Dusty Rhodes

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the professional wrestler. For other people, see Dusty Rhodes (disambiguation).

Dusty Rhodes
West Texas State University
Spouse(s)
  • Sandra Runnels
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1965; div. 1975)​
  • Michelle Runnels
    ​
    (m. 1978)​
Children4, including Dustin and Cody Rhodes
FamilyBrandi Rhodes (daughter-in-law)
Fred Ottman (brother-in-law)
Jerry Sags (brother-in-law)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)The Bounty Hunter
Dusty Rhodes[2]
Dusty Runnels[3]
The Midnight Rider
Mr. Ichiban
Uvalde Slim
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[4]
Billed weight275 lb (125 kg)[4]
Billed fromAustin, Texas[4]
Diablo Canyon, Colorado
Trained byJoe Blanchard[3][5]
Debut1967[6]
Retired2010[7]

Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. (October 12, 1945 – June 11, 2015), better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American

World Wrestling Federation, later known as WWE. Rhodes was considered a star wrestler and presented the persona of an American everyman, the American Dream personified.[8]
Rhodes is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.

Rhodes was a three-time

Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, currently performing for All Elite Wrestling and WWE
, respectively.

Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".[9]

Early life

Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. was born on October 12, 1945, in Austin, Texas.

After graduating from

Boston Patriots, but was cut. He then played for the Hartford Charter Oaks in the Continental Football League until the team folded.[10]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1967–1974)

In 1967, Rhodes saw an advertisement in the newspaper for Tony Santos' professional wrestling promotion Big Time Wrestling, based in

Boston Arena. Having little money, Rhodes slept in his car and spent Thanksgiving with Rufus R. Jones in a Boston soup kitchen.[10]

Rhodes moved on to

Don Jardine
, better known as The Spoiler.

Rhodes performing his finishing maneuver, the Bionic Elbow, in 1979

In 1968, Rhodes left Texas and entered the Kansas City territory, tagging with fellow Texan Dick Murdoch to form the tag team The Texas Outlaws.[11][12] The team traveled both nationally and internationally, appearing in Big Time Wrestling (Texas), NWA Western States Sports (Texas), NWA Detroit, National Wrestling Federation (NWF), Championship Wrestling from Florida, World Championship Wrestling (Australia), Tri-State Wrestling, the American Wrestling Association (AWA), and International Wrestling Enterprise (Japan).[4][11][13]

National Wrestling Alliance territories (1974–1984)

NWA World Heavyweight Championship
, c. 1979

Rhodes did not have a typical wrestlers' physique, but he was well known for his personality, charisma and interviews.[13][14] In 1974, Rhodes's character became a hero after tag team partner Pak Song and manager Gary Hart turned on him during a match in Florida against Eddie and Mike Graham. This led him to break out as a solo wrestler, primarily in Florida, referring to himself as the "American Dream", a working class hero, and aligning himself with Eddie Graham.[15]

In 1977, Rhodes wrestled for

Texas Death match, on October 24.[18] Graham won after a mid-ring collision, falling on Rhodes for the three count.[19]

Jim Crockett Promotions (1985–1989)

Rhodes battling Harley Race at an NWA event

He eventually began working as a

The Road Warriors
.

Rhodes had

promo
:

First of all, I would to thank the many, many fans throughout this country that wrote cards and letters to Dusty Rhodes, The American Dream, while I was down. Secondly, I want to thank

Starrcade '85 it is to the wrestling fans, it is to Jim Crockett promotions, and Dusty Rhodes The American Dream. With that wait, I got what I wanted, Ric Flair
the World's Heavyweight Champion. I don't have to say a whole lot more about the way I feel about Ric Flair; no respect, no honor. There is no honor amongst thieves in the first place.

