Can Get A Babyface Reaction, His First Impression Of Undertaker

Recently on The Ross Report, 'Good Ol' J.R.' Jim Ross welcomed fellow WWE Hall Of Famer Ted DiBiase to the podcast. Among many other things, DiBiase talked about The Undertaker's unparalleled pro wrestling career, and what WWE should do with Roman Reigns.

On the subject of The Undertaker, DiBiase said he did not see Mark Calaway, the man behind The Undertaker persona, as a special talent at first. DiBiase went on to put over 'The Deadman' for his athleticism and longevity in pro wrestling.  

"No, not right off the bat," Dibiase admitted. "What did impress me was that when I watched him work that gimmick, because he had to move like [he was in] slow motion. And then, in moving like he did, like this half-dead character, to be able to have a match. It was pretty remarkable. I don't think anybody envisioned how big he would get. Yeah, yeah, and long-term too."

When asked what Roman Reigns can do from a performer's standpoint to garner a true babyface response from the audience, DiBiase suggested that the performer must work with what the audience gives him. Moreover, 'The Million Dollar Man' indicated that 'tough guy' heels all turn babyface eventually.

"Well, I mean, it's like it's not what ultimately you want. It's going to end up being whatever the office wants and you're going to have to please them, ultimately. Whether it's kind of like, for me, when I went to Ernie [Ladd] and said, 'I've got this idea, 'you're looking for a heel, I think I could be that,' it was great timing. In terms of Roman Reigns being a babyface or a heel, if the people want to like him, they're going to like him. The reason, in our lingo, we call it, I was a 'chickens–t' heel, I was the bully heel. I'd talk real big and when somebody steps up to the plate, you become a coward. And you never get tired of seeing that guy get his butt kicked. But if you're a 'tough guy' heel, you're eventually going to be a babyface because everybody loves a tough guy."

Bah gawd, listen to the damn podcast! If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit The Ross Report with an H/T to WrestlingINC for the transcription.

Source: The Ross Report