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The word "legend" gets thrown around too much, as do the terms "one of a kind" and "in a class by himself," but Dusty Rhodes deserves to be called every one of those things.
The American Dream leaves an imprint on the pro wrestling business like no other. As a performer, he wowed crowds with movie-star charisma and a hard-hitting style that left many a wrestling mat wet with blood. As a booker, he innovated. As a trainer and a teacher, he looked to pass down what he learned from his experiences to a new generation of talent.
Now his students will have to learn from what he left behind.
In unexpected news, the Hall of Famer is no longer with us. WWEannounced on its official website on Thursday that Rhodes "passed away today at the age of 69."
And just like that, one of wrestling's all-time greats is gone.
It's a hard concept to process as Rhodes was an ever-present part of the industry since the '70s. Whether he was world champion, pulling the strings behind the scenes or offering his frenetic brand of color commentary, he was always in and around the ring.
As he put it in his autobiography, Dusty: Reflections of Wrestling's American Dream, "The business is my life, the ring my salvation, the locker room and roads my nourishment."
Armed with an Elbow and a Surplus of Charisma
A multitude of characters have walked up and down the entrance ramp at wrestling events over the years. Rhodes' massive personality made sure that he stood out, that he remained front and center in many a fan's mind, even long after he was done wrestling.
Rhodes shimmied in between throwing punches. He strutted to the ring in lavish robes and cockeyed hats.
He turned up the spectacle of wrestling matches, exuding a level of panache that is rarely seen in any art form.
It's no wonder that a young Ric Flair looked up to him, wanting to be just like The American Dream. In To Be the Man, Flair said of Rhodes, "He was the guy I idolized."
Those two men became rivals in a series of clashes that headlined both the 1984 and 1985 editions of Starrcade. This was such a compelling meeting of top stars, of brash, stand-out personalities that some consider it the best feud wrestling has ever seen.
Rhodes' resume is filled with rivalries that belong in that discussion.
He and "Superstar" Billy Graham filled Madison Square Garden several times in the '70s as they battled in a Texas Death match and Bullropematch. Flayed flesh and bleeding foreheads made those collisions the kind that forever stick in a fan's memory.
Terry Funk and Harley Race were among his other key rivals. It's his feud with The Four Horsemen that truly stands out.
Flair and Rhodes' animosity extended past them, eventually including Flair's now-famous posse and Rhodes' allies, such as The Road Warriors. These clashes remain some of the most memorable ones sitting along wrestling's timeline.
Rhodes was an even better talker than in-ring performer.
His deep Texas accent, electric charm and playful use of the English language had him deliver interviews that rank among the best ever.
He talked of being a plumber's son and dining on pork and beans. He was the in-ring extension of the common man, a superhero for the working class.
Rhodes' famed "hard times" promo should be shown to every prospective wrestler.
Even the industry's best talkers were taking notes when Rhodes spoke. In In The Pit with Piper, Piper credits his interviews with Rhodes for helping to turn him into all-around performer.
After his prime faded and younger men took his spot between the ropes, Rhodes stuck around. He had more work to do, more crowds to entertain.
In the Writer's Chair, at the Announce Desk
Rhodes' work as a commentator isn't for everyone, but it was most certainly unforgettable. He carried over the same charisma he used to become a wrestling star to add energy to the bouts he called.
He was wild, electric and unpredictable.
Even in a sluggish Street Fight on the midcard, Rhodes always sounded in awe of what was happening onscreen. It was his passion, over the top at times, that made his announce work so fun.
Rhodes also pressed his fingerprints into wrestling history as a booker, working behind the scenes at WCW and at TNA during its early.
In an interview with IGN, Rhodes said of the position, "It's a head coach, it's an executive producer of television, it's all of those things wrapped into one."
His critics will point to "the Dusty finish," an angle where a referee reversed a decision after it looked as if the match was over. Say what you will about him overusing that narrative, but Rhodes has to be praised for his creativity.
He came up with the Great American Bash series, touring events that became some of WCW's marquee shows. Rhodes also thought up the Wargames match, a concept that led to a number of classics.
His innovations are part of a larger story, one of how Rhodes always looked to the future. The Dream always seemed to be looking for something fresh, something to add a spark to the squared circle.
In his later years, he shifted his focus to sharing his knowledge and serving as a mentor.
Imprint on the Future
Rhodes was handing out valuable lessons long ago.
In a podcast interview with Steve Austin, Paul Heyman reflected on a promo he did for WCW. Rhodes was the head booker at the time. He praised Heyman's work but apparently asked him, "Where's the money?" Rhodes said that promos had to sell the big next event.
Heyman spoke of how that stuck with him, and how he uses it as a mantra today.
Later on, Rhodes was a key figure at WWE's revamped developmental system. He worked there when it was still Florida Championship Wrestling and later when it morphed into today's NXT.
