The wrestling world continue to mourn the death of WWE Hall of Famer “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes who passed away on Thursday at the age of 69.
Rhodes had a huge impact in the sport over the last 40 years from fans who he excited to those now in the ring who he influenced first hand. There is no doubt that Rhodes leaves an indelible impression on the wrestling business and one that will never be forgotten.
I reached out to some of his peers so they can share their own words on Dusty Rhodes, the man he was and the impact he had on the their lives and the wrestling industry.
WWE superstar, six-time world champion Chris JerichoI think the biggest thing with Dusty Rhodes is that he broke the mold of what a pro wrestling is supposed to be. Not so much in the '70s but in the '80s when it became very much a body business, very much about how much muscle you can pack onto your frame. Dusty probably never saw a muscle unless it came a shell. He was all charisma and he was all mind. He had a great wrestling mind. He had a great mind to work matches, build angles and great finishes and also had charisma to where he could work an audience no matter what the situation was he was in.
That’s the real secret to the wrestling business. I even said that to the Tough Enough finalists last night — you have to connect with the crowd. It doesn’t matter how big you are. It doesn’t matter what kind of sports you played. All that matters is connecting with the crowd because this is an entertainment based business.
Even though I was never a big Dusty Rhodes fan, I grew up in Winnipeg and never saw a lot of Dusty Rhodes, I always appreciated — especially as I started my career — that there was a guy out there who got over as big as anybody had even gotten over just with his charisma, with his character and his personality. That’s basically the same reason why I ever had any success in this business.
I always heard so many great stories about him. I told one story on Twitter about me talking with him about how over he was, how popular he was and how great a babyface he was. He even got over as a giant dancing polka dot in WWE. And his reply was ‘well, I had to feed my family Chris, plus I like polka dots’. He definitely understood what it was all about.
I think Dusty really found his niche (as a trainer in NXT). It’s not easy being a coach. Dusty was a great coach and being one of the biggest stars of all time, that’s a really rare thing. I think his spirit lives on because it’s the passing of the torch in the wrestling business. It’s so professional at the Performance Center and I know Dusty had a lot to do with that and building those stars like Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt. Most of the top of the (WWE) roster right now were somehow influenced by Dusty Rhodes.
Everybody liked him. Everybody was influenced by him. Even though he passed away, his influence is going to be felt for years and years to come.
WWE Hall of Famer and original member of the Four Horsemen Tully BlanchardDusty was truly one of the innovators and icons of the wrestling business during my era. There were a lot of talented guys but there were few guys that were superstars. Dusty was one of those.
He could talk. He had the charisma that very few people ever had. And he could carry that on not just on the microphone but in the ring. I’m just fortunate I got to spend the last four years of my career wrestling against him and being part of many, many, many great matches.
Dusty had a lot of feuds with a lot of guys but most of them never last four years and the feud we had did last four years. That may be the record feud for any one person with Dusty. It was really just great. As wrestling transformed from ‘85 to ‘89 and on to the '90s, the business was transforming because of cable television. And to be the guy that people wanted Dusty to see beat up, it was a good place to be.
Sometimes when you’re involved in something, you don’t necessarily know that you’re involved in something revolutionary. When he became the booker for (Jim) Crockett at the end of ‘84 and when Crockett got control of the Superstation (TBS) that became revolutionary and changed the wrestling business. And Dusty was a key part in that.
To me, he was the key booker, TV producer of a revolutionary movement that changed a profession. That’s pretty legendary.
WWE Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim RossHe was a charismatic performer who could talk fans into the seats. He sold tickets and was an innovator. Dusty was special because he had “it” which can’t be taught and he had immense charisma that allowed him to connect with the fanbase. Every performer wants their fans to make the all important emotional investment in them. Some succeed, most don’t but “The Dream” always did.
After JCP (Jim Crockett Promotions) bought out UWF, Dusty demonstrated great faith in my ability to get his booking over and to help build the stars he was emphasizing. That lead to getting me my break on TBS. Our redneck roots allowed us to communicate amazingly well as I could interpret his unique way of describing things.
WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiaseDusty Rhodes was considered by just about everybody as an icon in our business. Going back to the generation prior to WrestleMania and all that, Dusty was one of the biggest names in wrestling and when he came to the WWE and even though it was a chance in character more or less, he ran with that ball and did as well. Dusty Rhodes was not only a great wrestler but he was an enormous entertainer. He had his own style. He was great on the microphone. Everything he did was very good. In his post wrestling years, WWE had hired him to work with the young talent down in Orlando at their training center primarily with interviewing, with the way they present their characters and they couldn’t have picked anyone better to do it.
Dusty was so easy and a lot of fun to work with (in the ring). When you measure a wrestler by our terms, in other words, sometimes fans will look at Dusty and say he wasn’t a great technical wrestler. Well, he was when he wanted to be. Dusty knew his role. The character he did, he did perfectly. He was so colorful with what he did and so entertaining with what he did and I had an absolute blast and it was extremely enjoyable for me to work with him.