He put hard times on Dusty Rhodes and his family. You don't know what hard times are, daddy. Hard times are when the textile workers around this country are out of work, they got four or five kids and can't pay their wages, can't buy their food. Hard times are when the auto workers are out of work and they tell 'em to go home. And hard times are when a man has worked at a job for thirty years, thirty years, and they give him a watch, kick him in the butt and say "hey a computer took your place, daddy", that's hard times! That's hard times! And Ric Flair you put hard times on this country by takin' Dusty Rhodes out, that's hard times. And we all had hard times together, and I admit, I don't look like the athlete of the day supposed to look. My belly's just a lil' big, my heiny's a lil' big, but brother, I am bad. And they know I'm bad.

There were two bad people... One was

World's Heavyweight title
belongs to these people. I'mma reach out right now, I want you at home to know my hand is touchin' your hand for the gathering of the biggest body of people in this country, in this universe, all over the world now, reachin' out because the love that was given me and this time I will repay you now. Because I will be the next World's Heavyweight Champion of this hard time blues. Dusty Rhodes tour, '85.

And Ric Flair, Nature Boy... Let me leave you with this. One way to hurt Ric Flair, is to take what he cherishes more than anything in the world and that's the World's Heavyweight title. I'm gon' take it, I been there twice. This time when I take it daddy, I'm gon' take it for you. Let's gather for it. Don't let me down now, 'cause I came back for you, for that man up there that died 10–12 years ago and never got the opportunity to see a real World's Champion. And I'm proud of you, thank God I have you, and I love you. Love ya![25][26]

The promo apparently resonated with wrestling fans so much that people came to him in arenas in tears to thank him for "honoring their plight". In 2015, an ESPN article referred to "Hard Times" as Rhodes' best interview, writing, "In just over three minutes, Rhodes fully encapsulated every ounce of his charm by endearing himself to blue-collar mid-America".[24]

During his stint as booker, JCP were engulfed in aggressive competition with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[13] When the WWF introduced Mike Jones as Ted DiBiase's bodyguard, Bobby Heenan suggested naming the character Virgil as an inside joke on Dusty's real name.[27] Also in the late 1980s, Rhodes became synonymous with what would become known as the "Dusty finish", a trick ending in which a wrestler would win a match while the referee was knocked out, and the decision would be overturned.[13][24]

Rhodes is often considered to be one of the most innovative and creative bookers in the history of professional wrestling. As previously mentioned, his work in the development of "supercards" and

storylines and the frequent use of the aforementioned "Dusty finish", techniques that had worked well during the NWA's territorial days, had now started to leave many fans dissatisfied with the promotion's booking.[28][29]

Rhodes was fired after

The Road Warriors.[30] Furious with the interference, Rhodes booked a storyline in which Road Warrior Animal pulled a spike out of his shoulder pad and jammed it in Rhodes' eye, causing a severe laceration.[30] Rhodes was then fired from WCW.[30]

Professional Wrestling Federation (1989)

Meanwhile, in late 1988 during the acquisition of Jim Crockett Promotions the duo of

Dallas Page and The Big Steel Man (who would become Tugboat
in the WWF).

Dusty Rhodes made his debut for the company on March 4, 1989, at an event in Titusville, Florida, when he teamed with Steve Keirn to defeat the duo of The Big Steel Man and Dick Slater.[32] A week later at the PWF Homecoming event in Tampa, Florida, he pinned Big Steel Man to become the first PWF Heavyweight Champion.[33] Later that spring as the PWF began to grow Rhodes received a surprise backstage visit from Bobby Heenan, who inquired on the state of the company's business. Shortly thereafter Vince McMahon reached out to Rhodes and made an offer to acquire the PWF as a developmental territory and to bring Rhodes into the WWF. He refused, as his desire was to grow the territory into a national brand that could compete with WCW and the WWF. However the Professional Wrestling Federation's backers did not have a desire to fund the company at a level necessary to enhance the territory further. In May he decided to part ways with the PWF and join the World Wrestling Federation as a wrestler.[34]

Before departing, Rhodes was defeated by The Big Steel Man on May 13, 1989, for the PWF title at an event in Sarasota, Florida.[35] His final match with the company was on May 20, where he wrestled Steel Man at an event in Fort Lauderdale.[36]

During the spring Rhodes also returned to the AWA for a few appearances.