He worked with prospects, trying to get them to find their voice. Not surprisingly, Rhodes' specialty was interviews. WWE had him try to pass down his gift of gab.
Rhodes relished this part of his career. He told Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden, "I love teaching. I love coaching. I love teaching communications class. I love giving back to the kids and the industry."
When he passed away on Thursday, his past students spoke up, reflecting on what he had taught them.
Simon Gotch shared some of Rhodes' words of wisdom:
"Don't waste your time when the red light is on" "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story" good bye, Dream pic.twitter.com/gXkAJIVQpV
Kevin Owens wrote on Twitter about how his not getting a chance to tell Rhodes the impact he had on him. Owens said, "I can only hope that even though I didn't get to tell him directly, Dusty knew how much I appreciated and valued his help, wisdom, support and friendship."
The emotional outpouring that has followed Rhodes' death is a testament how many people in the wrestling family he touched.
Rhodes is the rarest of contributors, in that he left a legacy in several aspects of the business. There have been great talkers and great in-ring storytellers, memorable commentators and idea men, mentors and teachers, but with Rhodes all that came in a single package.
He created memories in every single one of those roles. Unfortunately, all we have are those memories now.
He is survived by two sons in Cody Rhodes and Goldust, two excellent performers in their own right. He will be sorely missed.
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Ah, the classic stroll down memory lane. Gotta love it.
And no doubt many fans did on Tuesday night, as WWE gave us the “Blast from the Past” on the SmackDown supershow. The legends from yesteryear coming back to delight the crowd, and give fans a bit of nostalgia.
It’s good for the younger fans to see the last generation, to understand where we came from in terms of the legends and what they did for the business. It was the right move, and it always will be.
For me, there were some definite highlights to the program.
Jimmy Hart, who looks as though he’s ready to step right back into the thick of things, was doing what he does best, being an obnoxious, overbearing annoyance at ringside.
Besides Jim Cornette, has anyone ever done it better?
I have to say, like many fans out there, I have a hard time understanding why Jimmy has not been brought back for any significant amount of time. The WWE crowd loves him, and again, he looks like he has not missed a beat.
He fits in. Even now. Bring back Jimmy Hart, Vince. I’m going to start a petition.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan. What more can be said about a guy in shorts, carrying around a 2x4, yelling “Ho” amidst “U.S.A” chants from the fans?
Love him or hate him, Jim Duggan is still over today. And with basically no gimmick to speak of. He gets a pop every time, and let’s face facts on this one. There are many guys in the WWE locker room half Duggan’s age who can’t get a third of the reaction he gets. The guy just has a way of connecting—there’s no other way to explain it.
Mean Gene Okerlund, much like Jimmy Hart, is a timeless personality, a man who is just as relevant today as he was 20 years ago. His tone is instantly recognizable, and though Jim Ross is widely accepted as the legendary voice of WWE, Gene has to be considered a very close second.
Mick Foley is one of those legends who, with the right situation, could very easily step back into the WWE storyline. The truth is, he looks the same as he ever has, and he has not lost anything on the mic. Seeing him as a full-time in-ring performer is likely not in the cards again, but Mic has such a great mind for the business. Hard to believe he’s not being used in some way.
Cowboy Bob Orton. The moment I saw him, I thought, "Well, Kane’s going to have fun with him tonight."
Bob is an old pro at this, he’s a guy who knows how the game is played, like all the other veterans on the program. Though we did not see the attack, which means there likely wasn’t one, that would not have stopped Orton from taking a few bumps if asked to.
After all, his son is the Viper Randy Orton, one of the biggest stars WWE has seen in the past 10 years, and whatever it took to help him out in the storyline with Kane likely would have been fine with Bob.
Rowdy Roddy Piper, standing in Piper’s Pit, putting the screws to another Superstar, shining the hot lights of cynical interrogation for everyone to see.
There is only one Roddy Piper.
The spot with Daniel Bryan was a tricky thing, to be honest. After all, Bryan has suddenly caught fire with the WWE faithful, thanks in large part to his over-the-top celebration, in which he screams "yes!" at the top of his lungs.
The guy may be a heel, but he is a heel who is becoming very popular, very quickly. When put on the spot, the way Piper was, fans could have easily turned on the legend in favor of the former World Champion.
But as with Orton, this was not Piper’s first time in front of a camera. He knew precisely what to say, how to say it and, more importantly, that the timing was critical to the moment. He did what he needed to do and looked just as effective as he ever has.
Piper said to the SmackDown crowd, “I miss you guys.” The feeling is mutual.
Then we come to the man who at one time was helping run the company that outperformed WWE on nearly every level.
