'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Trying to describe the legacy of Dusty Rhodes through words would be impossible. There aren’t enough adjectives in the English language for the same. But then again, this is the only way in which we could pay a tribute to the legend. It would require some time to digest the fact that he is gone.
Dusty has been around the wrestling business from the 70s and has been an integral part throughout the years. He did almost every job out there in the business and left a lasting mark. Legend, one of a kind, irreplaceable, call him whatever you want, Dusty deserves every one of those tags.
Sadly for the wrestling business, the American Dream came to an end at the age of 69. Dusty will not be with us physically from here on, but the imprint he left will be his trademark. He made it to the top without being one of those ‘prototype’ superstars and it would only be fitting to take a look back at Dusty’s best moments in his memory.
From his famous Hard Times promo to his NWA championship win, here are some must-see moments from the American Dream’s career.
Hard Times
If you are going to attend the wrestling school, then you are destined to see this video. This is what most upcoming wrestlers see to understand the techniques of pulling off a promo and rightfully so. Rhodes told everything that a working man in America would have loved to tell. There were shades of humor here and there in the promo as well. But it will always be remembered for the way in which Dusty captivated the fans.
This promo appealed for everyone alike and along with that, Dusty took shots at Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen. To this day, many have tried to outclass what Dusty did but none has succeeded.
For his sons
The second half of 2013 saw a great angle in the WWE’s tag team division. The Authority fired both Cody Rhodes and Goldust from the company. Stephanie McMahon then proposed a business deal with Dusty saying that he could bring back one of his sons. Dusty, however, refused to choose and was eventually knocked out by Big Show under the orders of Stephanie.
Cody and Goldust then got a match against Shield to retain their career. Dusty was at ringside and seeing the family together after a win was a great piece of booking. Dusty produced a stand out promo during the storyline and it is worth looking back.
War Games
The Legendary War Games match was created by none other than Dusty Rhodes. He conceived the concept after seeing ‘Beyond Thunderdome’ movie. The first War Games match happened in 1987 and Dusty was a part of it. He teamed up with the Road Warriors, Nikita Koloff and Paul Ellering to defeat the Four Horsemen.
The brutal match lasted more than twenty minutes and Dusty’s team emerged victoriously. Dusty was part of the next six War Games matches as well. He went on to have four more War Games matches in his career taking his grand total to a whopping 11 War Games matches.
Baby Doll gets the heat
Baby Doll was introduced in the Jim Crockett promotions as the manager of Tully Blanchard. She was there throughout the feud that Tully had with Dusty Rhodes. At one point, Baby Doll was involved in a stipulation. The Stipulation said that she would become the valet of Dusty for 30 days if Tully lost to Dusty in their 1985 encounter.
Tully lost and this made Baby Doll the new valet of Dusty. What followed was a great piece of storytelling. Dusty went on to have segments where he tried to turn Baby Doll into a ‘real lady’. She eventually became Dusty’s manager in the future, but the 30-day spell was more memorable.
The tape that was burned by NWA
Ernie Ladd and Dusty Rhodes had an epic feud in 1977. It all started when the friendship of Ernie and Dusty came crashing down due to egos. Ernie claimed that Dusty always overshadowed him, but Dusty felt that Ernie double-crossed him. After all those exchanges, it ended up being the hottest angle across the United States.
The territories banked in on the same and the wrestlers started having a series of matches. The most prominent one came on July 15. Dusty and Ernie were having a solid match when two masked men came in. This distraction helped Ernie to get the win and made him the new Florida Champion. The win changed Ladd and he wanted to defend the title when he wanted.
NWA later destroyed the tapes of this match claiming that Ladd should have never won the title. The title was returned to Dusty afterward while Ladd exited the state.
Maria Menounos does a Dusty Impression
Trying to do a Dusty Rhodes impression is not a cake walk. Maria Menounos managed to pull this off during the 2015 Hall of Fame ceremony. And the best part was that she did it while Dusty was standing right next to you. The way in which Dusty added his expressions made the whole thing more entertaining.
Along with this, Dusty added his own punch lines as well. It was a great example of how legendary Dusty’s promo is. Dusty was entertaining just months before his eventual death, and that everyone is a man who dedicated his life to the business.
Hall of Fame Speech
The Hall of Fame is where Dusty Rhodes belongs. For everything, he did during his career, giving him a spot in the Hall of Fame was the least WWE could do. The induction of Dusty into the WWE Hall of Fame came in 2007. He was inducted alongside Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, Mr. Perfect, Mr. Fuji, Nick Bockwinkel and The Sheik.
After he was inducted, Dusty showed his class. He delivered a classic acceptance promo at the event. And reminded everyone about what he is capable of doing with the microphone.
History with NWA Championship
The NWA World Heavyweight Championship was ‘the’ title back then. Anyone who won the title was considered to be a class act and so was Dusty. The American Dream won the NWA championship thrice in his career and the first one came against Harley Race.
It was the year of 1979 and Dusty won the title while wrestling in the Florida territory. He, however, dropped the title to Harley just five days later. The second title reign of Dusty came two years later in 1981. Harley Race was his opponent this time as well. Ric Flair then took the title from Dusty to mark his reign with the belt.
The final reign of Dusty came in 1986 at the expense of Ric Flair and it was a memorable match to say the least.
