One of the top attractions, if not the Main Event, of WrestleMania 42 Saturday is Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship. While fans are clamoring for The Viper to secure his 15th World Title, many have been underwhelmed about the inclusions of Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll into the storyline. For weeks, Randy Orton was making phone calls, insinuating that wrestling had more than one royal family. This notion had many wondering if former Legacy member, Ted DiBiase Jr., would make his return. Ted DiBiase Jr.’s return seemed unlikely after facing 185 years in prison for welfare fraud. Now cleared of all charges, his Hall of Fame father, Ted DiBiase, pitches his son’s return at WrestleMania.
Ted DiBiase, Jr. Acquitted of All Charges in Mississippi Welfare Fraud Scandal
These last seven years have been trying for the DiBiase family. The wrestling family has been accused of stealing millions of dollars from poor Mississippi families in a welfare fraud scheme. Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase and his two sons, Brett and Teddy, have been implicated in various accusations of misappropriation of welfare funds.
First, the patriarch, Ted DiBiase Sr.’s ministry, Hart of David, was sued by the State of Mississippi for misusing over $700,000 in funds. It’s unknown if the WWE Hall of Famer settled as the case was ongoing, but it has seemingly been dropped.
Ted Jr. and Brett DiBiase landed in hotter water than their dad. You can read about Ted DiBiase Jr.’s trial here. However, Brett DiBiase pleaded guilty on both the state and federal levels for using grant money for personal wealth and assets.
Ted DiBiase Jr. pleaded “not guilty” to 13 federal crime charges. The former Legacy member was acquitted of all charges. He openly wept before the press, noting that his faith in God and family got him through this time. The former 2-time WWE World Tag Team Champion said he wanted to return to a normal life. Now, Ted DiBiase pitches the 42-year-old to make his WWE return.
A History of Legacy At WrestleMania
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 has been almost 20 years in the making. Randy Orton took a young Cody Rhodes under his wing as a member of Legacy in 2008, along with Ted DiBiase Jr. There was also the short-lived inclusion of Manu. But that’s neither here nor there!
Within Legacy, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. were Priceless. As 2-time Tag Team Champions, they headlined events against teams, including D-Generation X, CM Punk and Kofi Kingston, and John Cena and Batista.
Eventually, Legacy would implode, culminating in a No Disqualification Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 26. While Pricless would try to team up against their mentor, The Apex Predator was too savvy for his apprentices.
Orton would drop them with a Double DDT before taking Cody Rhodes with a punt. Ted DiBiase Jr. would try to avenge his partner but ate an RKO for his efforts. Randy Orton would pin Teddy Jr. to secure the win.
Ted DiBiase Pitches Ted Jr. to Join Randy Orton
When Pat McAfee was revealed as the person on the phone with Randy Orton, the Internet Wrestling Community let out a collective groan. After all, Pat McAfee doesn’t even come from a wrestling family.
In the wake of Ted Jr.’s acquittal, some fans got their hopes of a Legacy reunion. While that didn’t appear to be the case, one WWE Hall of Famer is still hopeful.
On the latest Everybody’s Got A Pod, Ted DiBiase pitches his son’s WrestleMania return:
“All the guys that he started with, they’re there, and they’re the stars now. Orton, Cody…
So, I just wonder, maybe it’s me wanting to see something happen…See my son kind of come out of the crowd and get in the ring.”
While Ted DiBiase would like to see his son have one more run, Ted Jr. officially called it a career in 2020. However, he hasn’t been very active since leaving WWE in 2013. So, perhaps the former Legacy member still has some gas left in the tank?
Ted DiBiase and WWE Parted Ways Amicably
Ted DiBiase was in the WWE system for almost seven years. He was immediately earmarked for a top spot. After all, his father was a former WrestleMania Main Eventer. With his athletic build and charisma, Ted DiBiase Jr. seemed destined to follow in his father’s footsteps to the Main Event WrestleMania. However, that never came to be.
His dad advocated for his return:
“All those fans that are listening, believe me, I don’t have a clue. I’m just maybe, maybe wishful thinking. Like, okay, maybe this is the start of him coming back and getting back in the business. I wish he really, I mean, he’s not too old to still do it.”
Ted DiBiase, Jr. struggled to gain traction after Legacy split. Cody Rhodes would move up the card to the Intercontinental Title scene. He’d also eventually leave WWE in frustration over his Stardust gimmick in 2016. Cody’s dismissal from WWE was mentioned in a recent promo. That’s because Cody’s WWE departure opened the door for AEW to exist.
Years before Cody left WWE, Ted DiBiase Jr. set the precedent. The former Tag Team Champion was last used on TV on an episode of SmackDown in October 2012. Ted DiBiase lost to Cesaro. He would remain on the roster until the end of his contract.
The ex-Million Dollar Champion defeated Michael McGillicutty (the future Curtis Axel) on a May 2013 episode of Superstars. He’d finish up his House Show loop against Heath Slater in June that year before leaving the road.
Ted DiBiase Jr. cited depression, and the pressures of being a Hall of Famer’s son got to him. The former Legacy star felt he wasn’t living up to his potential as fast as he could, and was discouraged by his place in the card.