Ted DiBiase turned on Junkyard Dog on June 23, 1982 , in New Orleans, when he used a loaded glove to beat JYD for the North American Heavyweight Title.

Quick Scoop

  • JYD had just won the title two days earlier, on June 21, 1982 , from Bob Roop.
  • Their match on June 23 was promoted as a clean contest between friends, but DiBiase betrayed him in the finish.
  • That betrayal kicked off one of Mid-South Wrestling’s most famous rivalries.

Why it mattered

The turn worked because DiBiase and JYD had been presented as close friends and tag partners before the split. It also helped define DiBiase’s early heel run and set up the later Stagger Lee angle in late 1982.

The short version: June 23, 1982 is the date most wrestling histories point to for DiBiase turning on Junkyard Dog.