Dusty Rhodes is a name wrestling fans know quite well.
Whether as a multiple time Champion in many promotions, a behind the scenes
figure that in later years shaped many wrestlers in the fine art of a promo, or
as the father of Goldust and Cody Rhodes. The latter known, for the moment
anyway, as Stardust (That name likely a call-back to an old nickname of his
dad). But however he is remembered, he certainly will be remembered as a man
that changed the course of wrestling many times over.
After training with the late Joe Blanchard, Rhodes teamed as
a heel with the late Dick Murdoch in the American Wrestling Association. But it
was his face runs in many NWA promotions, as well as the WWWF (Later WWF & WWE).
His nickname, The American Dream, matched the over-the-top charisma that he
exuded both in the ring and on the mic. Along the way, winning countless
regional championships, as well as the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
During his time in Jim Crockett Promotions (Later WCW), he was the perfect antithesis
to long reigning NWA Champion Ric Flair and his group The Four Horsemen. While
both men were charisma machines, Flair as a gallivanting heel that looked down
on normal people, whereas Dusty was a man that didn’t look chiseled out of granite,
or dress in Armani suits. Even his debated WWF run saw him fighting battles as
if they were for every fan in the audience or watching at home. This area of
his career would be enough for anyone to hang their hat on, but that only
scratches the surface of Dusty.
While there were a few misses associated with his work in
varying promotions behind the scenes, such as an over-reliance on fake out
finishes to championship matches that would come to bear his name, or bringing
Phi Delta Slam into TNA because they were buddies of his. But these are not
even a fraction of the other feats in this part of his career. In WCW, he was
the one that devised the legendary War Games match that many fans want to see
return. In TNA, he jokingly suggested that an entire PPV be centered around
steel cage matches. The idea became the annual LockDown event. And in NXT, he
helped to help multiple wrestlers to transition to the big time. Among more
notable names, Kevin Owens, and Bray Wyatt. The latter even breaking kayfabe on
Twitter to thank the man that developed the cult leader-like character that
captivates many fans today.
As a father, Dusty has a legacy living through his sons
Dustin and Cody. Dustin etched his name in wrestling history as the unusual
character Goldust, while Cody was able to make nearly everything WWE had him do
work. The two sons got to induct their father into the WWE Hall of Fame in
2007. He occasionally appeared to help out Cody. Most notably in his feud with
Rey Mysterio in 2011. Dusty may not have seen face off at WrestleMania, but he
at least got to be a part of them becoming WWE Tag Team Champions in 2013. One
of the last major moments of his on-air career seems rather fitting that he and
his family stand tall.
Dusty Rhodes may only have seen 69 years on this planet, but
he gave 47 of those years to the wrestling business. It would be faster to go
over the list of wrestlers that he didn’t touch. And ultimately, that’s the
Dusty that will be remembered by fans, and wrestlers alike. And that’s why the
legacy of The American Dream will never be forgotten.
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