Virgil Runnels
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr., better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker/writer, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and WWE. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest wrestlers and talkers in the history of professional wrestling. Rhodes was a three-time NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, and during his time in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, later known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he was a NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA World Television, NWA Tag Team and NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He also won many regional championships, and is one of seven men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, performing for WWE and AEW. Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker/writer and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".
Known For
Credits
- 2023 · American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes as Self (Archival Footage)
- 2023 · Biography: Dusty Rhodes as Self
- 2022 · Biography: Rey Mysterio as Self (archive footage) - Dusty Rhodes
- 2021 · Biography: WWE Legends as
- 2020 · You Cannot Kill David Arquette as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · A Future WWE: The FCW Story as Himself
- 2018 · Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man as
- 2017 · Nature Boy as Himself (archive footage)
- 2017 · WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995 as
- 2016 · Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon as Dusty Rhodes (voice)
- 2016 · Eric Bischoff: Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure as Self (archive footage)
- 2016 · TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2016 · WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness as Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
- 2015 · Sting: Into the Light as Dusty Rhodes
- 2015 · Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream as
- 2015 · ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2014 · WWE Rivalries as Self
- 2014 · WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash as Dusty Rhodes
- 2014 · WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2013 · WWE Battleground 2013 as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
- 2013 · Legends of Mid-South Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
- 2013 · WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches as Dusty Rhodes
- 2012 · The JBL and Cole Show as Dusty Rhodes
- 2012 · WWE: The Attitude Era as Dusty
- 2012 · nWo: The Revolution as
- 2012 · The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions as Dusty Rhodes
- 2012 · WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection as Dusty Rhodes
- 2011 · Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time as Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
- 2011 · The True Story of WrestleMania as Self (archive footage)
- 2010 · WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- 2009 · The Rise & Fall of WCW as Dusty Rhodes
- 2009 · Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection as
- 2009 · Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain as Dusty Rhodes
- 2009 · WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event as Dusty Rhodes
- 2008 · Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection as Dusty Rhodes
- 2007 · Life In The Fast Lane as
- 2007 · Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2007 · WWE The Great American Bash 2007 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2007 · Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen as Dusty Rhodes
- 2007 · WWE Hall of Fame 2007 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2006 · WWE Survivor Series 2006 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2006 · WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2006 · WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology as Dusty Rhodes
- 2006 · WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story as Dusty Rhodes
- 2006 · The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story as Dusty Rhodes
- 2005 · TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy as Dusty Rhodes
- 2005 · WWE: The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's as Dusty Rhodes
- 2005 · TNA Lockdown 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- 2005 · TNA Destination X 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- 2005 · TNA Against All Odds 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- 2005 · TNA Final Resolution 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- 2004 · TNA Turning Point 2004 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- 2004 · TNA Victory Road 2004 as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
- 2004 · NEW Renegades Rampage as Dusty Rhodes
- 2004 · TNA iMPACT! as
- 2004 · TNA iMPACT! as Dusty Rhodes.
- 2004 · TNA iMPACT! as Dusty Rhodes
- 2004 · HUSTLE-3 as Dusty Rhodes
- 2004 · WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection as Dusty Rhodes
- 2003 · FIP Return Of The Dream as Dusty Rhodes
- 2003 · ROH: The Epic Encounter as Dusty Rhodes
- 2003 · Major League Wrestling: Underground TV as
- 2003 · 3PW Legends Collide as
- 2002 · MLW King of Kings as Dusty Rhodes
- 2001 · WCW Greed as Dusty Rhodes
- 2000 · ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000 as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
- 2000 · ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000 as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
- 2000 · ECW Living Dangerously 2000 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1999 · ECW on TNN as
- 1998 · The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
- 1998 · WCW Uncensored 1998 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1998 · WCW SuperBrawl VIII as Dusty Rhodes
- 1998 · WCW Souled Out 1998 as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
- 1998 · WCW Thunder as Dusty Rhodes
- 1996 · Paradise Park as Deputy Johnny Morton
- 1995 · WCW Monday Nitro as
- 1995 · WCW All Nighter 1995 as
- 1994 · WCW Fall Brawl 1994 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1994 · WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII as Dusty Rhodes
- 1994 · Burke's Law as Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray
- 1993 · ECW Hardcore TV as
- 1993 · WWE Raw as Dusty Rhodes
- 1992 · WCW/New Japan Supershow II as Dusty Rhodes
- 1991 · WCW Halloween Havoc '91 as Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
- 1991 · WCW SuperBrawl: Return from The Rising Sun as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
- 1991 · WCW WrestleWar 1991 as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
- 1991 · WWE Royal Rumble 1991 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · WWE Survivor Series 1990 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · WWF Hottest Matches as Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · WWE SummerSlam 1990 as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · Battle of the WWE Superstars as Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '90 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · WWE WrestleMania VI as Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
- 1990 · WWE Royal Rumble 1990 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1989 · WWE Survivor Series 1989 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1989 · WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89 as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
- 1989 · WWE SummerSlam 1989 as Himself
- 1989 · Fan Favorites as
- 1989 · PWF Homecoming as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- 1988 · NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt as Dusty Rhodes
- 1988 · WCW Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings as Dusty Rhodes
- 1988 · WCW Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1988 · NWA The Great American Bash '88: The Price for Freedom as Dusty Rhodes
- 1988 · NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem as Dusty Rhodes
- 1988 · The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament as The Midnight Rider
- 1988 · WCW Clash of the Champions as Dusty Rhodes
- 1988 · NWA Bunkhouse Stampede as Dusty Rhodes
- 1987 · NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat! as Dusty Rhodes
- 1987 · NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games as Dusty Rhodes
- 1987 · The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- 1987 · NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation as Dusty Rhodes
- 1986 · NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers as Dusty Rhodes
- 1986 · WWF Wrestling Challenge as Dusty Rhodes
- 1986 · NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- 1986 · NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land as Dusty Rhodes
- 1986 · NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte as Dusty Rhodes
- 1986 · The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament as Dusty Rhodes
- 1986 · NWA Superstars on The SuperStation as Dusty Rhodes
- 1985 · AWA/NWA Night of Champions II as Dusty Rhodes
- 1985 · Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 1984 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1985 · NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- 1985 · MSW WrestleFest as Dusty Rhodes
- 1985 · NWA The Great American Bash 1985 as Dusty Rhodes
- 1985 · I Like To Hurt People as Self
- 1985 · Saturday Night's Main Event as
- 1984 · NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge as Dusty Rhodes
- 1984 · NWA Lords of The Ring as Dusty Rhodes
- 1984 · NWA Night of Champions as Dusty Rhodes
- 1984 · NWA Boogie Jam as Dusty Rhodes
- 1982 · Gold Raiders as
- 1982 · NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show as Dusty Rhodes
- 1980 · NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa as Dusty Rhodes
- Future · ROH: Ring of Hardcore as Dusty Rhodes
- 1978 · The Super Bowl of Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
- 1974 · The Wrestler as Dusty Rhodes