Ted DiBiase Jr: Why I Decided To Leave WWE In 2013

Ted DiBiase Jr has cited a desire to be a good father to his newly born son, and some 'mental health issues' as the reasons he decided to leave WWE in 2013.

DiBiase Jr was given a big spotlight on his arrival on the WWE roster in 2008, winning the World Tag Team Championships and forming Legacy with Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.

However, DiBiase elected to depart the company at the end of his contract in 2013 rather than signing the new, five-year deal he has been offered.

The DiBiase says he came to a personal decision about what he wanted to do with his life and decided that stepping away from WWE was the right thing.

Speaking to Chris Van Vliet, DiBiase revealed: "I was offered another 5-year deal. It was generous, but when it came down to it, I was battling some things internally. There were some mental health issues. I was going through depression and anxiety, and also being a new father. I just knew what I didn’t have growing up.

"Although I had this iconic father I love dearly, he wasn’t at my birthdays. He also wasn’t there for my football or soccer games. I believe the greatest asset we have in our world is time. You’re not guaranteed more and you can’t get it back. That was one of the greatest gifts I could give my son. With no plan, I left and we are doing good.

"I thought I was going to wrestle and have a long career, but I really believe it’s not what we do that defines us but who we become along the way. I spent a lot of time while I was there trying to climb the ladder. But I realized that’s not who I am. My core values are faith, family, love, wisdom, service, in that order. I was dying internally and losing sight of who I was.

"I love helping and serving people, and also entertaining people. To be able to walk into a hospital or a base and bring a smile onto the face of a family or a veteran, that was such a blessing.

"I think at that time in my career it was kind of part of me thinking I was just going to come back. I was going to figure this out, but that wasn’t the case. It wasn’t the usual best of luck in your future endeavours.

"I quit on YouTube or Twitter, I did a video and announced [I was leaving]. I just wanted to be me, I wanted to let people know how grateful I was and let WWE know how grateful I was. Also, I was walking out on my own accord for personal reasons. There wasn’t any back and forth. There’s tons of guys sitting in the wings waiting to take that spot. That’s what makes this industry hard to get into and even harder to hang onto."

H/T Fightful