World Wrestling Federation (1989–1991)

Nine days after his final PWF match, Dusty Rhodes made his untelevised debut at a house show on May 29 in Montreal, Quebec. Substituting for Jake Roberts, he defeated Ted DiBiase.[37] Promotional vignettes began airing, the first coming on the June 3rd edition of WWF Superstars of Wrestling with Rhodes appearing as the yellow polka-dotted "Common Man" Dusty Rhodes, a gimmick some felt was intended to humiliate him due to his synonymy with the rival JCP/WCW.[21][38] Rhodes was introduced to WWF audiences through a series of vignettes in which he would gregariously and enthusiastically perform working class roles (including that of a plumber, butcher's apprentice, gas station attendant, taco cook, trash collector and pizza delivery man), eventually being recognized by others at the end of the skit ("Hey! Aren't you...?").[39]

Rhodes continued to wrestle DiBiase on house shows that month and was undefeated. He was pinned however on June 6 in a dark match against DiBiase at a WWF Superstars taping in Madison, Wisconsin. Many years later, this match was included as part of the WWE Unreleased: 1986–1995 DVD set.[40] It was said that Rhodes was asked to lose in this match to test his willingness to put over other talent. Aside from this defeat, "The American Dream" remained undefeated against the upper-level heel. Rhodes made his televised appearance on the July 22 edition of WWF Superstars; following a match between Big Boss Man and Jim McPherson he intervened to prevent Boss Man from using his nightstick against the defeated opponent. This transitioned Dusty into his first World Wrestling Federation feud.

Rhodes made his in-ring debut on the August 13th edition of

SummerSlam 89 he appeared on his first-ever WWF PPV, defeating The Honky Tonk Man.[41]
Meanwhile, on the road his dominance continued as he remained undefeated against the Boss Man.

In October a Rhodes fan,

The Red Rooster to victory against The Enforcers (Big Boss Man, The Honky Tonk Man, Rick Martel, and Akeem).[43] Rhodes would finish the year dispatching Boss Man in house show matches around the country, sometimes in "ball and chain" encounters.[44]

Having finished the year with just one untelevised loss, Dusty entered 1990 as a dominant force within the World Wrestling Federation. He competed in the 1990

WWF World Champion on the house show circuit. As with Boss Man he was victorious in every encounter, although each would come by countout. On the March 25, 1990 episode of WWF Superstars he finally faced Savage in a televised encounter; Rhodes won via disqualification after Queen Sherri interfered. After a confrontation between the two couples, Savage's ex-manager Miss Elizabeth allied herself with Rhodes and Sapphire and was instrumental in helping them win the WWF's first mixed tag-team match during WrestleMania VI.[45]

Rhodes suffered a foot injury a few weeks later, leading to his temporary removal from the house show circuit and replaced by Roddy Piper. He returned on May 12 and resumed his house show series against Savage. This time his dominance was more profound as he started to defeat The Macho Man by pinfall around the country. This continued until June 3, 1990, when Dusty's lengthy undefeated streak was finally ended by Savage in West Palm Beach, Florida.[46] Rhodes began teaming with Sapphire to face Savage and Sherri on house shows, resuming his winning streak and remaining undefeated. Later that summer Sapphire began to receive gifts from an unnamed benefactor during Dusty's televised matches. At SummerSlam Sapphire no-showed her scheduled match with Queen Sherri. Later that night Dusty was scheduled to face Randy Savage in a one-on-one encounter; prior to the match Ted DiBiase announced that Sapphire had left Rhodes for The Million Dollar Man's money. Distracted and distraught, Rhodes was pinned by Savage.[47]

Dusty immediately transitioned to a feud with The Million Dollar Man. Unlike his previous series with Boss Man and Savage, this time Rhodes would come out on the losing end. He lost numerous house show matches after

Undertaker. The future Hall of Famer would dispatch Ware and later pin Rhodes, with Ted DiBiase ultimately remaining as the sole survivor.[48]

Around this time in the fall Dusty Rhodes received an offer to return to World Championship Wrestling as its head booker.