You know, the phrase “my boy” seems so overused, and so overdone, that it seems like we really need something new to throw out there when talking about a favorite. But right now, I don’t really have anything, so I’ll say it anyway.
My boy, Dusty Rhodes, the American Dream, the son of a plumber from Austin Texas, was there for the party. The man who excited crowds all over the world and, along with the Four Horsemen, put the sport of professional wrestling above the spectacle, was in full effect on Tuesday night.
Of course, he was dancing in the ring, doing everything he could to embarrass his son, Cody, but at least we got shades of the fighting spirit Dusty had at the end of the program.
Throwing the bionic elbow on Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Dusty once again looked like the American Dream of old, and I suddenly wished it was Arn Anderson on the receiving end, if only for old time’s sake.
All in all, the program itself was well done, nicely paced and anytime the legends are brought to the WWE forefront, it’s a good day for fans.
For all that we as fans complain about, and for all the mistakes that we feel Vince McMahon makes with his company, the fact is, this is one aspect that he generally gets right.
The former stars of WWE deserve not only the respect of the fans, and their peers, but also the respect of the man who they worked so hard for back in the day. Giving them some TV time is not only the right thing to do for the company, it’s the right thing to do for the business.
Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. In the 1980’s National Wrestling Alliance, one name was rarely spoken without the other. Their individual love of the business was matched only by their shared desire to put on the best match of the night every time they stepped into the ring.
They each poured their heart and soul into the feud, and their rivalry was nothing short of legendary.
You simply could not think of either man without thinking of his opponent. While being very different in and out of the ring, in many ways Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes were opposite sides of the same coin.
Ric was slick, arrogant, cocky, obsessed with being the top worker in the company and very much addicted to the spotlight. He flaunted the World Championship in the face of every man who challenged him, and carried himself with an unmatched swagger in the ring every time he defended it.
Unmatched, except for Dusty Rhodes.
Dusty was slick, arrogant, cocky, obsessed with being the top worker in the company, and very much addicted to the spotlight.
Wait, have I said this already?
Ric Flair was what Dusty Rhodes could have been, had the Dream let his ego get the best of him.
Dusty and Ric were so much alike in terms of character that they quite possibly could have switched places at any given time. They were so good at what they did, so convincing in their roles, that while it may be hard to imagine Dusty in a three-piece custom made suit wearing the Rolex, there is no question that he had the ability to pull it off.
By the same token, Ric has proven that underneath the exterior of "The Nature Boy" gimmick, that he can be soft spoken, personable and very emotional. Picturing him wearing the denim jeans and shouting about living the American Dream and fighting for the fans, sounds crazy, but if anyone had the ability to sell a gimmick as well as Dusty it was Ric.
Of course, what made the feud work, what made it red hot, was the fact that Ric was The Nature Boy, in every way. When he bragged about the countless women lined up at his door, he was stating a fact.
Every time he stared into the camera and said that he was the man, and the world champion because he was the greatest wrestler in the world, he sounded convinced, because he was right.
And every night, the plumber’s son, Dusty Rhodes, cut a heartfelt promo about taking on the world by himself, fans clung to every word.
Why? Because he was selling a gimmick that he didn’t want? Because he was stuck with a tired old routine that just wasn’t getting over? No. Fans loved Dusty because when they looked at him, they knew that he was everything he said he was.
They were each other’s perfect foil.
An important by-product of a successful feud are the storylines that grow from it. This has never been more true than in the case of Ric versus Dusty.
Magnum TA, who may never have achieved a tenth of what he did had it not been for his association with Dusty, had a vicious feud with Ric’s fellow Horseman, Tully Blanchard. Their I Quit match is still recognized as being one of the most intense, most bloody matches in pro wrestling history.
Barry Windham, the second generation star who was on the rise in Jim Crockett Promotions, gave the champ all he could handle and more. Barry’s on-air mentor? Dusty Rhodes.
This storyline deepened later on when Barry turned his back on the Dream, and became the Fourth Horseman, alongside Dusty’s most hated opponent.
The epic War Games match may have never seen the light of day had it not been for Dusty and Ric’s feud. The match drew in all four of the Horsemen with their manager J.J. Dillon, against Dusty and four others who either had heat with Flair, or were in programs with Flair’s cohorts.
Another reason why Ric versus Dusty is the best feud of all time? Because not only did it make for exciting, dramatic television, it also made a ton of money.
At the risk of sounding like the superficial fan, if a promoter is not in the business to draw a crowd and make money, then he or she is wasting their time. Jim Crockett found lighting in a bottle with Dusty and Ric, and he capitalized on it, selling out arenas in every town the NWA ran.
Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes will each be remembered for everything they accomplished in the business, for their promos, their in ring careers, and their feud with each other. They are forever linked, and despite what feud has come after, or will come tomorrow, Dusty Rhodes versus Ric Flair is on a level all its own.
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