"Retired" - 13-time WWE champion gives unfortunate update on his future

A multi-time former WWE champion has revealed that his iconic persona from the sports entertainment juggernaut is retired for good. The star in question, Dustin Rhodes, has been signed with AEW since 2019.

After returning to World Wrestling Entertainment in the mid-1990s following his brief tenure in WCW, Dustin started playing the role of Goldust, one of the strangest and most provocative pro-wrestling characters ever created and platformed by the Stamford-based promotion. A television spectacle from the pre-Attitude Era, The Bizarre One was featured on the company's programming in numerous matches and moments throughout his multiple stints in WWE.

Since 2019, however, The Natural has been involved with AEW, where he works both as a talent and a coach. He signed a multi-year extension with the Tony Khan-led promotion late last year and indicated that he wants to finish his career in the company. When a fan recently requested him to dust off his Goldust character alongside Cody Rhodes' Stardust persona and AAA star Mr. Iguana, Dustin reiterated that The Prince of Perversion was officially retired.

"Goldust is retired. Sorry. Happy where I am at [100 emoji]," wrote Dustin.

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Check out Dustin Rhodes' tweet below:

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Despite being signed with AEW, Rhodes has been making more prominent appearances in AEW's sister promotion, ROH, where he is one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions alongside Sammy Guevara.

Dustin Rhodes' recent battle with two major ex-WWE names in AEW

Not content with just holding the ROH Tag Titles, Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara set their sights on The Hurt Syndicate last month, aiming to take their AEW World Tag Team Championships. The Sons of Texas earned their shot by defeating CRU at Collision: Beach Break, but unfortunately were unable to dethrone Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley at Double or Nothing 2025.

It remains to be seen when the former WWE Intercontinental, Hardcore, and Tag Team Champion will appear next on AEW television.

About the author

Anurag is an AEW writer for Sportskeeda Wrestling. He holds a BA and MA degree in English along with a TEFL certification to teach English. Before Sportskeeda, he worked as a Content and Correspondence writer at Nayabad Titas, a theater group. He has also worked as a English language tutor.

To ensure complete accuracy, he uses internet resources, social media platforms, and especially pieces composed by his peers to find solid, verified information that he presents as objectively as possible. Thanks to his academic background, he can research different subjects thoroughly.

Anurag's interest in wrestling began as a child. He watched RAW and Smackdown frequently from age 10 or 11 and was officially hooked by the YES Movement story in WWE heading into WrestleMania 30.

As a lifelong wrestling fan and lover of stories, Anurag would read news, articles, and other content about the talent and events he enjoyed watching. His understanding of the business continued to grow with time, and his interest in the art and sport of wrestling led him to pursue a career as a writer.

Apart from writing, he loves to read books, watch movies and television programs, play and listen to music, and write poetry and fiction.

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Edited by Anurag Mukherjee