Dustin against Virgil and DiBiase. The Rhodes Family was defeated in a match that saw Virgil turn face afterwards. This would mark the end of Dusty Rhodes' career as a full-time in-ring competitor.[52][53]

Return to WCW and Extreme Championship Wrestling (1991–2001)

Rhodes returned to WCW in 1991 as a member of WCW's booking committee, making his first appearance only 11 days after his last WWF appearance at the Royal Rumble.[38] On the May 25 edition of World Championship Wrestling he launched an interview segment called "The Bull Drop Inn".[54] Booking disagreements between Rhodes and Ric Flair led to the latter's departure to the WWF and the Big Gold Belt controversy.[38] Rhodes also served as the on-screen manager of Ron Simmons from 1991 to 1992, first forming a relationship with the former All-American during the summer of 1991. In a match that was advertised on World Championship Wrestling, on October 12, 1991, Dusty served as the special guest referee in a match at the Omni in Atlanta, Georgia, that saw Simmons and Barry Windham team up to defeat Mr. Hughes and Lex Luger.[55] On the October 19 edition of World Championship Wrestling, Rhodes was announced as being in the corner of Ron Simmons when the latter was scheduled to face Lex Luger for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Halloween Havoc 91. Rhodes would go on to be Simmons' cornerman that night, although Luger retained his championship.

Dusty Rhodes made his return to the ring after nearly a one-year absence on January 4, 1992, at the

WCW Worldwide he seconded Nikita Koloff in his match with Big Van Vader; he battled Vader's manager Harley Race to the backstage as the match began. Later that summer Dusty was again in the corner of Ron Simmons, this time on August 2, 1992, when he defeated Big Van Vader to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. He later joined the broadcast team, usually working with Tony Schiavone on Saturday Night. He was paired with Schiavone and Bobby Heenan
on pay-per-views.

On February 25 his son Dustin defeated Paul Orndorff to win the United States Championship, and after the match Dusty came out to the ring to celebrate. That led to a slowly simmering feud with The Assassin (Jody Hamilton), who continually challenged Rhodes. On the June 12, 1993 edition of WCW Saturday Night the Assassin vowed to track down Dusty's mother if that is what it took to gain a response. On the October 30 edition of WCW Saturday Night the Assassin (now representing Paul Orndorff) again challenged Rhodes. A week later United States Champion Dustin Rhodes announced that his father would be in his corner in his upcoming defense against the Assassin's charge Paul Orndorff. Dustin successfully retained against Orndorff at Clash of the Champions XXV; Dusty became involved after the match and attempted to unmask the Assassin.[59]

As 1994 progressed Dusty became involved in another angle with his son and

Col. Robert Parker's efforts against Dustin. At a television taping on July 25, 1994, in Macon, Georgia, he came to ringside and attacked Parker, before being overwhelmed by the manager and Bunkhouse Buck. After being rescued by Ricky Steamboat and Dustin, he made an appearance in Dustin's corner on the August 6th edition of WCW Saturday Night when his son faced Bunkhouse Buck. After delivering a bionic elbow to Buck when the referee was distracted, Dustin was able to gain the pinfall. This ultimately led to Dusty's second match since departing the WWF, where he would team with Dustin to defeated Terry Funk and Buckhouse Buck at Clash of the Champions XXVIII. After a vignette that saw Dusty travel to "The Scrap Bar" to recruit The Nasty Boys, he teamed with them and Dustin to defeat Buck, Arn Anderson, Terry Funk, and Rob Parker in a War Games match at Fall Brawl 94. He returned to the ring for three more house show matches that fall, teaming with Dustin to defeat the Stud Stable. His last in-ring match for World Championship Wrestling in this run came on November 24, 1994, in Albany, Georgia, where Dusty and Dustin Rhodes defeated Arn Anderson and Bunkhouse Buck in a steel cage.[60][61]

Through 1995 he was exclusively on commentary for WCW and did not participate in any in-ring angles. Dusty was originally on the side of WCW when its battle with the