When you work with guys like that, it makes you better. You learn things from them, things that are intangible, that are hard to explain. He was very good that way so when his boys came up, when Dustin came up, of course I never had the opportunity to get in the ring with Cody but Cody and my son Ted Jr. are very good friends and they were tag team partners for a while in WWE. There’s definitely a family connection there and right now my heart goes out to his wife and his two boys. I know as a father that is very close to my sons and I know how close Dusty was to his boys. I just really hurt for those boys right now.
Former ECW and WWE superstar Tommy DreamerI was on vacation with my parents in Florida when I went to my second ever live wrestling show. I was so excited. I was spurned for an autograph by the first wrestler I ever saw Bob Backlund a few months before. I remember being at the merchandise table and an evil Russian Ivan Koloff and American turncoat Dick Murdoch were in the ring. My attention was on what to buy but then the spotlight hit and I saw God walking on Earth. I don't know what it was but the blond hair was magnified through the smokey arena. I saw ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes head to the ring with a broom handle. In front of him was Bugsy McGraw with a trash can but my eyes were stuck on Dusty. I stood there jumping and I couldn't move. I felt an instant connection after the match. I turned to the merchandise person and said give me that. It was a bloody 8x10 picture of my new hero Dusty Rhodes.
Dusty Rhodes was the wrestling business. He was what ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and the Rock were in the 90s.
He was the common man that fought for the people. As a fan I didn't know his behind the scenes input but if you look at the success in sellouts and then TV ratings of the NWA in Florida and Charlotte, you can see how great he was not only as a box office draw but as the man who helped build a companyon TV.
With reality shows they always talked about the ‘it' factor. Dusty was that factor. When he spoke you listened. When he hurt, you hurt. When he won, you celebrated. He was an ICON in society. Most people in wrestling do a Dusty Rhodes imitation because he is that infectious personality that drew you towards him
You can also see the agility and athleticism of him throwing dropkicks, high flying cross body blocks along with his hand speed and Bionic Elbow.
I named myself Dreamer because of him. It’s funny that in an age where smarter wrestling fans didn't exist, everybody knew the polka dot wearing WWF Dusty Rhodes wasn't the real Dusty Rhodes. But yet he still captivated audiences. Because he was DUSTY.
I was blessed to spend so much time with him in ECW and in WWE. He was my hero, my idol and my friend. I haven't cried this much since my own father passed away. Dusty was everyone’s father, brother, best friend, even if you never met him. It’s the way he carried himself in and out of the ring. The wrestling world was better because of him.
Former WWE and WCW superstar Sean WaltmanGrowing up in St. Pete, Fla. my home arena was the Bayfront Center which at one time was probably considered, as far as the NWA territory, is was the big arena here. There were a lot of world title changes in that building, you known, Harley (Race) and Dusty. Growing up and not getting exposed to the other TV shows except maybe the Georgia stuff from TBS, Dusty was the man. Come to find out later on, everywhere he went he was the man. And it was because he earned it. It was because people … I believed in Dusty Rhodes. The very first live wrestling show I ever attended was at the Bayfront Center. The undercard was great with Barry Windham, Mike Rotundo, Kevin Sullivan, guys like that. And in the main event it was Dusty Rhodes versus Ric Flair for the world heavyweight title.
Dusty Rhodes made me fall in love at first sight with professional wrestling. At that very moment, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. From that moment on, I learned everything I could about professional wrestling.
When I first got to work around Dusty, he was so cool to me. Just to fast-forward to the WCW days and he was in the nWo, I was out for ten months with a broken neck. Every week in the nWo in-ring segment on TV, he was usually the stick man. And every week he said, ‘we miss you Syxx Pac, you’re too sweet’ or something to that effect and he was wearing my nWo Syxx-ball t-shirt. I’ll never forget that.
Former NWA Champion, current NXT trainer Adam PearceEveryone who has ever been a fan of our industry knows that Dusty Rhodes is undeniably one of the greatest talents to ever step foot in a ring. “The American Dream” belongs — in my opinion— on everyone’s “Mount Rushmore” of pro wrestling and sports entertainment. What some may not be so keenly aware of are his incredible contributions to the industry from behind-the-camera. His efforts in a creative capacity— as a writer, a wrestling “booker”, a talent developer — are equally astounding and deserve praise. But to me, perhaps the greatest gifts he ever gave to our business — and once again away from the public eye – were as a coach; a teacher. His desire to help young men and women learn how to be successful in the business he conquered and his efforts to help them find the tools in their own toolboxes to have a fighting chance at doing it were truly inspiring. And all the while, he did it with an incredible candor, a wonderful sense of humor, and a truly authentic — and very contagious — passion. There will never be another Dusty Rhodes.
My time with Dream (as he was lovingly called) was limited in comparison to some, but no less impactful. I met him as a young 21-year-old talent looking for a break and worked alongside him as a 35-year-old new coach looking to teach. I never stopped learning from Dusty, and not just about our industry. I found that we eventually spent more time talking about family and life than anything else, and it was in those more “quiet” moments that I found my already immeasurable respect for this man growing beyond. He loved his family more than they could possibly know. I believe that he saw that same “love of family” in me and because of that I absolutely knew that he wanted me to find success. I will forever be grateful for the support he gave me. He allowed me to sit in and help contribute to his Presentation Skills classes anytime I wanted to, as if I was going to teach anyone anything that the “Son of a Plumber” couldn’t. He was a mentor, a teacher, and a Hall of Famer. Most important of all to me, though, is that he was a friend. And I will miss him dearly.
