DiBiase Jr. emerges as legitimate star

They come along every few years. Those guys with the total package who have that rare and elusive "it" factor.

Not all of them, however, stand the test of time.

Brock Lesnar was tabbed as "the next big thing," and he was well on his way to being that until he finally realized that professional wrestling was more of a job than a passion.

Randy Orton, a third-generation wrestler, has emerged as a legitimate superstar, and only a lack of maturity and untimely injuries have prevented him from being all that he can be.

Ken "Mr." Kennedy, a one-time favorite of Vince McMahon, has been on the cusp of superstardom more than once, only to have injuries and out-of-ring issues surface at the worst possible times.

There's one name on the current WWE roster worth taking a close look at over the next year.

Like Orton, Ted DiBiase Jr. is a third-generation star whose career is taking a similar path to that of his older colleague, who became the youngest world champion in WWE history four years ago at the age of 24.

In his less than four months with WWE, DiBiase has exceeded the high expectations of company officials and already has folks in high places talking about a possible world title run in the not-so-distant future.

One way, say some officials, to put the 25-year-old DiBiase over as a bona fide big-name player would be to end The Undertaker's winning streak at Wrestlemania — something no other WWE star has been able to do in 16 attempts. Other officials argue that DiBiase is probably more than a year away from achieving that lofty status, and that next year's Wrestlemania would be too soon for such a coronation.

A lot, of course, depends on DiBiase's progress over the next few months. He's already won a share of the WWE tag-team title along with second-generation performer Cody Rhodes, son of "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Runnels.). He's shown considerable poise on the mic, handles himself well in the ring and put in valuable time at Harley Race's training facility in Missouri.

The Mississippi College product, who played quarterback in high school and wide receiver at the next level, also has that all-important pedigree and comes from great wrestling stock. His grand- father, Iron Mike DiBiase, was a highly respected amateur and professional wrestling champion. His grandmother, Helen Hild, competed in the women's ranks. His father, "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, was one of the top heavyweights in the business during the '70s and '80s, good enough to be seriously considered for an NWA world title run at one point.

DiBiase's wrestler-turned-evangelist dad has told friends that big things are planned for his son if he stays committed and continues to improve at his current pace. Using his own personal battles as an example, DiBiase has encouraged his son to stay grounded in a business that's anything but, and to avoid the pitfalls that threaten any young performer. With the exception of an unfortunate DUI arrest earlier this year while training at WWE's developmental facility in Tampa, DiBiase has proven to be a hard-working and conscientious student of the game, seeming to grasp what's at stake if his career takes off as predicted.

"I'm very proud. I've heard nothing but good things about my son," DiBiase said in a recent interview. "All my buddies still are saying the apple didn't fall too far from the tree. It's like watching yourself again. I think it's great."

There would be no greater stepping stone to superstardom than DiBiase getting the chance to end the Wrestlemania winning streak of the greatest character in the company's history. The program would already have a built-in storyline, with DiBiase's father having introduced The Undertaker to the WWE audience 18 years ago.

--Ken "Mr." Kennedy is expected to be sidelined for four to six months following shoulder surgery to repair his torn labrum.

Rumors have circulated that the tough-luck grappler might be on the endangered list once his current contract expires. Kennedy has been injury-prone his entire career, which has resulted in a number of starts-and-stops for the young wrestler, who once seemed destined for stardom.

--TNA's latest big arrival, Mick Foley, told the Orlando-based Between the Ropes show that Vince McMahon's yelling at him on Smackdown commentary didn't help his announcing skills.

"I went from thinking about the job almost all the time to not thinking about it at all," said Foley. "I really thought my performance was suffering. There were some weeks where I was a little embarrassed because I hadn't done my homework."

McMahon has since pulled Foley from the "Legends of Wrestlemania" videogame.

--WWE did its own bit of talent recruiting by apparently luring Gail Kim back into the fold. Kim, one of the major reasons for the success of TNA's Knockouts division, has attributed the move to a more lucrative offer from WWE.

--TNA's No Surrender pay-per view tonight will be headlined by a "Four Ways To Glory" match featuring Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, Booker T and Christian Cage. The show, held Oshawa, Ontario, will mark TNA's first PPV broadcast in Canada.

--Bret Hart's autobiography, "Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling," will be released in the U.S on Oct. 9.