Thread Rating:
03-10-2012, 08:22 AM
"He's just a common man, workin' hard with his hands…"
That famous line is the opening one of Dusty Rhodes' WWE entrance theme, and it fits the man known as "The American Dream" to a T. Born into a blue-collar family in Austin, Texas, Rhodes' sports-entertainment career spanned over five decades and saw him rise from working-class hero to international Superstar…and now, Hall of Famer.
After playing college football at West Texas State University, Rhodes made his in-ring debut in 1968, teaming with former World Tag Team Champion Dick Murdoch as the rule-breaking Texas Outlaws in the AWA. Rhodes would eventually move to Florida, where he became a beloved fan-favorite en route to winning over two dozen NWA Florida regional championships (including an unprecedented 10 reigns as Florida Champion). He moved on to compete in WWE (then known as the WWWF) for a brief time in the late 1970s, nearly winning the WWE Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978; Graham would eventually defeat Rhodes in a brutal Texas Death Match at Madison Square Garden, marking the end of Dusty's quest.
However, it was in the National Wrestling Alliance where Rhodes truly became a national star. He held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times in the 1980s (defeating the likes of Ric Flair and Harley Race to claim the gold), and also held the NWA World Tag Team, United States and Television Championships. His rivalry with Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard and the rest of the Four Horsemen was perhaps one of the most heated in sports-entertainment history, lasting most of the 1980s and even seeing hated Russian rule-breaker Nikita Koloff become a fan favorite by teaming with Rhodes against the Horsemen. Rhodes & Koloff would go on to defeat Horsemen Blanchard & Lex Luger to win the 1987 Crockett Cup tag team tournament.
Rhodes came back to WWE in 1990. His debut saw him doing a series of blue-collar jobs week after week to play up his "common man" image. Clad in black and yellow polka-dotted ring trunks, Rhodes' popularity reached an all-time high. In his second WWE run, Rhodes had bitter rivalries with Big Boss Man, "Macho King" Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase, the latter spawned when DiBiase bought off Rhodes' valet Sapphire. Perhaps his proudest WWE moment came in 1991, however, when he brought son Dustin (later known as Goldust) into WWE and teamed with him to defeat DiBiase & Virgil at the 1991 Royal Rumble.
With his in-ring career seemingly winding down, Rhodes moved behind the commentators' desk after rejoining WCW in the mid-1990s. He worked on WCW Saturday Night, Monday Nitro and pay-per-view events, and went on to become a member of the New World Order in 1998. In the final days of WCW, Rhodes once again returned to the ring, teaming with son Dustin and rekindling his old rivalry with Flair.
He even made a brief stop in ECW in that promotion's final days as well, engaging in a series of brutal matches against then-ECW World Champion Steve Corino.
Throughout his career, Rhodes has also worked in a backstage capacity for both WWE and WCW; in fact, former WCW matches such as War Games and the Bunkhouse Stampede were conceived by the "American Dream."
But even after five decades, he isn't afraid to step into the ring and show the Superstars of today how it's done; after being one of the WWE fans' three choices to be Ric Flair's partner at Cyber Sunday 2006, Rhodes teamed with Flair, Sgt. Slaughter and Ron Simmons to defeat the Spirit Squad at Survivor Series.
Rhodes' nearly 40-year career is highlighted in both his autobiography, Dusty: Reflections of an American Dream, as well as a WWE-produced three-disc DVD set of entitled The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story. His legacy also lives on through sons Dustin and Cody, both of whom have followed their famous father into the family business. All three were able to share Dusty's biggest moment, as Dustin and Cody were the ones who inducted Dusty into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.
Not bad for the "son of a plumber man" from Austin, Texas.
That famous line is the opening one of Dusty Rhodes' WWE entrance theme, and it fits the man known as "The American Dream" to a T. Born into a blue-collar family in Austin, Texas, Rhodes' sports-entertainment career spanned over five decades and saw him rise from working-class hero to international Superstar…and now, Hall of Famer.