Former NWA and ECW Champion, current Ring of Honor broadcaster Steve CorinoDusty Rhodes wasn't only a star, he was a role model for generations of fans. Everyone wanted to be him. He was the "common man", but bigger than life. People lived and died with Dusty. When he was down, the fans felt his pain. When he came back, you were with him.
He crossed barriers. He was an overweight white man with dyed hair, but could speak to every race and lifestyle. He was so athletic. He could talk you into a building no matter if he was wrestling Ric Flair or a broom.
From 1985-1988, I watched him every month from the front row of the second level of the old Philadelphia Civic Center. I was 12-15. Like the heel Philly crowd, I'd boo him on his way to the ring and two minutes later, I'd be on my feet cheering him. He was electric.
Eleven years later, he's in ECW and he takes a 26 year old kid that boasts about being from the "old school" and makes him a star. I don't make it out of the midcard without Dusty Rhodes. I don't become ECW and NWA World heavyweight champion without Dusty Rhodes. I don't buy my house last month without Dusty Rhodes. He was special. He will always be special.
Current Ring of Honor, former WWE broadcaster Kevin KellyTo me, Dusty Rhodes was the perfect man for the job. When America was at a relatively low point in terms of pride, he was our hero. In the mid-70's, America dealt with oil embargos, "Stagflation" and an overall malaise, to quote then-President Jimmy Carter. Dusty Rhodes and his never-ending chase for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was a rallying cry for all of us.
When he finally captured the title in 1979, we all felt relief and jubilation. When Ole Anderson betrayed him in the cage in the Omni in 1980, we all felt disgust and hatred. Through the rise of Jim Crockett Promotions, we rode the wave of triumph, seeing a red-hot product through his vision. When he was dealt a tough hand with Magnum T.A.'s accident, he formed the Superpowers with Nikita Koloff.
Every good run eventually comes to an end but what Dusty was able to do as a wrestler and creative force can never be denied or minimized. A true ticket-selling attraction, Dusty Rhodes was my gateway to getting into the wrestling industry as he drew me in as a fan and made me want to be a part of the business. There will never be another Dusty Rhodes.
Current TNA, former WWE superstar Matt HardyWhen I watched him as a fan and then when I met him, Dusty was pure charisma. He’s one of the most charismatic guys I’ve ever met. You just knew by talking with him there was something special about him. There was some sort of presence that drew you to him.
There was something about him that made me say I like this guy. I want to know this guy and interact with him and he seems like a guy that can do whatever. He had that kind of personality.
One thing I really regret was that I never got to work hand in hand with Dusty. I kind of missed him and we were like two ships passing in the night. I know he worked with Jeff a lot and he was always so good about taking care of Jeff and he would always ask me about Jeff. He was like a guardian for Jeff. When Jeff had some of his tougher times, Dusty was always there and was supportive of him. I think Dusty was not only a great mind for wrestling and a great persona in wrestling but he was also a really great human being and he helped the guys as much as possible.
I think the ‘American Dream’ sums it up when you think about Dusty Rhodes because he’s a guy that is a different body shape and not typically what you would expect as the guy who was the centerpiece of your promotion. He was heavier, he didn’t have a muscular body but he proved to the world that you could get around all of that because this is the sports entertainment business. His personality was so strong and shined so far through, his charisma was so great and he was so smart that he could overcome any physical setbacks that he had.
Current TNA, former WWE superstar MVPI’ve been thinking about this over and over and over. Yesterday, I was sitting with my son on a park bench when I opened up my Twitter app and saw that Dusty had passed. My son is eight months old and he was climbing on my shoulder, having fun. It was just a weird moment because a true legend has passed, a literal icon. Now days, people just throw those words out: icon, legend. But in our industry, Dusty was definitely that. If you are a professional wrestling, you have felt the influence of Dusty Rhodes directly or indirectly. He was inarguably one of the greatest talkers in the history of our industry and was revolutionary. He used to literally talk the people into the building. Dusty in the definition of the phrase genuine, one of a kind. There’s never going to be anything remotely like him.
Dusty was a fat guy with a curly blonde perm that talked like a black woman but managed to transcend professional wrestling to the point at a time where you didn’t have access to the stars like you do today with social media and cable was relatively a new thing. He was able to become a household name. Just about everybody I spoke with yesterday in and out of the wrestling business all said he was one of my first favorites.
The professional wrestling industry will never be what it was because it will never again see the likes of a Dusty Rhodes.
Brian Fritz has previously covered pro wrestling and MMA for AOL FanHouse and The Orlando Sentinel. You can find more of his work including podcasts at
www.BetweenTheRopes.com. E-mail him at fritz@betweentheropes.com and follow him on Twitter @brianfritz.
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