The Outsiders, Hall and Kevin Nash. This lasted until the November 30, 1998, episode of Monday Nitro, when Rhodes, who was guest refereeing a match between Barry Windham and Dean Malenko after being appointed by Eric Bischoff, defected back to WCW by disqualifying Windham and awarding the match to Malenko. Bischoff then fired Rhodes. On the December 28, 1998, edition of Monday Nitro, Ric Flair faced Eric Bischoff for control of the company for 30 days. After Flair submitted Bischoff, Dusty was amongst those who came out to the ring to celebrate with The Nature Boy.[63]

He left WCW in 2000 and went to

Rhino, who was seconded by Steve Corino.[64]

Dusty then returned to WCW for a where he reignited the feud once more with long-time nemesis Ric Flair. On the WCW Greed PPV on March 18, 2001, he entered a WCW ring for the final time, teaming with Dustin Rhodes to defeat Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett.[65] Following the purchase of WCW, the World Wrestling Federation allowed Turner South to continue to air classic matches on their "WCW Classics Program". Much like Heenan and Monsoon, Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair hosted the program. The duo would bicker throughout the show, which lasted throughout the summer of 2001 and represented the last "original" programming of the old WCW.[66]

Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling and other promotions (2000–2003)

After both WCW and ECW were bought by WWE (WWF), Rhodes went to compete in his own promotion, Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling with ex-WCW and ECW superstars in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.

During this time he feuded with Terry Funk and Steve Corino in other territories.

In 2002, Rhodes competed in Pro Pain Pro Wrestling based in Philadelphia feuding with Kevin Sullivan. This would lead to a Texas Bullrope match on November 23 in which Rhodes defeated Sullivan.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003–2005)

Rhodes began appearing with

booker and writer. On the April 8, 2005, episode of Impact, Rhodes made the on-air decision to make all matches at Lockdown PPV in Six Sides of Steel. Then on the April 29 episode of Impact, Rhodes announced that MMA fighter Tito Ortiz will referee the World title match at Hard Justice (2005). In May 2005, TNA President Dixie Carter asked Rhodes to move onto a creative team, which included Jeremy Borash, Bill Banks, and Scott D'Amore
. Rhodes resigned as booker, waiting out the rest of his contract with TNA, which expired soon after.

Independent circuit (2003–2006)

Rhodes facing Kid Kash in Ballpark Brawl

Rhodes made his first indy circuit appearance on April 12, 2003, for

The Carnage Crew in a Scramble Cage match against Special K, which the Carnage Crew won.[2]

On July 24, Rhodes returned to Full Impact Pro (FIP) and defeated

Mil Mascaras, Dos Caras, and Sicodelico Jr., which Rhodes' team lost. The second was on March 7, where he teamed with his son Dustin against Shinjiro Otani and Satoshi Kojima, which he also lost. The third was on May 8, where he defeated Corino.[2]

Starting in December 2004, Rhodes made regular appearances for Carolina Championship Wrestling (CCW), where his first match for the promotion saw him team up with

Bunkhouse Brawl. On April 9, 2005, Rhodes challenged Jeff Jarrett (who was still contracted to TNA, but due to TNA's then-affiliation with the NWA, he was allowed to appear for other affiliated promotions) for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In a match that featured Jimmy Valiant as the special guest referee, Jarrett retained the title after Terry Funk made a surprise appearance and interfered. This led to Rhodes challenging Funk to a Falls-Count-Anywhere Bunkhouse match, which Rhodes won. This would be Rhodes' final appearance with CCW until August, where he would team with his son Dustin against Phi Delta Slam.[2]

On July 15, 2005, Rhodes participated in Ballpark Brawl IV in a victory over Kid Kash.[73] Rhodes participated in the first WrestleReunion, competing in an eight-man tag team match with D'Lo Brown, The Blue Meanie, and Tom Prichard against Steve Corino, Andrew Martin, Evil Clown, and the Masked Superstar. Rhodes faced Tully Blanchard at a Starrcade Tribute Show on November 19, where he was managed by Magnum T. A. and where Blanchard was managed by J. J. Dillon. Rhodes ended up losing the match.[74]

