David Sahadi Responds To Bruce Prichard’s Comments About ‘Billionaire Ted’ Sketches During WWF/WCW Monday Night War

Sahadi issued a statement.

While recording an episode of Something to Wrestle, Bruce Prichard commented on the ‘Billionaire Ted’ sketches that WWF/E pushed out during the Monday Night War with WCW.

His comments included a mention of former WWE employee David Sahadi and his involvement with the sketches. Sahadi issued a statement to PWInsider in response to Prichard’s comments:

Bruce Prichard and I shared an extraordinary creative era together. We were both trying to win a war. And when you’re in a war, memories can differ. But I can tell you exactly what happened, because I was there—behind the camera.

The Billionaire Ted concept was not my idea. I’ve said publicly many times it was one of the most uncomfortable creative periods of my career. My role was to execute and direct what was decided at the executive level.

Bruce initially supported the concept creatively. I personally struggled with it from a creative standpoint. But when Vince gives direction, your job is to execute at the highest level possible, and that’s what I did.

I was physically present directing that final segment that Bruce referenced. Bruce said it was, ‘quite possibly one of the worst ideas I’d ever heard,’ and I agree. 

Bruce also claimed, ’And this is also where all the geniuses of the Billionaire Ted skits bailed out. [David] Sahadi couldn’t be found for miles anywhere near this, didn’t want to touch it. Nobody did. Vince didn’t even want to touch it.’

I was directing it, Bruce producing it. That’s not opinion, that’s production reality.

That photo Bruce referenced was taken after the Billionaire Ted vignettes had already concluded. Those characters were in my possession because I was the one responsible for executing and ultimately helped in concluding that creative.

I didn’t create Billionaire Ted. But I was the one trusted to bring him to life, and ultimately, to put him to rest.

That entire period—the truth of it, the pressure, the decisions, the consequences—I tell that story fully for the first time in Backstage Pass.

Below is the podcast during which Prichard spoke about the sketches:

Sahadi first started working for WWF/E in the early 1990s. He’s also worked for Major League Wrestling, TNA and is currently part of Real American Freestyle.