After playing college football at West Texas State University, Rhodes made his in-ring debut in 1968, teaming with former World Tag Team Champion Dick Murdoch as the rule-breaking Texas Outlaws in the AWA. Rhodes would eventually move to Florida, where he became a beloved fan-favorite en route to winning over two dozen NWA Florida regional championships (including an unprecedented 10 reigns as Florida Champion). He moved on to compete in WWE (then known as the WWWF) for a brief time in the late 1970s, nearly winning the WWE Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978; Graham would eventually defeat Rhodes in a brutal Texas Death Match at Madison Square Garden, marking the end of Dusty's quest.
However, it was in the National Wrestling Alliance where Rhodes truly became a national star. He held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times in the 1980s (defeating the likes of Ric Flair and Harley Race to claim the gold), and also held the NWA World Tag Team, United States and Television Championships. His rivalry with Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard and the rest of the Four Horsemen was perhaps one of the most heated in sports-entertainment history, lasting most of the 1980s and even seeing hated Russian rule-breaker Nikita Koloff become a fan favorite by teaming with Rhodes against the Horsemen. Rhodes & Koloff would go on to defeat Horsemen Blanchard & Lex Luger to win the 1987 Crockett Cup tag team tournament.
Rhodes came back to WWE in 1990. His debut saw him doing a series of blue-collar jobs week after week to play up his "common man" image. Clad in black and yellow polka-dotted ring trunks, Rhodes' popularity reached an all-time high. In his second WWE run, Rhodes had bitter rivalries with Big Boss Man, "Macho King" Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase, the latter spawned when DiBiase bought off Rhodes' valet Sapphire. Perhaps his proudest WWE moment came in 1991, however, when he brought son Dustin (later known as Goldust) into WWE and teamed with him to defeat DiBiase & Virgil at the 1991 Royal Rumble.
With his in-ring career seemingly winding down, Rhodes moved behind the commentators' desk after rejoining WCW in the mid-1990s. He worked on WCW Saturday Night, Monday Nitro and pay-per-view events, and went on to become a member of the New World Order in 1998. In the final days of WCW, Rhodes once again returned to the ring, teaming with son Dustin and rekindling his old rivalry with Flair.
He even made a brief stop in ECW in that promotion's final days as well, engaging in a series of brutal matches against then-ECW World Champion Steve Corino.
Throughout his career, Rhodes has also worked in a backstage capacity for both WWE and WCW; in fact, former WCW matches such as War Games and the Bunkhouse Stampede were conceived by the "American Dream."
But even after five decades, he isn't afraid to step into the ring and show the Superstars of today how it's done; after being one of the WWE fans' three choices to be Ric Flair's partner at Cyber Sunday 2006, Rhodes teamed with Flair, Sgt. Slaughter and Ron Simmons to defeat the Spirit Squad at Survivor Series.
Rhodes' nearly 40-year career is highlighted in both his autobiography, Dusty: Reflections of an American Dream, as well as a WWE-produced three-disc DVD set of entitled The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story. His legacy also lives on through sons Dustin and Cody, both of whom have followed their famous father into the family business. All three were able to share Dusty's biggest moment, as Dustin and Cody were the ones who inducted Dusty into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.
Not bad for the "son of a plumber man" from Austin, Texas.
![[-]](https://bluegrassrivals.com/forum/images/lifestyle/collapse.png)
03-10-2012, 08:23 AM
03-13-2012, 09:02 AM
[COLOR="Blue"][SIZE="5"]"I am bad & they know I'm bad! And there were two bad people; one was John Wayne & he's dead brother & the other one's right here!"