On December 3, 2005, Rhodes returned to Carolina Championship Wrestling for one night only to face Terry Funk in an

"I Quit" match, which Rhodes won.[2] Rhodes made his final major appearances on the independent circuit before returning full-time to WWE in mid-2006, defeating Jerry Lawler by disqualification at a Southern Championship Wrestling (SCW) show and also earning a victory over Steve Corino in a Texas Bullrope match for Big Time Wrestling.[2]

Return to WWE (2005–2015)

Final matches and retirement (2005–2010)

In September 2005, Rhodes signed a WWE Legends deal and was brought onto the

Bionic Elbow.[75]

Rhodes made an appearance on the June 19, 2006, episode of

The Spirit Squad at Survivor Series.[76]

Rhodes was inducted into the

The Road Warriors in 2011, and longtime rivals The Four Horsemen
in 2012.

Rhodes at the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, inducting the Funk Brothers

A few weeks before WWE's 2007 broadcast of The Great American Bash, Rhodes returned to WWE television to feud with Randy Orton.[78][79][80] At The Great American Bash, Orton defeated Rhodes in a Texas Bullrope match after hitting Rhodes with a cowbell.[81] This would be Runnels' final WWE match, officially retiring for the first time soon after at age 61.[82] The following night on Raw, after Orton defeated Rhodes' son Cody, Orton delivered a kick to Rhodes' head while he was trying to tend to his son.[83] On the December 10 episode of Raw, Rhodes was at ringside to see Cody and Hardcore Holly defeat Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch for the World Tag Team Championship.[84]

On August 31, 2009, during the time Cody was part of The Legacy with Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase, Rhodes was the special guest host of Raw and booked a match between Cody and Orton for Orton's WWE Championship with John Cena as the special guest referee. It quickly turned out to be a ruse with Dusty's intention to allow Legacy to attack Cena, as well as D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) once they came to make the save. Despite the four standing tall together, Orton quickly gave an RKO to Rhodes, and though initially angered, Cody fell in line behind Orton.[85]

On July 9, 2010, Rhodes briefly came out of retirement and wrestled the final match of his career at an

Trent Barreta in a 6-man tag team match.[86]
He would again retire shortly after.

Sporadic appearances (2010–2015)

Rhodes at the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, inducting the Four Horsemen

Rhodes was the head writer and creative director for the weekly

Rhodes Family won, Cody and Goldust got their jobs with the company back, but if they lose Dusty would be fired as an NXT trainer and none of them could appear on WWE programming ever again. The Rhodes brothers won the match, thus reinstating them to the roster and allowing Dusty to retain his position in NXT. During the match, Dusty got into an altercation with Ambrose and performed the Bionic Elbow on him.[88]

Rhodes appeared on the February 16, 2015, episode of Raw, in an effort to reunite Goldust and Stardust, who were engaged in a conflict. Rhodes appeared at Fastlane on February 22, in a backstage segment with Goldust. Rhodes' final appearance on WWE programming would be on March 28, when he appeared on the Hall of Fame: Live From the Red Carpet show.

Personal life

Rhodes c. 2008

Runnels was married to Sandra McHargue from 1965 to 1975, with whom he shared two children: Dustin, and Kristin Runnels, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. In 1978, he married Michelle Rubio, with whom he had two children: Teil Runnels and Cody Runnels. The couple were married for 37 years until his death in 2015.[4][89][90][91] He had six grandchildren:[91] Dakota, the daughter of Dustin and his ex-wife, Terri Boatright;[92][93] Dalton and Dylan, children of Kristin and her husband Don Ditto;[89] Kellan and Maris, children of Teil and her husband Kevin Gergel; and Liberty, daughter of Cody and his wife Brandi.[91] He also had a brother, Larry, and a sister, Connie.[91] He played baseball and football for Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas before transferring to West Texas State University.[citation needed]

Illness and death

In his later years, Rhodes suffered from kidney disease.[94]

On June 10, 2015, paramedics responded to Rhodes' home in Orlando, Florida, after getting a call reporting that he had fallen. They drove him to a nearby hospital, where he died the next day at the age of 69 from the effects of kidney failure. Rhodes was cremated, and his ashes were spread in November 2015 by his son Dustin on a ranch that Rhodes loved to visit.[95]

At the

NXT
 tapings following his death, he was honored with another ten-bell salute.

