The toughest rival American pro-wrestling legend Ted DiBiase ever faced was probably his own ego.
The now evangelist is in Wanganui at the invitation of the Faith City Church, as guest speaker at the annual Uproar national youth conference.
DiBiase has wrestled all over the world from Madison Square Gardens to The Superdome to Wembley Stadium with the World Wrestling Entertainment (then WWF) organisation. He was known as the villainous Million Dollar Man and was the super villain to Hulk Hogan's super hero.
In 2010, he was inducted into the WWE hall of fame.
He has not wrestled professionally for 21 years.
He is in Wanganui this week sharing his wrestling story - a story of fame, fortune, success and hitting rock bottom in the midst of all that glamour.
DiBiase almost lost his wife and family in what he says became his biggest opponent outside or inside the ring - his ego.
Now an ordained Christian minister, he has turned his life around, travelling the world sharing his story while still making occasional appearances at WWE events.
He grew up a Christian, losing his father at early age and living with his alcoholic mother.
"At 18, I gained an athletic scholarship to play football at college in Texas and the ego trip began.
"It grew all through my pro-wrestling career and was something I lived with for 20 years," Dibiase said yesterday.
"In 1992, I was confronted by my wife and accused of adultery. It was a huge wake-up call.
"The thought of losing my wife, three boys and family lifestyle made me take a long, hard look at myself. I now travel the world challenging people to be who they say they are. A man is not defined by the size of his biceps, the money he has, the cars he drives or the women he beds. He is defined by the size of his integrity and his word. Just because people go to church doesn't necessarily make them a Christian, just like being in a garage doesn't make you a car."
DiBiase subscribes to the adage "healthy body, healthy mind", even though it was not always that way.
"I had a healthy body in my wrestling days but my mind wasn't that healthy.
"It doesn't matter whether people come to see me speak as an evangelist because they love wrestling or believe in Christ. What matters is they hear the word," DiBiase said.
The Faith City Church Uproar national youth conference is a three-day event, beginning today. DiBiase speaks at the Wanganui War Memorial Hall tonight and again on Saturday night and will be involved in two workshops.