"I ain't never seen nothin' like this and I've been to three goat-ropin's & an all-night fair, daddy!"[/SIZE][/COLOR]
"I ain't never seen nothin' like this and I've been to three goat-ropin's & an all-night fair, daddy!"[/SIZE][/COLOR]
03-13-2012, 09:09 AM
03-13-2012, 10:22 AM
03-13-2012, 12:35 PM
03-13-2012, 08:26 PM
03-13-2012, 08:29 PM
03-13-2012, 08:41 PM
03-15-2012, 08:19 AM
One of the top wrestlers ever to grace the profession. A legend nationally, but back
when the sport was broken up by territories, Dusty Rhodes was a headliner in each.
From Florida to Texas, Mid-Atlantic and Minnesota. He is a three-time former NWA World
Heavyweight Champion, with defeats over Harley Race and Ric Flair.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Dusty is the father of Dustin Rhodes, also a top-notch
grappler and champion. Before making his professional debut in 1969, Rhodes played
football with the Boston Patriots. Early on, he teamed with Dick Murdoch as the Texas
Outlaws. The brutal and hated tag team captured a version of the NWA World Tag Team
Title in Detroit, the American Tag Team Title in Texas and the Florida Tag Team Title out
of Tampa. Rhodes and Murdoch shared the same eagerness for blood. The two won
over Bob Roop and Danny Miller on Tuesday, September 15, 1970 in Tampa. A week
later, they beat Miller and Louie Tillett at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory.
On September 29th, Rhodes and Murdoch wrestled the popular duo of Dory Funk Sr.
and Jose Lothario in Tampa. Rhodes pinned Lothario for the victory. They continued
their roll towards the top of the wrestling tag team scene. Dory Sr. enlisted his son Terry
to wrestle Rhodes and Murdoch on October 6th in Tampa. The match was not just a
normal bout, but a special Texas Death Match. The Funks won. On Tuesday, October
13th, Rhodes and Murdoch beat Dale Lewis and Thunderbolt Patterson in Tampa. They
captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Title and retained over Lewis and Art Thomas in
Tampa on the 20th of October. Rhodes and Murdoch tried their luck in the six-man tag
world in Tampa, teaming with Tarzan Tyler against Jake Smith, Ron Fuller and Jose
Lothario on October 27th. They lost. Rhodes and Murdoch beat Smith and Lothario on
November 3rd in a match they nearly lost. Tyler and Jack Brisco were also locked up in
the brawl. Brisco wanted to enter the war as he teamed up with Lothario and the Missouri
Mauler on November 10th in Tampa against Rhodes, Murdoch and Tyler. The “bad guys”
lost in 15-minutes. They lost by disqualification to Bobo Brazil and Louie Tillet on
November 17th in Tampa. The Outlaws eventually went their own ways.
All through the ’70s, Rhodes traveled throughout the world and became one of the
most popular athletes on the NWA Trail. Promoters brought him in every time they had
the opportunity because they knew Rhodes would put bodies in the seats. The road was
hard, but Rhodes eventually put himself in the spot every wrestler in the sport wanted to
be in. On August 21, 1979, he beat Harley Race at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in
Tampa and captured the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title. He won the
most prestigious belt in wrestling.
On the 26th, Rhodes was in Jacksonville to defend his title in a matinee against Don
Muraco. He retained. After the match, he drove west on I-10 to I-75 south to Orlando for
an evening defense against Race at the Sports Stadium. Rhodes was attacked by Terry
Funk prior to the match and suffered a broken right wrist. Instead of backing out and
rushing to the hospital, Rhodes went on to defend his title with the handicap and lost.
Race had regained the belt. During the “Last Tangle in Tampa” on Sunday, August 3,
1980, Rhodes challenged Race for the NWA Belt at the Tampa Stadium. The bout was a
special two-of-three-falls match. He won the initial fall by pinfall. The time-limit expired
before another fall could be counted by special referee, Fritz Von Erich. In late 1980, he
was advised by Sir Oliver Humperdink in Florida, a man who was a bitter rival just weeks
and months earlier.
when the sport was broken up by territories, Dusty Rhodes was a headliner in each.
