By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE wrestler Ted DiBiase, Jr. says he almost entered the Christian ministry field rather than pro wrestling after college in Mississippi. He says was inspired by his father's work as a minister after his wrestling career ended.

"It was something I was going through at the college time of my life," DiBiase told pantagraph.com to promote this weekend's Supershow in Bloomington, Ill. "I was going around speaking to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I just enjoyed being in front of people and sharing my beliefs."

DiBiase, the tag partner to Cody Rhodes and WWE champion Randy Orton, says his father, Ted DiBiase, is having a tough time walking right now after taking a physical pounding in the ring during his career.

"Back then, they worked seven days a week, year 'round, and that's a lot of bumps," DiBiase said about his dad. "It's hard for him to get around now -- he's had two reconstructive knee surgeries. He went through a lot."

DiBiase says his father also went through a lot personally before turning his life around and becoming a Christian to begin his full-time ministry. He says he learned how to handle the pro wrestling lifestyle from his father's tough times in the 1980s.

"He was subjected to a lot of things normal people don't see -- the many temptations of fame, whether it's the women or, back then, the drugs," DiBiase, Jr said. "It almost cost him his family. It was a hard time for him and mom."

Ted DiBiase's publicist, William J. Bruce III, recently sent PWTorch a personal letter with Ted's testimony of redemption and life-change after surviving the "pro wrestling lifestyle" in the 1980s.

Mr. Bruce writes: "I have had the privilege of getting to know Ted over the last couple of years as his booking agent and publicist though Willowcreek Marketing. I will never forget a comment that I once heard him relate about the difference of knowing God or knowing about God: 'A lot of people remember my last match, they can remember what I wore, what moves I made and who won, they know everything about me, but they don’t know me. In many ways that is how we as Christians are, we know everything about God ... but we don’t know Him.'"

FYI: DiBiase is now a keynote speaker for Promise Keepers Canada. He has also released a DVD of his testimony available at milliondollarman.com. DiBiase travels across the world making appearances at autograph signings, wrestling events, and speaking at churches about his faith.

Links: Ted DiBiase, Jr. interview with Pantagraph and Ted DiBiase's website.

[DiBiase photo (c) WWE - wwe.com]

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