In a recent episode of his weekly ‘Everybody’s Got a Pod’ podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase discussed the controversial decision to have Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake face off against Randy Savage and Zeus (Tony Lister) at SummerSlam 1989. DiBiase shared candid insights into the locker room’s reaction and his own thoughts on the match.
Reflecting on the locker room’s sentiment about Zeus being included in the match, DiBiase said:
“Yeah. I’m sure there’s several guys who were not too crazy about it. I don’t even think Hogan was so crazy about it. Because I mean, I think Vince McMahon thought he could make anybody. And you know, we got out of Lister what he could, but that wasn’t much. I mean, there wasn’t much to work with.”
DiBiase also expressed his own frustration with such a match being booked, stating:
“Brother, that’s just wrestling. I mean, there’s just going to be times when, you know, hey, I’ve been all the way to the top, and I was there a long time. And I went back down and I didn’t go down to the bottom, but, let’s put it this way.
I was always in the group that was doing interviews. So if I was on a major show, I had done an interview for that match. I was never like the curb jerker, and you understand that’s wrestling. It’s like you keep feeding the guy at the top, your hero.”
When discussing Zeus being given such a prominent spot, DiBiase pointed out the temporary nature of Zeus’ involvement:
“It’s like being the right guy, the right thing they’re looking for at the right time. They were going to do this movie, and this guy fit the bill, so okay. But it’s a one-off. What else did he do? After that was over, you never heard about him again.”
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