From Florida to Texas, Mid-Atlantic and Minnesota. He is a three-time former NWA World
Heavyweight Champion, with defeats over Harley Race and Ric Flair.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Dusty is the father of Dustin Rhodes, also a top-notch
grappler and champion. Before making his professional debut in 1969, Rhodes played
football with the Boston Patriots. Early on, he teamed with Dick Murdoch as the Texas
Outlaws. The brutal and hated tag team captured a version of the NWA World Tag Team
Title in Detroit, the American Tag Team Title in Texas and the Florida Tag Team Title out
of Tampa. Rhodes and Murdoch shared the same eagerness for blood. The two won
over Bob Roop and Danny Miller on Tuesday, September 15, 1970 in Tampa. A week
later, they beat Miller and Louie Tillett at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory.
On September 29th, Rhodes and Murdoch wrestled the popular duo of Dory Funk Sr.
and Jose Lothario in Tampa. Rhodes pinned Lothario for the victory. They continued
their roll towards the top of the wrestling tag team scene. Dory Sr. enlisted his son Terry
to wrestle Rhodes and Murdoch on October 6th in Tampa. The match was not just a
normal bout, but a special Texas Death Match. The Funks won. On Tuesday, October
13th, Rhodes and Murdoch beat Dale Lewis and Thunderbolt Patterson in Tampa. They
captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Title and retained over Lewis and Art Thomas in
Tampa on the 20th of October. Rhodes and Murdoch tried their luck in the six-man tag
world in Tampa, teaming with Tarzan Tyler against Jake Smith, Ron Fuller and Jose
Lothario on October 27th. They lost. Rhodes and Murdoch beat Smith and Lothario on
November 3rd in a match they nearly lost. Tyler and Jack Brisco were also locked up in
the brawl. Brisco wanted to enter the war as he teamed up with Lothario and the Missouri
Mauler on November 10th in Tampa against Rhodes, Murdoch and Tyler. The “bad guys”
lost in 15-minutes. They lost by disqualification to Bobo Brazil and Louie Tillet on
November 17th in Tampa. The Outlaws eventually went their own ways.
All through the ’70s, Rhodes traveled throughout the world and became one of the
most popular athletes on the NWA Trail. Promoters brought him in every time they had
the opportunity because they knew Rhodes would put bodies in the seats. The road was
hard, but Rhodes eventually put himself in the spot every wrestler in the sport wanted to
be in. On August 21, 1979, he beat Harley Race at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in
Tampa and captured the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title. He won the
most prestigious belt in wrestling.
On the 26th, Rhodes was in Jacksonville to defend his title in a matinee against Don
Muraco. He retained. After the match, he drove west on I-10 to I-75 south to Orlando for
an evening defense against Race at the Sports Stadium. Rhodes was attacked by Terry
Funk prior to the match and suffered a broken right wrist. Instead of backing out and
rushing to the hospital, Rhodes went on to defend his title with the handicap and lost.
Race had regained the belt. During the “Last Tangle in Tampa” on Sunday, August 3,
1980, Rhodes challenged Race for the NWA Belt at the Tampa Stadium. The bout was a
special two-of-three-falls match. He won the initial fall by pinfall. The time-limit expired
before another fall could be counted by special referee, Fritz Von Erich. In late 1980, he
was advised by Sir Oliver Humperdink in Florida, a man who was a bitter rival just weeks
and months earlier.
03-15-2012, 01:04 PM
03-15-2012, 01:04 PM
03-15-2012, 01:04 PM
03-15-2012, 01:04 PM
03-15-2012, 01:05 PM
03-15-2012, 01:07 PM
03-15-2012, 01:07 PM
03-16-2012, 10:10 AM
Trivia: The name of the Private Jet used during the mid 80's that the stars of the NWA traveled - Stardust
03-16-2012, 06:06 PM
On March 16, 1985, Rhodes beat Tully Blanchard in Greensboro to capture the NWA
World Television Title. He battled The Missing Link in April 1985 in one of the bloodiest
matches in Florida History at Orlando. On April 28th in Charlotte, he lost the TV Title
back to Blanchard. Rhodes regained the Television Title on July 6th at the Charlotte
Coliseum. Arn Anderson stole the belt, but Rhodes eventually retrieved the strap. In
October ‘85, officials stripped him of the TV Belt for failure to defend.