Legacy

Rhodes has been called one of the best wrestlers in history, praising his charisma and interview skills.[96][97] His "Hard Times" promo has been labeled as one of the best interviews in pro wrestling.[98][99] According to Jim Cornette, his NWA World title reigns were of short length since he was not what NWA was looking for in a champion, but not winning the title would hurt his credibility.[100]

Since Rhodes worked as a backstage producer in WCW, he helped several wrestlers with their careers.

FTR,[105]
praised his lessons.

In August 2015, WWE's NXT introduced the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, a tag team tournament in honor of Rhodes.[106] The tournament has been held annually since, with a women's version added in 2021.[107]

Gorilla Position), "The Dusty Position", after him on October 16, 2019.[108]

In the promo room of the WWE Performance Center, where Rhodes would teach promo classes, there is a puppet of Rhodes hanging on the equipment, symbolizing that he is still there, watching the students.[109]

New Jack, the controversial ECW wrestler, cited Dusty as his favorite wrestler growing up.

The characters of Steve and Marcy Rhodes on the sitcom

Married With Children
were named in honor of Rhodes.

Championships and accomplishments

NWA World Heavyweight Champion
.

1This Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, while currently operating out of the same region of the United States and having revised some of the championships used by the original Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, is not the same promotion that was once owned by Jim Crockett Jr. and subsequently sold to Ted Turner in 1988. It is just another NWA-affiliated promotion.

Media

  • Books
    • Autobiography: Dusty: Reflections of an American Dream (2005)
      ISBN 978-1-58261-907-1
  • DVDs
  • Movies
  • Video Games
    • Runnels has appeared in the video games
      Downloadable Content
      )

References

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  2. ^ a b c d e f "Dusty Rhodes' profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
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  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Dusty Rhodes' bio". WWE. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
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  6. ^ a b "When did Dusty Rhodes make his debut in pro wrestling?". wrestlingclassics.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  7. Sportskeeda. Archived
    from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  8. ^ Mathews, Bobby (June 12, 2017). "Death of Dusty Rhodes Still Felt Years On". Pro Wrestling Story. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Celebrating the Dream. June 15, 2015. 0 minutes in. WWE Network. WWE.
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  11. ^ a b c "Career Results – Dusty Rhodes". midatlanticgateway.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  12. ^
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    ISBN 0609606905
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  14. ^ Oliver, Greg (June 11, 2015). "Dusty Rhodes=Charisma". Slam! Sports. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "JJ Dillon's speech for Dusty Rhodes' induction into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame". SLAM! Wrestling. April 11, 2015. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  16. ^ "DUSTY RHODES VS. "SUPERSTAR" BILLY GRAHAM: WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – SEPTEMBER 26, 1977 (4:53)". WWE. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
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  20. ^ "Dusty Rhodes vs Ric Flair – The Great American Bash 1986 – Steel Cage Match". Atletifo Sports. May 12, 2021. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Montgomery, James (June 11, 2015). "Dusty Rhodes, Wrestling Icon, Dead at 69". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  22. ^ "JCP – 1985 Results". The History of WWE. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  23. ^ "The Forgotten Prelude to Starrcade '85". Mid Atlantic Gateway Archive. November 23, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c Campbell, Brian (June 12, 2015). "Dusty Rhodes was unlike any other pro wrestling superstar". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  25. ^ WWE (April 9, 2013). "Dusty Rhodes talks about "hard times": Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, Oct. 29, 1985". Archived from the original on October 30, 2021 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "Dusty Rhodes – Hard Times Promo". Genius. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  27. ISBN 978-1-4165-5890-3
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External links

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