Ted DiBiase Shares 1986 Japan Photo Highlighting His Forgotten Cowboy Phase

Long before the limo rides and the million-dollar laugh, Ted DiBiase had a decidedly different look — and he’s having fun with it on social media.

The WWE Hall of Famer recently posted a throwback photo on X that gives fans a glimpse at a lesser-known chapter of his career: a cowboy-themed phase he went through in 1986 while working in Japan. The image shows DiBiase decked out in full Western gear, complete with chaps, offering a stark contrast to the slick, tailored villain persona he would later make famous on the global stage.

The post carries a lighthearted tone, with DiBiase himself seemingly getting a kick out of revisiting the look. It’s a fun reminder that even wrestling legends have chapters they can look back on with a sense of humor.

DiBiase’s work in Japan during the 1980s was a formative part of his career, as many American workers of that era used tours there to sharpen their craft and broaden their repertoire. His in-ring ability was well-regarded long before the ‘Million Dollar Man’ character made him one of WWE’s most recognizable heels in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Whether DiBiase ever revisits the cowboy hat professionally is — safe to say — unlikely. But the post is a welcome bit of nostalgia from one of the business’s all-time great characters, proof that even legends weren’t immune to some questionable fashion choices along the way.