Rhodes had his hands on the NWA World Heavyweight Title once again at Starrcade
1985 in November, having believed that he had defeated Ric Flair. NWA President, Bob
Geigel, the same man who had returned to the belt to Flair years before in Florida, took
the belt from Rhodes and handed it back to the “Nature Boy.” The sheer controversy of
the bout was cited. During the 13th card of the 1986 Great American Bash on July 26th
in Greensboro, Rhodes pinned Flair and captured his third NWA World Title. A special
steel cage surrounded the ring, allowing no escape and no Horsemen involvement. In the
23rd minute, Rhodes hit a several of his famed elbow-drops and took the win and the
NWA Belt. He became only the fifth man in history to have three or more NWA World Title
wins.
Flair regained the belt on August 9th at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. Rhodes was
caught in the figure-four and the referee counted a pin for Flair in the finals of their
bloody cage match. Exactly a month later, Rhodes beat Arn Anderson for the NWA World
Television Title in Columbia, South Carolina. It was his third. During this time, he was
also working behind the scenes in Jim Crockett Promotions.
In October 1986, Rhodes saw one of the organization’s most popular wrestlers injured
in an automobile accident. Magnum T.A.’s career ended in the incident, but Rhodes and
Nikita Koloff devoted their 1987 Crockett Cup Tournament Victory to their fallen friend.
They ousted Tully Blanchard and Lex Luger in the finals on April 11th in Baltimore. At the
Coliseum in Greensboro for Starrcade on November 27th, Rhodes defended his TV Title
against Tully Blanchard. He lost the belt in a first-blood match. Rhodes won the United
States Heavyweight Title in Chicago on November 26, 1987 at Starrcade from Lex Luger.
The NWA held it’s second pay-per-view event on January 24, 1988 in Uniondale, New
York. Rhodes won the annual Bunkhouse Stampede, eliminating the Barbarian at the 26:
20 mark. One of the most surprising events in Rhodes’ entire career came about in
March of ‘88. It began in Cincinnati on March 18th during a match between the NWA Tag
Team Champions, Horseman, Blanchard and Anderson, against Lex Luger and Barry
Windham. Magnum T.A. interjected with extension of his voice using a baseball bat and
the challengers were disqualified. When Arn and Tully attempted to get at the injured
wrestler, Luger and Windham protected him. On the 21st, during a television taping,
Magnum was interviewed by David Crockett and displayed his baseball tool once again.
He spoke about his past wars with The Horsemen, reminding everyone of his Starrcade ’
85 “I Quit” victory over Tully when Blanchard and James J. Dillon walked out. Windham,
the mediator, stepped out also.
In a series of events, Tully attacked Windham and Magnum, in turn, grabbed him by
the throat. Blanchard smashed T.A. in the head, opening a cut and blood began to ooze
out. Rhodes ran out and attacked Blanchard with the baseball bat until NWA Official Rob
Garner attempted to stop it. Rhodes pushed him away. NWA President Jim Crockett
came out and he was hit in the throat. Crockett hit the ground as Rhodes continued to
smash the co-holder of the World Tag Team Title. Sting, Lex Luger, Windham and The
Fantastics finally succeeded in pulling Dusty away. For his actions, Rhodes was stripped
of the NWA United States Title and suspended from the organization for 120 days. This
incident was aired on WTBS on March 26th. The dates of the suspension was from April
15-August 15, 1988.
http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/DustyRhodes.html
World Television Title. He battled The Missing Link in April 1985 in one of the bloodiest
matches in Florida History at Orlando. On April 28th in Charlotte, he lost the TV Title
back to Blanchard. Rhodes regained the Television Title on July 6th at the Charlotte
Coliseum. Arn Anderson stole the belt, but Rhodes eventually retrieved the strap. In
October ‘85, officials stripped him of the TV Belt for failure to defend.
