10 Greatest wrestlers who never became the World Champion

#4 Ted DiBiase Sr.

Not even buying the WWE Championship made him Champion

After briefly wrestling for WWE in the late 70's, Ted DiBiase returned to WWE in 1987 as "The Million Dollar Man". He was now Ted DiBiase, a millionaire who wore a gold-studded, dollar-sign-covered suit and, in time, a custom-made, diamond-encrusted and self-awarded "Million Dollar Championship" belt. The Million Dollar Man character was based on the type of wrestler that Vince McMahon would be if he would have been a wrestler.

After Andre the Giant defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship at The Main Event in 1987, Ted would 'buy' the WWE Championship from Andre and declare himself to be WWE Champion. In the following days, DiBiase was in fact billed as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion in three house shows, even defending the title on one against Bam Bam Bigelow.

However, WWE later refused to acknowledge DiBiase as a Champion and declared the title vacant. A tournament was set up at WrestleMania IV, and Ted made it to the finals, only to lose in the main event to Randy Savage.

Ted spent the remainder of his in-ring career in the Tag Team ranks, as well as lower card feuds with Dusty Rhodes, Virgil, and others.