Rhodes had his hands on the NWA World Heavyweight Title once again at Starrcade
1985 in November, having believed that he had defeated Ric Flair. NWA President, Bob
Geigel, the same man who had returned to the belt to Flair years before in Florida, took
the belt from Rhodes and handed it back to the “Nature Boy.” The sheer controversy of
the bout was cited. During the 13th card of the 1986 Great American Bash on July 26th
in Greensboro, Rhodes pinned Flair and captured his third NWA World Title. A special
steel cage surrounded the ring, allowing no escape and no Horsemen involvement. In the
23rd minute, Rhodes hit a several of his famed elbow-drops and took the win and the
NWA Belt. He became only the fifth man in history to have three or more NWA World Title
wins.
Flair regained the belt on August 9th at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. Rhodes was
caught in the figure-four and the referee counted a pin for Flair in the finals of their
bloody cage match. Exactly a month later, Rhodes beat Arn Anderson for the NWA World
Television Title in Columbia, South Carolina. It was his third. During this time, he was
also working behind the scenes in Jim Crockett Promotions.
In October 1986, Rhodes saw one of the organization’s most popular wrestlers injured
in an automobile accident. Magnum T.A.’s career ended in the incident, but Rhodes and
Nikita Koloff devoted their 1987 Crockett Cup Tournament Victory to their fallen friend.
They ousted Tully Blanchard and Lex Luger in the finals on April 11th in Baltimore. At the
Coliseum in Greensboro for Starrcade on November 27th, Rhodes defended his TV Title
against Tully Blanchard. He lost the belt in a first-blood match. Rhodes won the United
States Heavyweight Title in Chicago on November 26, 1987 at Starrcade from Lex Luger.
The NWA held it’s second pay-per-view event on January 24, 1988 in Uniondale, New
York. Rhodes won the annual Bunkhouse Stampede, eliminating the Barbarian at the 26:
20 mark. One of the most surprising events in Rhodes’ entire career came about in
March of ‘88. It began in Cincinnati on March 18th during a match between the NWA Tag
Team Champions, Horseman, Blanchard and Anderson, against Lex Luger and Barry
Windham. Magnum T.A. interjected with extension of his voice using a baseball bat and
the challengers were disqualified. When Arn and Tully attempted to get at the injured
wrestler, Luger and Windham protected him. On the 21st, during a television taping,
Magnum was interviewed by David Crockett and displayed his baseball tool once again.
He spoke about his past wars with The Horsemen, reminding everyone of his Starrcade ’
85 “I Quit” victory over Tully when Blanchard and James J. Dillon walked out. Windham,
the mediator, stepped out also.
In a series of events, Tully attacked Windham and Magnum, in turn, grabbed him by
the throat. Blanchard smashed T.A. in the head, opening a cut and blood began to ooze
out. Rhodes ran out and attacked Blanchard with the baseball bat until NWA Official Rob
Garner attempted to stop it. Rhodes pushed him away. NWA President Jim Crockett
came out and he was hit in the throat. Crockett hit the ground as Rhodes continued to
smash the co-holder of the World Tag Team Title. Sting, Lex Luger, Windham and The
Fantastics finally succeeded in pulling Dusty away. For his actions, Rhodes was stripped
of the NWA United States Title and suspended from the organization for 120 days. This
incident was aired on WTBS on March 26th. The dates of the suspension was from April
15-August 15, 1988.
http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/DustyRhodes.html
03-16-2012, 06:07 PM
03-16-2012, 06:07 PM
03-16-2012, 06:07 PM
03-17-2012, 08:26 AM
03-17-2012, 08:44 AM
03-17-2012, 09:09 AM
What Dusty did for wrestling he doesn't get enough credit.He was at least 20 years ahead of his time! His mic work was great he could read a menu get the crowd fired up!
03-17-2012, 11:33 AM
^ Vince gets all the credit for the PPV industry, but Dusty was the first with Starcade
03-18-2012, 07:47 PM
NWA Board Member, Paul Boesch suggested that Rhodes be reinstated and the
other members agreed. On April 29th, he made his return. On July 10th, Rhodes
challenged Barry Windham for the U.S. Title in Baltimore during the Great American Bash
show. He lost by pinfall after “Hands of Stone” Ron Garvin interfered. Not only did Garvin
interfere, he knocked Dusty out. Later in ’88, his son Dustin made his professional debut
in Tampa. At Starrcade on December 26, 1988, Rhodes teamed with Sting in Norfolk in a
match against the NWA World Tag Team Champions, Road Warriors. They won by
disqualification.
In early ’89, he left the promotion for Florida. After the Crocketts closed down the
Florida Booking Office, fans in the Sunshine State who had been used to seeing wrestling
were left out in the sun with nothing. Rhodes organized Florida Championship Wrestling
with Gordon Solie and several others, with the intent of bringing wrestling back to the
small towns of Florida. On March 11th, Rhodes beat U.S. Steel in Tampa for the initial
PWF Heavyweight Title. In the weeks that followed, Dusty signed with the World Wrestling
Federation.
Rhodes made his debut on June 2, 1989, defeating Ted DiBiase at the Montreal
Forum in Quebec. The “son of a plummer” became widely known. Polka-dots, yellow and
black. He entered a short feud with the Big Bossman and on one televised show, walked
off with the nightstick and Bossman’s hat. Rhodes was immediately popular. He pinned
former I-C Champion, Honky Tonk Man on August 28th in East Rutherford, NJ during the
SummerSlam pay-per-view. Rhodes joined sides with Terry Taylor, Tito Santana and
Brutus Beefcake on Thanksgiving Night in Chicago for the Survivor Series. The four men
teamed to beat Rick Martel, Big Bossman, Bad News Brown and the Honky Tonk Man.
Rhodes pinned Bossman to win the match, as he and Beefcake survived in the end.
During a match against Akeem in late 1989, Slick verbally attacked a ringside woman.
Dusty ran to the rescue. The woman would soon be known as Sapphire. She would be
normally seen on WWF shows, ringside for Rhodes’ matches until he took her as his
second. Rhodes continued to battle off Slick and his mates until the Royal Rumble in
January 1990 at Orlando where he entered a feud with Randy Savage. With Sapphire on
his side, Rhodes faced off against Savage and his manager, Sherri Martel.
On April 1, 1990 in Toronto at the Skydome, Rhodes and Sapphire teamed in a mixed
match against Martel and Savage. Elizabeth joined Rhodes. In the end, Sapphire pinned
Martel. He continued to war with Savage throughout the summer. Rhodes lost to his
enemy at SummerSlam in Philadelphia on August 27th. He was pinned in less than three-
minutes. Rhodes captained the “Dream Team” on November 22nd at the Survivor Series
against the “Million Dollar Team” led by Ted DiBiase. The match was Rhodes, Koko B.
Ware and the Hart Foundation against DiBiase, newcomer Kane the Undertaker and
Rhythm and Blues. He was eliminated by the Undertaker. His team later lost.
Dusty’s son Dustin joined him in the WWF in early 1991. The father-son duo teamed
at the Royal Rumble in Miami on January 19, 1991. They met and lost to DiBiase and
Virgil. Dusty was pinned by DiBiase. After the event, Rhodes left the WWF and went into
retirement. He returned in ’93. Fans were reminded of old regional battles on November
10th in St. Petersburg when Rhodes squared off against the Assassin during the Clash of
the Champions. Both Rhodes and the Assassin were seconds for Dustin Rhodes and
Paul Orndorff, respectively. The WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title was on the line, and
successfully defended by Dustin. Afterwards, the four got into it and Dusty and the
Assassin brawled it out. Although, Orndorff hit Dusty with the U.S. Title Belt, the crowd
still looked upon the father and son duo as the victors.
other members agreed. On April 29th, he made his return. On July 10th, Rhodes
challenged Barry Windham for the U.S. Title in Baltimore during the Great American Bash
show. He lost by pinfall after “Hands of Stone” Ron Garvin interfered. Not only did Garvin
interfere, he knocked Dusty out. Later in ’88, his son Dustin made his professional debut
in Tampa. At Starrcade on December 26, 1988, Rhodes teamed with Sting in Norfolk in a
match against the NWA World Tag Team Champions, Road Warriors. They won by
disqualification.
In early ’89, he left the promotion for Florida. After the Crocketts closed down the
Florida Booking Office, fans in the Sunshine State who had been used to seeing wrestling
were left out in the sun with nothing. Rhodes organized Florida Championship Wrestling
with Gordon Solie and several others, with the intent of bringing wrestling back to the
small towns of Florida. On March 11th, Rhodes beat U.S. Steel in Tampa for the initial
PWF Heavyweight Title. In the weeks that followed, Dusty signed with the World Wrestling
Federation.
Rhodes made his debut on June 2, 1989, defeating Ted DiBiase at the Montreal
Forum in Quebec. The “son of a plummer” became widely known. Polka-dots, yellow and
black. He entered a short feud with the Big Bossman and on one televised show, walked
off with the nightstick and Bossman’s hat. Rhodes was immediately popular. He pinned
former I-C Champion, Honky Tonk Man on August 28th in East Rutherford, NJ during the
SummerSlam pay-per-view. Rhodes joined sides with Terry Taylor, Tito Santana and
Brutus Beefcake on Thanksgiving Night in Chicago for the Survivor Series. The four men
teamed to beat Rick Martel, Big Bossman, Bad News Brown and the Honky Tonk Man.
Rhodes pinned Bossman to win the match, as he and Beefcake survived in the end.
During a match against Akeem in late 1989, Slick verbally attacked a ringside woman.
Dusty ran to the rescue. The woman would soon be known as Sapphire. She would be
normally seen on WWF shows, ringside for Rhodes’ matches until he took her as his
second. Rhodes continued to battle off Slick and his mates until the Royal Rumble in
January 1990 at Orlando where he entered a feud with Randy Savage. With Sapphire on
his side, Rhodes faced off against Savage and his manager, Sherri Martel.
On April 1, 1990 in Toronto at the Skydome, Rhodes and Sapphire teamed in a mixed
match against Martel and Savage. Elizabeth joined Rhodes. In the end, Sapphire pinned
Martel. He continued to war with Savage throughout the summer. Rhodes lost to his
enemy at SummerSlam in Philadelphia on August 27th. He was pinned in less than three-
minutes. Rhodes captained the “Dream Team” on November 22nd at the Survivor Series
against the “Million Dollar Team” led by Ted DiBiase. The match was Rhodes, Koko B.
Ware and the Hart Foundation against DiBiase, newcomer Kane the Undertaker and
Rhythm and Blues. He was eliminated by the Undertaker. His team later lost.
Dusty’s son Dustin joined him in the WWF in early 1991. The father-son duo teamed
at the Royal Rumble in Miami on January 19, 1991. They met and lost to DiBiase and
Virgil. Dusty was pinned by DiBiase. After the event, Rhodes left the WWF and went into
retirement. He returned in ’93. Fans were reminded of old regional battles on November
10th in St. Petersburg when Rhodes squared off against the Assassin during the Clash of
the Champions. Both Rhodes and the Assassin were seconds for Dustin Rhodes and
Paul Orndorff, respectively. The WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title was on the line, and
successfully defended by Dustin. Afterwards, the four got into it and Dusty and the
Assassin brawled it out. Although, Orndorff hit Dusty with the U.S. Title Belt, the crowd
still looked upon the father and son duo as the victors.
03-18-2012, 07:48 PM
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